How to clean a spacer properly?

[Scoobiecat]

Hi I’ve been asthmatic for 15 years now and I’ve always just chucked out my spacer and bought a new one after a month. I was told to clean them, and I followed the instructions but the first puff using the “clean” inhaler was horrific- it tasted like I’d inhaled about 100 doses of medication.

It really spooked me so I didn’t clean them again and just bought a new one after a month. However, in the past 6 months I have suffered awful throat infections and realise now that I am going to have to clean or change my spacer once a week. ( buying four spacers a month at £10 a go isn’t financially viable!)

There is a video by asthma uk saying you should just leave the film of washing up liquid on the inside of the inhaler but won’t that just taste vile? Why can you not just rinse it in clean water?

I know this sounds stupid but I take 2 puffs in morning and 2 in evening and I need to sort this out.

Any advice would be so helpful

Thank you

[Bevvy]

There have been lots of posts recently about cleaning spacers. If you look to the right and find related posts you may find the answers you are looking for.

[andy121]

I agree with bevvy that there have been lots of posts about it on here also there are videos on YouTube and asthma uk site. You should be able to get 2 spacers a year on prescription which is a new one every 6 months while cleaning it once a week.

[Scoobiecat in reply to andy121]

Thank so much for your reply. I am just wondering if the spacer will still be effective if rinsed. I can’t bear the taste of washing up liquid 🤮👍

[andy121]

I think it's to do with the static to why your not meant to rinse them out. I wash mine at night and leave to air dry by morning I can't taste washing up liquid but I must admit I can taste the medication more but I just wash my mouth out with water after.

[Scoobiecat in reply to andy121]

Thanks Andy! I’ll give it a go. It just feels like I’ll be drinking for a glass that has been dipped in washing up liquid and not rinsed. 🤣

[Bevvy in reply to Scoobiecat]

But once washed you WILL be rinsing it out afterwards. So shouldn’t be any different to washing a glass….. again look at previous posts to see what others do.

[Scoobiecat in reply to Bevvy]

Hi Bevvy thanks for your reply, on the Asthma uk video it says do not rinse, leave a film of washing up liquid inside the spacer so that it acts like a liner and reduces static.

[Bevvy in reply to Scoobiecat]

Oh…. Well you can only try it. Also try other ideas and see what suits you.

[mypoorlungs]

Hope this doesn't sound too obvious, but I find that if I wash my spacer using Fairy washing up liquid and leaving it to soak for about 10 mins, rinsing it clean and leaving it to dry on the draining board for about 12 hours really helps. I used to use Dr Bronner's liquid soap which is great but never seemed to get my spacer properly clean and it would always look cloudy even straight after I washed it. There is no taste or smell of washing up liquid after either. Hope that helps.

[Scoobiecat in reply to mypoorlungs]

Thank you my poor lungs… does the spacer function normally and deliver the correct dose even if you rinse it? Asthma uk advise not rinsing to prevent static but it just seems wrong not to rinse the spacer.

[Bistine]

Hi ScoobiecateI know what you mean about it seeming wrong to not rinse your spacer, I thought the same but gave it a try and it really does work. Less medication sticks to the inside of the spacer (after all we want the medication in our lungs not lining the spacer) and I have never tasted the washing up liquid.

It seems counter-intuitive but I've been following the guidance for a couple of years now and would recommend giving it a try 🙂

[Scoobiecat in reply to Bistine]

Thanks Bistine I will give it a go!

[Singinglouder]

If you don’t think you’d like breathing in the taste of your washing up liquid, have you thought of changing to an unscented one? There are quite a few eco zero or sensitive options around these days - even Fairy do ‘Pure and Clean’.

[Scoobiecat in reply to Singinglouder]

Thank you that’s an excellent idea! I will look out for those.

[strongmouse]

Hi, I clean my spacer, rinsing well afterwards, as I can't stand the smell of washing up liquid. I use mine for several months. It seems to work well with no problems.