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Question:

Don’t call me Shirley (at least not here). I think they are tlaking about putting the inhaler, sans medicine cartridge in the dishwasher. I don’t think the temperature of the water is going to damage the plastic. I leave the heat off when my dishes dry (just the blower). If leave it in during a warm air dry, then you might have a problem. Jimmy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Surely you mean ‘put the spacer in the dishwasher’.  The inhaler itself > contains your drugs and I can’t imagine a nice hot wash doing them any > good. >> Is it safe to put my inhalers in the dishwasher. I do dishes in the washer >> once a day, after supper. Couldn’t I just put my inhalers in with the dishes? >>                    Jerry Freedman,Jr >This is a great question which I have been thinking about myself. I guess >that it all depends on whether it gets hot enough to warp the plastic, I >will try it and let you know what happens. > — > Surfer! > Web site: http://www dot nevis dash view dot demon dot co dot uk > Send Email to: {$surfer$} at nevis dash view dot demon dot co dot uk

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Surely you mean ‘put the spacer in the dishwasher’.  The inhaler itself contains your drugs and I can’t imagine a nice hot wash doing them any good. > Is it safe to put my inhalers in the dishwasher. I do dishes in the washer > once a day, after supper. Couldn’t I just put my inhalers in with the dishes? >                    Jerry Freedman,Jr >This is a great question which I have been thinking about myself. I guess >that it all depends on whether it gets hot enough to warp the plastic, I >will try it and let you know what happens.

– Surfer! Web site: http://www dot nevis dash view dot demon dot co dot uk Send Email to: {$surfer$} at nevis dash view dot demon dot co dot uk

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> >I’ve washed ventolin, intal and aerobid inhalers in the dishwasher without >any problems. > Boy, I feel bad.  I’ve never washed my inhalers!  And only wash my spacer when > it gets ugly.  I do, however, keep my nebulizer pretty clean.  And here I > thought I was so anal-compulsive…guess not. (BG) > CarolR.

I’m with you; I think it’s unnecessary to wash inhalers on a daily basis; assuming you wipe the mouthpiece off after inhaling. In fact this is the instructions for the Pulmicort Turbuhaler. [DPIs and many MDIs should never be allowed to get wet] In some inhalers the orfice tends to clog up with time; especially Intal, which puts out a 800 mcg/puff blast. This can prevent the inhaler from working properly. Some of the steroid MDIs like Azmacort due this to a lesser extent. Sometimes it’s necessary to dig open the orfice with a toothpick. But a once/week cleaning keeps most inhalers clean enough. And the downside of frequent cleaning of spacers, as one poster pointed out, is clean spacers have an electrostatic charge which reduces the amount of drug delivered on the first few sprays after cleaning. Also hot water and strong cleansers can damage the rubber valve in spacers like the AeroChamber. My albuterol inhaler (90 mcg/puff) never seems to get a clogged nozzle. With little kids, it’s a different matter; I imagine they need to wash inhalers frequently (food particles, etc). Ellis

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>I’ve washed ventolin, intal and aerobid inhalers in the dishwasher without >any problems.

Boy, I feel bad.  I’ve never washed my inhalers!  And only wash my spacer when it gets ugly.  I do, however, keep my nebulizer pretty clean.  And here I thought I was so anal-compulsive…guess not. (BG) CarolR.

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I tried washing my inhalers, spacer, and nebulizer mouthpiece with soap and watter.  It came clean just fine but took almost two days to air dry.  I could not use them for that long because there were still drops of water in the nooks and crannies.  I’m sure I could have dried them much quicker with a towell but I’ve always heard that you have to let them air dry.  The other problem is during the time they are air drying, they might pick up any bits of dust that might be on the countertop thus defeating the purpose of cleaning them.  I think I will try the dish washer option starting with my spacer.  Will let everyone know what happens. Matt This message is in response to the post shown below: I doubt automatic dishwasher’s will do a better job of cleaning *inside* an – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->inhaler body than a few minute soak with full hot water and dish detergent. >Every morning I soak all mine in the bathroom sink with Palmolve anti-bacterial >dish washing detergent, rinse with more hot water, and a few minutes to air >dry.  Ever so often when I’m feeling particulary compulsive-obssessive I also >hit em a few licks inside with the toothbrush. Only takes maybe all of five >minutes, and at the same time I clean the nebulizer too… no biggie! >Sheldon >On a recent Night Court rerun, Judge Harry Stone had a wonderful line: >"I try to keep an open mind, but not so open that my brains fall out."

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We wash  inhalers in the warm sudsy water with my nebulizer and rinse them in a vinegar solution. This causes the least deterioration and keeps them sanitary.

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> Is it safe to put my inhalers in the dishwasher. I do dishes in the washer > once a day, after supper. Couldn’t I just put my inhalers in with the dishes? >                    Jerry Freedman,Jr

I wouldn’t; sounds like a sledgehammer approach. All that’s needed is a rinse in warm water and thorough drying, before reinstalling the MDI. Here’s the instructions on my Vanceril DS MDI: "CLEAN YOUR INHALER AT LEAST ONCE A DAY Remove the canister and rinse the plastic actuator and cap in warm running water. Dry the actuator and cap thoroughly and gently replace the metal canister into the actuator with a twisting motion. Put the cap on the mouthpiece." Here are some instructions with the AeroChamber spacer: "CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS The AeroChamber is made of durable plastic materials and has only one moving part: the one-way valve. With repeated use, residue may accumulate inside the AeroChamber and around the valve. This eventually may interfere with effective use. We suggest cleaning the AeroChamber about once a week or more often, depending on your use of the product, per the following instruction. 1. Remove rubber-like ring from the end that holds the MDI.  Do not remove the mouthpiece from the AeroChamber body. 2. Remove the protective mouthpiece cap. 3. Soak AeroChamber and rubber ring in basin filled with warm  water using mild detergent to dislodge or loosen any residue. 4. Rinse AeroChamber and rinse in basin filled with clean warm  water using a gently motion. 5. Lightly shake away excess water droplets and leave on  clean surface to air-dry. 6. Be sure AeroChamber is completely dry before use. 7. Replace rubber ring and cap." Then there’s the Dry Powder Inhalers which shouldn’t be washed. Just wipe clean. For Pulmicort Turbuhaler: "Keep inhaler clean and dry at all times" Ellis

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I actually clean mine like Sheldon, including the toothbrush!  If I tried my inhalers like my dishes, they would stay in the dishwasher for days! Niasha

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>I actually clean mine like Sheldon, including the toothbrush!  If I tried my >inhalers like my dishes, they would stay in the dishwasher for days! Niasha

Also, I prefer hand washing because automatic dishwashing machine cleaning compounds contain lye, which will accelerate deterioration of rubber or plastic parts. Sheldon On a recent Night Court rerun, Judge Harry Stone had a wonderful line: "I try to keep an open mind, but not so open that my brains fall out."

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I don’t believe the water would be hot enough to cause damage but using the >dry heat option might.  My dear mother reuses plastic spoons by putting them >in the dw on the non-heat drying option.  I believe the inhaler plastic is >much more study.  I would say that you should raise again under hot water >before use.  Niasha >> Is it safe to put my inhalers in the dishwasher. I do dishes in the >washer >> once a day, after supper. Couldn’t I just put my inhalers in with the >dishes? >>                    Jerry Freedman,Jr >This is a great question which I have been thinking about myself. I guess >that it all depends on whether it gets hot enough to warp the plastic, I >will try it and let you know what happens.

I doubt automatic dishwasher’s will do a better job of cleaning *inside* an inhaler body than a few minute soak with full hot water and dish detergent. Every morning I soak all mine in the bathroom sink with Palmolve anti-bacterial dish washing detergent, rinse with more hot water, and a few minutes to air dry.  Ever so often when I’m feeling particulary compulsive-obssessive I also hit em a few licks inside with the toothbrush. Only takes maybe all of five minutes, and at the same time I clean the nebulizer too… no biggie!   Sheldon On a recent Night Court rerun, Judge Harry Stone had a wonderful line: "I try to keep an open mind, but not so open that my brains fall out."

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I don’t believe the water would be hot enough to cause damage but using the dry heat option might.  My dear mother reuses plastic spoons by putting them in the dw on the non-heat drying option.  I believe the inhaler plastic is much more study.  I would say that you should raise again under hot water before use.  Niasha – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Is it safe to put my inhalers in the dishwasher. I do dishes in the washer > once a day, after supper. Couldn’t I just put my inhalers in with the dishes? >                    Jerry Freedman,Jr >This is a great question which I have been thinking about myself. I guess >that it all depends on whether it gets hot enough to warp the plastic, I >will try it and let you know what happens.

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> Is it safe to put my inhalers in the dishwasher. I do dishes in the washer > once a day, after supper. Couldn’t I just put my inhalers in with the dishes? >                    Jerry Freedman,Jr

This is a great question which I have been thinking about myself. I guess that it all depends on whether it gets hot enough to warp the plastic, I will try it and let you know what happens.

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Is it safe to put my inhalers in the dishwasher. I do dishes in the washer once a day, after supper. Couldn’t I just put my inhalers in with the dishes?                    Jerry Freedman,Jr

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