The Complete Guide to Safely Cleaning Your Nasal Aspirator (And When to Throw It Out)

You know that a stuffed nose is no fun for your baby, and a nasal aspirator is like magic in your hands. However, once you have used it, you wonder if you cleaned it the right way to keep it safe, rather than an ideal haven for bacteria and mold.

This guide offers straightforward, easy-to-read step-by-step instructions on cleaning each type of nasal aspirator. It even goes from the traditional blue bulb to an electronic nasal aspirator. It also helps in understanding the time to change an aspirator with easily readable tips.

Why a Clean Aspirator Is a Very Important Part of Baby Care

It can be easy to forget just how much cleaning is required for such a tool. However, the inside of a used nasal aspirator is warm and damp; it is therefore an ideal breeding ground for disease-causing bacteria. The mucus that comes out of your baby’s nasal passages has bacteria or an infectious agent.

When you don’t clean your aspirator properly after each use, these bacteria multiply quickly. In fact, mold can even start to form inside, which is more likely to happen if it’s a tool that’s difficult to dry with hot air. When you use a dirty aspirator on your baby’s nose, it could reinfect your baby with these bad bacteria.

 

How to Clean Your Nasal Aspirator: A Step-by-Step Guide for Every Type

There are different types of aspirators, which should be cleaned using different methods. You can look for your type in the following steps to ensure a clean procedure is followed in each case, so that it is completely clean for the next usage.

For the Bulb Syringe (The Classic Blue Rubber Bulb)

This is a very common type of aspirator, but it is also the hardest one to clean and dry the right way. Follow these steps with care.

1. Squeeze Out: Right after you use it, squeeze the bulb hard to push out any leftover mucus onto a tissue.
2. Wash: Get a bowl of warm, soapy water. Squeeze the bulb to suck the soapy water in. Then, shake it hard for about 30 seconds to get anything out. Squeeze all the water out. Do this two or three times.
3. Rinse: Empty the bowl and fill it with clean, warm water. Do the "suck and squirt" action again with the clean water. Stop when no more soap bubbles come out.
4. Dry (The Most Important Step!): Squeeze out as much water as you can. To let it air dry, put the bulb with its pointy end down in a small glass. This lets all the leftover water drain out completely. Do not let it lie on its side.

For Human-Suction Aspirators

These types are made to come apart easily. This makes them much easier to clean all the way through.

1. Take It Apart: After you use it, take all the parts apart. This usually means the mouthpiece, the long tube,  nozzle or tip that touches your baby’s nose.
2. Wash: Wash all the plastic parts in warm, soapy water. You can use a small brush to clean the inside of the hard pointy part, because mucus can get trapped there.
3. Rinse and Dry: Rinse every part well with clean water to get all the soap off. Then, put them on a clean towel and let them air dry completely before you put them back together.
4. Change the Filter: These aspirators use a filter that you throw away. This stops germs from going up the tube. You must throw away the used filter and put in a new one before you use it every single time.

For Electric Nasal Aspirators

Electric models of aspirators are easy to use, but you have to clean them carefully to keep the electric parts safe. Always check the instruction book, but here are the general steps.

1. Take It Apart: Carefully take off the nozzle and the cup that collects the mucus from the main electric part of the tool.
2. Wash Removable Parts: The nozzle and the collection cup are made to be washed. Clean these parts well in warm, soapy water and then rinse them.
3. Wipe the Base: Never put the main electric part in water. This will break the motor. Instead, use a soft, damp cloth to wipe the outside of the base to keep it clean.
4. Make Sure It's Dry: Be sure every washed part is 100% dry before you put the aspirator back together. Water that gets trapped can break the tool and help mold grow.

How and When to Sterilize It to Be Extra Safe

It is vital to clean it on a daily basis, but sterilizing it occasionally can give you extra peace of mind about safety.You might consider sterilizing your aspirator before using it for the first time, also do that if your child is sick, or possibly on a weekly basis if it is heavily used.

Here are some safe ways to sterilize it:

• Boiling Water: This is an excellent method for rubber bulbs and other rubber/silicone components in general. First, it’s essential to read the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific item to ensure it is safe for boiling. After that, boil the item for 3-5 minutes, then carefully retrieve it using tongs.
• Vinegar Soak Solution: Mix half white vinegar with water. As for a rubber bulb syringe, it is necessary to suck the solution into it to let it soak for 10-15 minutes before rinsing it thoroughly with clean water.
• Sterilizing Machine: When using a sterilizing machine, look for the packet of your aspirator to see if they can be sterilized with a sterilizing machine.

When Should You Throw It Out?

 Nasal aspirators do not last forever, even if they are cleaned well. You shouldn’t use an old or uncleaned nasal aspirator anyway. Below are five obvious signs that it’s time for a new nasal aspirator.

• You See Black Spots Inside: If in the aspirator, you see any spots that look black or dark, it is almost positive that it is mold. Do not attempt to clean it out. Get rid of it immediately.
• The Material is damaged: The plastic could be cracked or cloudy in color. The rubber bulb could become hardened, so it is difficult to press. It would cause the material to wear out, with possible bacterial traps in the cracks.
• The Sucking Power is Gone: The entire reason for using an aspirator is its sucking power. When it is no longer efficient in this aspect, it is already time for a replacement.
• You Can't Get It Fully Clean: Sometimes, you might feel like you can't get the inside clean anymore. Trust your feeling. If you are not sure it's clean, it is not safe to use.
• After a Bad Sickness: Your baby is just recovering from a bad illness. For the small price of a new aspirator, starting fresh will give you comfort that you are not re-using any old germs.

Keep Your Baby Safe with Regular Aspirator Cleaning

Keeping your nasal aspirator clean is equally important to using it on your baby effectively. The easy way to do it is to wash it with soap and water each time it is used, then make sure it gets completely dry so that the bad bacteria and mold do not build up on it anymore. By following these steps, you can rest assured to use the tool effectively for making your child breathe better,  knowing it’s safe and clean for every use.If in doubt, never forget the number one rule for baby safety: throw it out.