During the course of their day, medical professionals encounter a wide range of patients with a variety of ailments, so the stethoscope must be simple to clean and cleaned frequently. Use a disinfectant wipe with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution for cleaning. Hand sanitizer or other disinfectant solutions are not recommended. Also, do not submerge your stethoscope in a cleaning solution as this may cause damage. These devices should last for years, but warranty and repair options are usually available.