The oxygen concentrator is considered one of the best devices, especially for those who need constant oxygen therapy. Oxygen concentrators ensure you provide enough supply of oxygen and work as an effective solution to your increasing symptoms of respiratory issues like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and sleep apnea.
Now that you have a good understanding of the need for an oxygen concentrator, you should also be aware of the fact that maintaining your oxygen concentrator is essential to achieving optimal results and keeping it dependable and long-lasting.
Cleaning your oxygen concentrator is a key part of this upkeep, helping to maintain optimal performance and reduce the risk of infections caused by bacteria and mold buildup. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you safely clean your oxygen concentrator at home.
Cleaning your oxygen concentrators is not just important for you to get only optimal results but it is also essential for a person who is already suffering from respiratory issues can be safe from factors that can risk their health such as an oxygen concentrator that is not maintained is prone to have a risk of infection as it may contain any kind of bacteria and mold buildup.
In this blog, we will together get an insight into how to clean an oxygen concentrator at home that will also help you to ensure that your loved ones are safe and getting high-quality life through a clean oxygen concentrator at home.
How to Clean an Oxygen Concentrator at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide
As discussed earlier, neglected and untidy oxygen concentrators not only pose health risks to their users but also fail to give optimal results for a longer time, and slowly effectiveness and quality start declining. The main reason why this happens is that over time impurities like dust, debris, and microorganisms start getting collected and assembled in an oxygen concentrator machine.
Cleaning an oxygen concentrator is crucial to use it best on a long-term basis and ensure that you are getting effective oxygen therapy treatment without any harm.
Here’s a details insight and guide to help you on how to clean an oxygen concentrator at home:
Understanding Cleaning Oxygen Concentrator
Oxygen concentrator cleaner is a product or solution that is specially tailored for cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing the oxygen concentrator, especially those parts of oxygen concentrators and impurities that are difficult to clean with human hands. It is mainly used for cleaning filters, humidifier bottles, tubing, and exterior parts. Disinfected sprays, wipes, and cleaning solutions are considered oxygen concentrator cleaners that ensure you are left with an uncontaminated and clean oxygen concentrator that is safe for your use.
What is an Oxygen Concentrator Cleaning Machine?
An oxygen concentrator cleaning machine is considered the best alternative for oxygen concentrator cleaner as it is equipped with technology such as oxygen (ozone) or ultraviolet (UV) light that helps you automatically clean your oxygen concentrator while ensuring that it also disinfects the other components, eliminate bacteria, viruses, and mold as well so that your oxygen concentrator is deeply clean.
Why is Cleaning Your Oxygen Concentrator Important?
- Cleaning and maintaining your oxygen concentrator ensures:
- Optimal Performance
- Longevity of the Device
- Hygiene and Safety
What Do You Need for Cleaning your oxygen concentrator?
- A soft, lint-free cloth
- Mild dish soap
- Warm water
- Disinfectant wipes
- Replacement filters
- Small brush
- Clean towel
Step-by-Step Cleaning Process
Step 1: Unplug the Device
To make sure that both your device and you are safe it is important to first turn off your oxygen concentrator device, and also make sure to unplug it from the electrical outlet to ensure more safety. This is a crucial step as it ensures that you are safe from getting an electric shock and internal components of your oxygen concentrator are safe while cleaning because during cleaning there is always a danger of moisture getting inside your machine.
Step 2: Exterior Cleaning
After ensuring that your device is turned off and it is unplugged from the electrical outlet, the next step is to start cleaning the exterior part of your device. As discussed earlier over time impurities like dust, debris, and microorganisms start getting collected and assembled in an oxygen concentrator machine.
So for cleaning, take a soft cloth and make it wet with the help of warm water and dish soap. Gently use it on the exterior side of your oxygen concentrator also make sure that you also include the components of the control panel and handles, consider any exposed area that can easily be cleaned with a cloth. Avoid using any kind of harsh chemical and cleaning solution or cloth that can impact the performance and working of the oxygen concentrator.
Step 3: Clean the Filters
One of the most critical components of an oxygen concentrator is its filter. These filters play a vital role in ensuring the air delivered is free from dust and other airborne particles. Most concentrators come equipped with two main types of filters: a particle filter (also known as a foam filter) and a HEPA filter.
The filter is a significant component of an oxygen concentrator as it ensures that the air that is being delivered to the patient is free from any kind of impurities and makes it possible for its user to get high-quality oxygen therapy. Which is why it is crucial to maintain and clean those filters.
Commonly oxygen concentrator comes with two types of filters, which are particle filters and HEPA filters.
Cleaning the Particle Filter and checking the HEPA Filter:
The particle filter is mostly placed at the back of the oxygen concentrator machine. For cleaning purposes, you have to first remove it from the device, and then clean it with the help of warm running water. You can also use a mild soap if you want to ensure your filters are clean nicely. When risening also ensure that your filter is free from any kind of soap residue and dry it properly after the cleaning process after this you are ready to put your filter back in your device.
When it comes to HEPA filters, things are different. They are not washable, and they need to be replaced after some time, experts recommend replacing your HEPA filters every 6-12 months it also depends on the usage of your device, if you do not want any confusion regarding the replacement of HEPA filters, you can go through manufacturer’s guideline.
Step 4: Clean the Humidifier Bottle:
Some oxygen concentrators come with a humidifier bottle and for the proper working of oxygen concentrators, it is also essential to clean them too. They are an essential component of an oxygen concentrator as they aid in adding moisture to the oxygen that keeps that user safe from the dryness in their nasal passages while using this device for oxygen therapy.
However, there is moisture, there is also a danger of bacteria accumulating at the place, which is why it is essential to clean the humidifier bottle regularly. To clean your humidifier bottle, you first need to remove it from your device and get rid of any water inside it.
Now the next step is to clean them with warm soapy water, you can also use a scrub or a brush for this purpose. After cleaning and rinsing it well ensure that it is completely dry, for the safety of your humidifier bottle when refilling it always opt for distilled water rather than tap water.
Step 5: Clean the Tubing and Nasal Cannula
Oxygen tubing and nasal cannula play a major part in delivering oxygen. As essential as these both are, they are equally easily prone to the risk of accumulating moisture, bacteria, and dust. Which can overall impact the performance and quality of oxygen delivery and therapy.
To clean them, you first need to disconnect them and after that, you can clean the tubing with the help of warm, soapy water. After this step, clean deeply to ensure that there is no soap residue inside the tubing. Before attaching it back to the machine ensure that it is completely dry.
For cleaning nasal spray, you can use disinfectant wipes or a damp cloth. As it directly gets in contact with the respiratory system during oxygen therapy it is recommended that if you are seeing bacterial buildup regularly, replace it.
Step 6: Reassemble and Test the Device
After you have done all your cleaning, then you need to resemble all the components that were cleaned such as filters, tubing, and humidifier bottles. Before plugging and starting your advice make sure to see all the components are attached properly. After plugging in take a few moments to inspect if your device is working properly. Do a quick functionality test and make sure that there is no irregular or weird sound coming from your device.
Conclusion
For the proper working of your oxygen concentrator, it is ensure that you carefully clean and maintain your device regularly, by doing this you can also ensure that the oxygen therapy you are getting is effective and there is no harm to your health and device.
FAQs:
1. How to clean an oxygen concentrator filter?
The first step is to unplug your device, after that, you will need a soft cloth for a cleaning purpose that must be damp with the help of a mild soap and water mixture, start cleaning the exterior part of the concentrator first, and then move to another component. When you are done with cleaning, make sure to completely dry your oxygen concentrator, especially those components that you clean with water.
2. Where is the filter on an oxygen concentrator?
Commonly, the oxygen concentrator is placed in the back or the side of the oxygen concentrator, which is easy to reach through the panel and the door of the oxygen concentrator, if you are still confused related to the filter placement, you can consult your device manufacturer.
3. How to clean the Philips oxygen concentrator filter?
Cleaning a Philips oxygen concentrator filter process is the same as a typical oxygen concentrator, first, you need to make sure that your device is unplugged and after that, you can use a wet soft cloth for cleaning purposes. After cleaning, make sure that your device is completely dry to ensure its safety.
4. How to clean the Devilbiss oxygen concentrator filter?
Cleaning a Devilbiss oxygen concentrator filter is crucial because it needs to be cleaned regularly, experts advise cleaning it within one to three months. For Cleaning a Devilbiss oxygen concentrator filter, you first need to detach those filters that need cleaning from your device, after cleaning your filter with the help of warm water and mild detergent, make sure not to use any harsh chemicals that can damage your filter. After that rinse thoroughly, so there is no detergent residue left in your filters. Before attaching your filter back to your device, make sure to dry it first.
5. What is the oxygen concentrator maintenance list?
Regularly clean the exterior of your device with the help of a soft damp cloth.
When cleaning, avoid using harsh chemicals as they can impact the performance of the filter.
Regularly inspect the tubing and the filters of your device.
Keep your device in a safe place that is protected from dust and other impurities.
6. When is the best time for an oxygen concentrator filter replacement?
When you see these signs such as tears and holes, especially on the exterior sides of your filters. It is a sign that you should look for oxygen concentrator filter replacement.
