I use a tire inflator with a hose leading to the air chuck, and a trigger to add air. The advantage of this is that even if you allow some fluid into the hose, it won't make it as far as the gauge unless you're actually using the thing to deflate the tire, and when you're done (and hooked to air) you just pull the trigger with the hose loose (ok, held so that it doesn't swing around and smack you in the junk) and blow air through it to 'purge' the liquid you may have allowed into the hose. Doing it this way, i don't bother to put the valve stems in any particular position.