How to clean a hydrogen inhaler.

Regular cleaning keeps your hydrogen inhaler performing at full output, extends the service life of the PEM membrane, and ensures you are always inhaling clean, pure hydrogen. This guide covers the complete cleaning process for QY-series hydrogen inhalers — from daily maintenance to monthly deep cleans.

• After every session: Drain and rinse reservoir
• Weekly: Full reservoir clean
• Weekly: Nasal cannula clean
• Monthly: Deep clean — all components
• Monthly: Tubing inspection and clean
• Annually: Professional service check

Before starting, gather these items:

• Fresh distilled water (minimum 500 ml)
• Clean lint-free cloth or paper towel
• Soft bottle brush or cotton buds
• Mild dish soap (fragrance-free, diluted)
• Clean dry towel
• Shallow bowl or container

Never use:

• Bleach or chlorine-based cleaners
• Alcohol or acetone
• Abrasive scrubbers or steel wool
• Strong chemical descalers
• Dishwasher (for any component)

These will damage the PEM membrane, seals, and plastic components permanently.

This takes less than 2 minutes and is the single most important habit for long device life.

Step 1 — Power off completely

Press and hold the power button until the display goes dark. Do not clean while powered on or connected to mains power.

Step 2 — Unplug from power

Disconnect the power cable before handling the water reservoir.

Step 3 — Remove and drain the reservoir

Open the reservoir cap and pour out any remaining water. Do not leave standing water in the device between sessions — even distilled water can develop biofilm in warm conditions.

Step 4 — Rinse with fresh distilled water

Pour approximately 100 ml of fresh distilled water into the reservoir. Swirl gently to rinse all interior surfaces. Pour out completely.

Step 5 — Leave reservoir open to air dry

Leave the reservoir cap off and place the device in a clean, dry location. Allow the reservoir to air dry completely before the next session.

Step 6 — Wipe the exterior

Use a slightly damp lint-free cloth to wipe down the exterior casing. Dry immediately with a clean cloth.

Estimated time: 10–15 minutes

Reservoir clean

Step 1 — Prepare cleaning solution. Fill a clean bowl with 300 ml of distilled water. Add one drop of mild fragrance-free dish soap. Stir gently — you want barely soapy water, not suds.

Step 2 — Clean the reservoir interior. Pour approximately 150 ml of the mild soapy solution into the reservoir. Use a soft bottle brush to gently scrub all interior surfaces. Pay particular attention to the bottom and corners where mineral deposits can accumulate.

Step 3 — Rinse thoroughly — three times. This step is critical. Any soap residue left in the reservoir will enter the PEM stack on your next session.

• Rinse 1: Fill with plain distilled water, swirl, drain completely.
• Rinse 2: Fill again with fresh distilled water, swirl, drain completely.
• Rinse 3: Final rinse with fresh distilled water, drain completely.

After three rinses there should be no trace of soap smell in the drained water.

Step 4 — Air dry completely. Leave reservoir open and upside down on a clean dry towel for at least 30 minutes before reassembly.

Nasal cannula clean

Step 1 — Disconnect cannula from device. Gently pull the nasal cannula tubing from the output port.

Step 2 — Rinse under cool running water. Hold the nasal prongs under cool running water for 30 seconds.

Step 3 — Soak in mild soapy water. Place the cannula in a bowl of mild soapy water for 5 minutes.

Step 4 — Rinse thoroughly. Rinse under cool running water for at least 60 seconds. Run water through the tubing from both ends.

Step 5 — Air dry completely. Hang or lay flat on a clean dry towel. Allow to dry completely before reconnecting.

Step 6 — Inspect for damage. Check the nasal prongs for cracks, discolouration, or deformation. Replace the cannula if any damage is found.

Estimated time: 30–45 minutes

Step 1 — Full disassembly

Remove all removable components:

• Water reservoir and cap
• Nasal cannula
• Output tubing (if removable on your model)
• Any removable filters or screens

Step 2 — Inspect all components

Before cleaning, inspect each component:

• Reservoir: look for white scale deposits or discolouration
• Reservoir cap and seal: check O-ring for cracking or deformation
• Output ports: check for mineral buildup
• Tubing: check for kinks or discolouration
• Nasal cannula: check for wear

Step 3 — Descale the reservoir

If you notice white or grey mineral deposits:

Safe descaling solution: Mix 1 part white vinegar with 4 parts distilled water.

• Fill reservoir with the diluted solution
• Leave for 15–20 minutes (not exceeding 30)
• Drain completely
• Rinse with plain distilled water — minimum 5 full rinses
• Confirm no vinegar smell remains

Only use white vinegar. Never use citric acid descalers, commercial descaling tablets, or coffee machine descalers.

Step 4 — Clean output ports and exterior vents

Use a dry cotton bud to gently clean around the output port openings. Do not insert into the ports. Use a second dry cotton bud to clear dust from ventilation slots.

Step 5 — Clean tubing (if removable)

• Flush with distilled water from both ends
• If discoloured, soak in mild soapy solution for 5 minutes
• Rinse thoroughly — minimum 3 full flushes
• Air dry completely before reconnecting

Step 6 — Reassemble and test

Allow all components to dry for at least 60 minutes before reassembly. Fill reservoir with fresh distilled water. Power on and run for 5 minutes before your next session.

Device not producing output after cleaning: Check reservoir is correctly seated and cap is fully tightened. Check output tubing is fully connected. If soap residue present — perform three additional rinse cycles.

Unusual smell from output after cleaning: Residual cleaning solution may be present. Drain reservoir completely. Perform three full rinse cycles with fresh distilled water. Run device for 5 minutes before using.

Reduced output after monthly descale: Vinegar residue may be present. Perform five additional rinse cycles. Allow device to run for 10 minutes before checking output.

Water leaking after reassembly: Check reservoir seal is correctly seated. Do not overtighten the reservoir cap. Inspect seal for damage — replace if cracked.

• Nasal cannula: 3–6 months — replace if discoloured, cracked or deformed.
• Output tubing: 12–18 months — replace if yellowing, cracking or kinking.
• Reservoir seal: 12–24 months — replace if cracking or leaking.
• PEM membrane stack: 3,000–5,000 hours — replace if output significantly reduced despite thorough cleaning.

QY-A900 / QY-A1200 / QY-A1800 / QY-A3000: All QY-series models follow the cleaning process above. Reservoir is top-fill and removable on all models.

W30 (Dual delivery): The W30 has two output streams sharing one reservoir. Follow the same process above. The drinking water spout should be cleaned with particular care using the weekly cannula cleaning process.

WZ-1 (Bath system): The WZ-1 internal reservoir requires the same cleaning process as above. The bath hoses should be rinsed with distilled water after each session and air dried.

After every session:

• Power off and unplug
• Drain remaining water from reservoir
• Rinse reservoir with fresh distilled water
• Wipe exterior dry
• Leave reservoir open to air dry

Weekly:

• Full reservoir clean with mild soapy solution
• Three rinse cycles
• Nasal cannula clean and inspection
• Air dry all components completely

Monthly:

• Full disassembly and inspection
• Descale if mineral deposits present
• Clean output ports and vents
• Clean tubing
• Reassemble and test

Annually:

• Professional service check
• Replace nasal cannula if not already done
• Inspect all seals and replace if needed

• What water to use in a hydrogen inhaler
• How long does a hydrogen inhaler last?
• Hydrogen inhaler maintenance schedule
• Why is my hydrogen inhaler not producing output?
• PEM membrane lifespan — when and how to replace
• Nasal cannula replacement guide