[CPAP] cleaning my machine tips

[kiracaylen]

I am very new to having a CPAP and it’s so unclear how to clean my equipment, everything i search is something different, and recently i’ve noticed that in the elbow on the tube (resmed quiet air elbow SKU 63494) that there’s a small filter in it that when i was submerging it in water it was getting wet and i couldn’t dry it.. so i bought a brand new one that doesn’t have the filter and i’m not sure if i can submerge it now like i’ve been told to do.. Anyone have the same elbow? (in the photo the first one is the one with the filter and the one on the right is the one i have now)
Also i clean my humidifier tank and pop off the face mask and clean it daily but do everything else weekly. Any tips on that would also be appreciated.

[YipeekiOH]

My honest answer is to follow the cleaning and maintenance instructions that comes with all CPAP equipment. When I was using a full face mask, I washed the elbow and really didn’t care whether it was dry or not because I never checked. I shook it out really well, reattached and all was good.

[Sleeprider]

The original elbow did not have a filter, but an anti-asphyxiation valve. Basically this is just a check-valve to prevent exhaled air from traveling up the tube, that opens to allow airflow if the machine turns off. I'll be honest, cleaning is over-rated, and if you get to it once a week, it's probably enough. Nothing in that elbow can be damaged by cleaning, but it can take some time to dry. A more reasonable schedule is to clean cushions each day, the elbow and tube every week or two.