Cleaning Regulator

[bubble...bubble]

I'm new to this board, so please excuse me if this topic has come up before...

I sometimes find myself having to use rented equipment. While I'm sure some dive shop scrupulously clean their regulators between use, well... So, I am wondering how to do at least a passable job of de-germing a rental regulator/mouthpiece. I could wipe the surface with an alcohol pad but I can't reach much of the inside surfaces. I could blow a mouthful of bourbon through the reg, but I would probably stink like a wino and the divemaster might not let me on the boat. And...that would be a terrible waste of bourbon. Any practical suggestions for field sterilization?

 

[derwoodwithasherwood]

I read an interesting piece recently that indicated wiping with an alcohol rag did virtually nothing for certain virii. They need a good 10 minute soak in a disinfectant.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Alcohol is worthless as a disinfectant. You can spray a generous amount of disinfectant all around and inside the reg and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then run some water over it for several minutes to make sure you get all the disinfectant off. Purge it a couple of times in the water before you breathe off of it just to make sure the disinfectant doesn't harm you.

Or better yet, buy your own reg as soon as you can.

 

[ScubaFreak]

theres stuff called milton, its a disinfectant used to clean baby bottles etc. Thats what we use at our lds. Works well, and doesn't leave an horrible taste. But as mentioned, unless you have about 15-20 mins to spare, theres nothing else you can really do. Unless you want to buy a mouthpiece and change it back to thte store's mouthpiece after you dive, but thats just hassle.

SF

 

[al1]

You can use Dettol, if you put one capful to a liter of water. Then just dump some in the reg, swish it around then rinse it out with fresh water.