Washing a Cleaned Enema Bag Before Use, Y/N?

I always clean my enema gear with soap and water before and after use, especially inside the bag and the nozzle, and then leave them to hang and air-dry. I've heard some folk just rinse the nozzle and bag before using enema gear though, while only cleaning with soap after using the equipment. Is there any issue with this?

Admittedly I've debated doing so since there's not much that could contaminate the enema equipment other than dust while hanging, so a quick water rinse on cleaned gear sounds like it wouldn't cause issue (that and when I'm enema needy, I want one quick). Though my inner germaphobe is much too worried to go through with it, especially since bacteria growth may still continue after cleaning with just soap.

(Of note, I feel it'd definitely need to be cleaned were it put away in a case where it makes contact with the inside of a bag or such. My question is more so for equipment that's practically untouched since it was cleaned like a bag hanging in the bathroom.)

We don't wash the equipment before using it. We DO thoroughly wash everything 3-4 times with anti-bacterial soap after each use. It's stored in a dry place away from dirt, etc.

After each enema is taken, I clean my bag, hose and nozzle with hot soapy water and then hang them up to dry. After drying my gear it is then put in a drawer.

I rinse the bag and tubing and run some water through it before using, both the take care of any dust that might be inside it and to warm it up. I flush it several times after use, wipe dry inside and out and hang to air dry. Monthly it gets cleaned with vinegar to control water spots. The Foley gets cleaned with soap and water and is swabbed out with a pipe cleaner. My enema gear is not shared.

If it was cleaned before putting away I just rinse it with warm water several times. A visual inspection is a must to make sure everything is good.

In the golden days of enemas, the 1930s through even the 1960s, the same enema bag was used for the entire family, adults, and children. I will bet that in those days that little care was taken of the equipment. I will go as far as to say that even the enema nozzle was just used from one child to the next without even washing it. That's the way things were in that time frame.

In the golden days of enemas, the 1930s through even the 1960s, the same enema bag was used for the entire family, adults, and children. I will bet that in those days that little care was taken of the equipment. I will go as far as to say that even the enema nozzle was just used from one child to the next without even washing it. That's the way things were in that time frame.

That was true although Susie used to say that she was “fluid bonded” with her husband and a few others and that they shared common bacteria. I don't know if that was true or if those families were also bonded but nowadays sharing bags should not be done without some serious cleaning including bleaching them. Much simpler to just have each person have their own bag.

In the golden days of enemas, the 1930s through even the 1960s, the same enema bag was used for the entire family, adults, and children. I will bet that in those days that little care was taken of the equipment. I will go as far as to say that even the enema nozzle was just used from one child to the next without even washing it. That's the way things were in that time frame.

I bet more care was taken than you think. People took care of their “things” because it cost to have to replace them. Now a days you throw it away and buy new.

I heartily recommend a thorough cleaning and drying of bags and nozzles before storage. If you're not sure that the equipment was cleaned before storage, wash it thoroughly before using it. OTOH, my late sister and I shared equipment with each other from our childhood until her death earlier this year. We were bonded in every way, and shared each others “germs”, so there was no need to be careful of cross contamination. Sometimes, we would actually act as the other's enema bag, using a large diameter silicone tubing with colonic hydrotherapy specula on both ends. After giving the supplier a 2-3 qt enema, The receiver would lay on the tub floor with one nozzle inserted in their anus. The supplier would straddle the receiver, and ease the other nozzle into their rectum. The enema would drain from supplier to receiver. Sometimes, we would switch places, returning the enema to the supplier. We did this to make sure that our colons contents mirrored each other.

It is a mental thing with me clean sparkling water is free. I rinse and smell all the time. I do not believe there is not much harmful stuff growing in your enema bag that you cannot see or smell. It would depend on what you are putting into your enema bag.

We have become obsessed with cleaning things. IMHO we do a disservice by not building our immunities…we used to eat dirt as we played…tap water is treated…if it’s ok to drink my mouth is should be fine to rinse a enema bag with or without any soap.

One mans opinion.

@Frank01 said,

In the golden days of enemas, the 1930s through even the 1960s, the same enema bag was used for the entire family, adults, and children. I will bet that in those days that little care was taken of the equipment. I will go as far as to say that even the enema nozzle was just used from one child to the next without even washing it. That's the way things were in that time frame.

As preteens when our RN grandmother taught my siblings an I personal hygiene in the late 50’s, we were required to rinse the enema bag, hose, and nozzle before using it. When finished, the bag, hose, and nozzle got washed with soap and water, then hung back in the shower to dry. If the nozzle being used was a douche nozzle, it was washed with soap and water then rubbing alcohol before and after use. When mom or grandma gave us enemas as kids, we never really paid that much attention to it. Yes, we saw them washing and rinsing the bag and nozzle but never gave it a second thought.

Which ever way you feel confident of the safety of the equipment.

Just don't use what you don't feel safe using.

I've heard some folk just rinse the nozzle and bag before using enema gear though, while only cleaning with soap after using the equipment. Is there any issue with this?

…..

My question is more so for equipment that's practically untouched since it was cleaned like a bag hanging in the bathroom.)

I do not rinse before using the enema equipment. Even if, which it is as of late, the equipment has been used for a couple weeks. Just do not feel it is a needed step.

But do what makes you comfortable and feel safe. No one should judge you which ever way it is done.

I think it should be cleaned right after use and dried. It doesn't need to be cleaned again. It is also important to have dedicated enema bags and each has their own.

A quick rise with plain warm/hot water right before use to warm up the bag. Rinse with cool water after to clean out soap residue. Use a towel to wipe inside and outside of bag before putting away. Shake the tubing to get out soapy water. Never really kept bag/tubing/nozzle out to try - just put them away in the Xerox box I have my other items in. Never had a problem. The only thing that has worn out is at the top of the bag; the hole breaks from the weight of enemas.

Totally agree with Blanda…gawd knows how many tons of dirt, etc we ingested as kids…the “five seond rule” was probably the “five HOUR rule” as far as food was concerned. And am I misremembering that relatively recently “transplanting” feces and all the bio stuff that goes along with it has become a “thing” in the medical field? So, even if unrelated folks are using the same gear, is anything more than a cursory rinse necessary? Personally, I rinse everything with hot water and at least soap the nozzle then air dry. May even be overkill!!

I just wash out the bag with hot water to warm it up before use then wash out everything after use.

Washing, rinsing and drying the bag is just part of it. You can rinse but not dry the tubing. There’s the possibility of some undesirable bugs growing in there between use. Consider something safe like circulating Bottle Line Cleaner several times through the tube. Safe to ingest and is used to clean tap lines for soda machines and beer taps.

As far as “vintage” enema bags/nozzles (in the original box) goes..a lot of this equipment looks like its been sitting around unused in Grandma's closet for 50+ years. I doubt any “dangerous” bacterias or viruses have that lifespan. A good scrubbing with hot soapy water and a 5 minute “bath” in some Listerine and everything should be just fine. I'd be more cautious with equipment that's been “hoarded” for only 10 years or less…