Oxygen Concentrator Care: How to Clean and Maintain Your Oxygen Machine and Supplies

What’s great about using a concentrator is you’ll never run out of supplemental oxygen. But while there’s no need to replace or refill tanks, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look after your device.

Just like any other equipment, oxygen machines need regular cleaning and maintenance. This is key to extending the life of your concentrator, keeping contaminants at bay, and making the most of your home oxygen therapy.

Are there even serious consequences if you don’t keep your concentrator and oxygen supplies clean?

The short answer is: definitely.

Besides a decrease in your unit’s performance, it’s possible to develop a respiratory infection or other lung illnesses from an unsanitary machine, worsening your existing condition.

By properly cleaning and disinfecting your oxygen machine and supplies, you can protect your airways from pathogens, dust particles, and other pollutants.

Read on to learn how to do just that.

Frequency: Weekly

Cleaning the outside of your concentrator can keep debris from entering the air vents and disease-causing microbes from spreading.

You should clean the external casing of your portable or stationary concentrator once a week or as soon as it gets dusty.

1. Turn off and unplug your oxygen machine.
2. Use a clean soft cloth, dampened with mild soap and warm water.
3. Wipe down the outer surface of your concentrator. Make sure to work around the air vents to avoid getting any liquids in them. 
4. If the air vents are dusty, carefully remove the debris using a cotton swab.
5. Allow your oxygen machine to air dry or wipe it dry with a clean cloth. 

Frequency: Clean weekly and replace every 2 to 3 months (or every 2 to 4 weeks if you use it 24/7)

Learning how to clean nasal cannulas is one of the most important tasks for anyone using supplemental oxygen. 

To prevent your cannula from becoming dirty, keep it away from the floor or other potentially contaminated surfaces between uses. But even with proper storage, you still need to clean and disinfect it every week.

Because the prongs sit within your nostrils, an unclean cannula can carry harmful microbes, causing sinus infections and other diseases. Here’s how to clean your nasal cannula:

1. Detach your nasal cannula from the tubing according to the user manual.
2. Fill a basin with mild soap and warm water.
3. Soak the cannula in the soapy solution.
4. Gently wipe the prongs with a clean cloth.
5. Rinse the cannula thoroughly using a vinegar solution (one part vinegar and 10 parts water).
6. Rinse it again with warm water to remove the vinegar smell. 
7. Hang it up and let it completely dry.

Make sure to have spare nasal cannulas on hand. That way, you’ll have something to use while waiting for the freshly cleaned cannula to dry.

Regularly cleaning your nasal cannula will make it last for up to three months (or one, if you use it 24 hours a day).

But once it appears discolored or damaged, you should replace it immediately. 

Frequency: Clean weekly and replace every 2 to 3 months (or every 2 to 4 weeks if you use it 24/7)

Keeping a face mask clean is similar to maintaining a nasal cannula. You should store it in a clean, dry place when not in use and schedule a cleaning and disinfection routine every week.

You should also replace it every three months or more often (depending on your usage frequency) or once it looks broken or discolored.

To clean an oxygen mask, you should:

1. Soak it in a basin filled with warm soapy water.
2. Wipe it down with a clean cloth.
3. Rinse it thoroughly with diluted vinegar (one part vinegar and 10 parts water).
4. Rinse it again with warm water to remove the vinegar smell. 
5. Allow it to air dry. 

Frequency: Clean weekly and replace every 2 to 6 months

One of the easiest oxygen supplies to clean is your oxygen tubing. No need to submerge it in water as the inside of the tubing is hard to dry off. All you have to do weekly (or more often, as needed) is:

1. Wipe the outside of the tubing with a clean cloth and rubbing alcohol.
2. Let it dry before use. 

How often you replace your oxygen tubing depends on your use. If you use supplemental oxygen all day, you should get new tubing every two months.

For intermittent use, replacing it every six months or less will suffice. 

Frequency: Replace the water after every use, clean every 3 days, and replace according to manufacturer’s instructions

Dry airways are a common problem among patients on continuous flow oxygen therapy. For this issue, you might have gotten a humidifier bottle for your oxygen concentrator.

Instructions on how to clean oxygen humidifier bottles vary among manufacturers. That’s why you have to refer to your user manual before following the steps below.

If you can’t find your manual, you can use this general guideline on how to clean your oxygen humidifier bottle:

1. Empty the humidifier bottle. 
2. Detach the humidifier connector and other parts connected to the bottle. Wipe them with a clean cloth.
3. Wash the inside and outside of the bottle with soap and water.
4. Rinse thoroughly with hot water.
5. Dry the bottle with a clean cloth. Avoid touching the inside of the bottle.
6. Fill it with distilled or sterile water.

Do this every three days. And between uses, make sure to change out the water in the bottle completely.

Do not simply top it off as the old water may already have bacterial growth. You should also avoid using tap water, which might contain pathogens. 

Frequency: Empty as needed and replace every 2 to 6 months

If you’re using a humidifier bottle for your oxygen concentrator, your tubing might often have moisture buildup, resulting in water droplets leaking through your cannula or mask. That’s where a water trap for oxygen tubing comes in handy.

Attached to the lower end of your oxygen tubing, it collects excess condensation by allowing gravity to pull the water into the trap.

Most in-line water traps feature a transparent design, so: 

1. Check your water trap daily if it has water in it.
2. If it does, drain it out. 

You can replace your in-line water trap as frequently as your oxygen tubing. 

Frequency: Clean weekly and replace every 2 years

Oxygen concentrator filters come in different types, mainly:

• Internal – Internal or bacterial filters are built to last a lifetime, which means they only need to be replaced during repairs or between patients. Avoid washing them. 

• External – External filters (also known as HEPA or air intake filters) are the only filters you need to clean regularly and replace periodically.

When your external filter is clogged with dirt, dust, and whatever particles floating around in your house, it can affect the concentrator’s performance and oxygen purity.

So it’s important to clean it weekly or more often (if you’re using your concentrator in a dusty environment or have pets at home).

Here’s how to clean oxygen concentrator filters:

1. Remove the filter/s according to the manufacturer’s instructions. They’re usually located at the back or side of a concentrator. 
2. Wash with mild soap and water.
3. Gently scrub off the dirt with a soft bristle brush.
4. Rinse off the soapy water.
5. Place it on a clean towel and allow it to air dry. 

You should also inspect your filter regularly for dirt or damage. If it does get damaged, make sure to replace it right away.  

Keep in mind that not all portable oxygen concentrators have filters, and not all oxygen filters look the same. Some oxygen machines come with only one external filter, while others have two.

That said, it’s always a good idea to check your concentrator’s user manual for specific instructions on how to clean oxygen concentrator filters, as well as how to maintain your device in general.

If you’re dealing with an infectious disease, you need to clean (or/and replace) your oxygen supplies more frequently than recommended. 

Cleaning your nasal cannula or oxygen mask, for instance, should be done daily rather than weekly. Once you’re feeling better, discard it and use a new one. 

Maintaining your supplies is especially important if you travel with a portable concentrator since it may carry outdoor contaminants. Immunosuppressed patients or those on high-flow oxygen therapy will also greatly benefit from keeping a high standard of cleaned equipment. 

But even if the above doesn’t apply to your situation, sticking to your cleaning routine should still be your top priority. That way, you can safely use supplemental oxygen and keep your equipment lasting longer. 

For easier concentrator maintenance, you can create a personal weekly checklist, so you can clean everything in one go.

Here’s an example:

• Daily: Inspect all the oxygen supplies and parts listed above, especially your water trap (if you’re using a humidifier).
• Every three days: Wash your humidifier bottle.
• Weekly: Clean the exterior of your concentrator, nasal cannula or face mask, tubing, and filter/s.

Again, remember that this guide only contains general guidelines for cleaning your oxygen machine and supplies. You should always check your user manual for any specific instructions from the manufacturer.

If you have any more questions about maintaining your oxygen concentrator and supplies, you can always contact your oxygen supplier. Alternatively, don’t hesitate to contact our medical team for assistance.