Anesthesia apparatus has always presented a problem in its cleaning and sterilization. The importance of this in relation to postoperative infections has not been elucidated since bacteriological studies have yielded equivocal results. Conventional techniques of cleaning with a germicidal soap and soaking in 70% ethyl alcohol is ineffective. Stronger germicides can cause untoward reactions when patients contact equipment cleaned in this manner. Decontamination after use of buffered gluteraldehyde is superior to that obtained with 70% ethyl alcohol.