Cleaning CPAP Equipment

[FrankNichols]

My question would be... what's the easiest and fastest way to clean the hose? I'm willing to sacrifice efficiency and speed for effectiveness. I know that for myself, if it's a process that takes any amount of time, I'm less likely to do it. Fortunately with the humidifier tank, I just throw it in the top rack of the dishwasher.

I am one of the once a week people. I take hose, mask, humidifier into the kitchen and half fill a sink with hot water and a dash of plain dish soap. I put everything in and swirl it around a little, then let it soak about 30 minutes. I then swish it some more and then run water over under and through everything until clear.

I take the headgear and once soaked I put a few drops of soap on it and massage it until completely foamy, then continue massaging while holding under running water until it is clear - no more suds.

I then lay everything out on a dish towel and let it air dry for an hour or two.

My involvement is about a total of 10 minutes to take it all apart, swish it around, rinse it off, lay it out to dry and then put it all back together. Once a week doesn't bother me.

I wipe down the mask and cushions every night before going to bed and top off the humidifier as necessary. I then wipe again in the morning when I get up. I use a cheap non-alcohol "baby wipe".

[Sleepster]

I use a hose brush. It's fast, effective, and easy.

[PaytonA]

It looks like our members with round tuits are not showing up for this thread. I wash the humidifier tank and the hard plastic parts of my mask when I get a round tuit. I have washed one of my hoses once or maybe twice in the last 4 years. I have decided to clean the mask cushions only with Pampers baby wipes. Keeps the cushions in excellent shape and helps to seal in or replace the plasticizer in the Silicone that keeps it flexible. It also gives the silicone a little bit of tackiness which I think helps to maintain the seal.

I have not even had a cold in the 5 years that I have been a hosehead.

Best Regards,

PaytonA

[palerider]

It looks like our members with round tuits are not showing up for this thread. I wash the humidifier tank and the hard plastic parts of my mask when I get a round tuit. I have washed one of my hoses once or maybe twice in the last 4 years. I have decided to clean the mask cushions only with Pampers baby wipes. Keeps the cushions in excellent shape and helps to seal in or replace the plasticizer in the Silicone that keeps it flexible. It also gives the silicone a little bit of tackiness which I think helps to maintain the seal.

I have not even had a cold in the 5 years that I have been a hosehead.

Best Regards,

PaytonA

I think that there's a lot of people that are new, and fervently cleaning their equipment, and people that have been doing it for some long time, that have decided it's not worth the trouble. I've never washed my second hose, (second in seven years) though I did wash the first one a couple times... because people said to.. then I figured "why?" I'll wipe down the mask, and wash it if it doesn't still look clean. change filters when they're dusty... it works for me.

[shewhorn]

I know some people have had issues with various science experiments growing in their hoses, etc. and getting sick as a result (mold is especially nasty). I'm guessing success may be regional. While Dallas is (if I'm correct) kind of in the middle for humidity, it's often so hot there that air conditioning is a requirement. AC dries out the air so... you have a climate controlled environment (not hot) with very dry air which isn't as hospitable to science projects. In a more humid environment such as where I live (NH) where you need a machete to cut the air in the summer months (and not everyone has AC), it might be more favorable to interesting things growing in your hose! Just a theory.

I think my DME replaces my hose every 6 months. I'll probably clean it more frequently in the summer months when a SCUBA tank is required to breath, and not as frequently in the winter months where it's so friggin' dry you need to wear a Faraday cage to avoid getting shocked!

[AlanE]

It looks like our members with round tuits are not showing up for this thread. I wash the humidifier tank and the hard plastic parts of my mask when I get a round tuit.

I've been bad about not washing mine every week so I occasionally go two weeks but I've never had an issue and I use distilled water all the time. I also change out my filter rather than wash it. They are cheap enough. I replace the pillows ever 3 months.

I would go broke if I listen to my DME who says I need to change out the pillows every few days.

[monkeyfeathers]

Lavender scented baby shampoo. Cushion daily. Everything else weekly. Dawn dish liquid gave sour smell(or maybe it was me)

[KSMatthew]

Every morning: wash the nasal pillows and mask parts that make contact with my face in warm water with regular soap, the same stuff I wash my hands and face with. Doesn't take any longer than washing hands.

Once a week: Fill sink with hot water and Dawn detergent, toss in everything - hose, mask, headgear, filter, and let it soak for about 20 min while I do other errands. Rinse everything out under hot water. Press out the filter and headgear on a towel, hang the hose to dry. Takes a few minutes to put everything in the sink, and a few minutes to rinse, dry, and shake off.

I don't use a humidifier. If I did, I'd probably have to add more steps to be sure of getting rid of, and preventing, mildew.

[Rcgop]

I personally subscribe to the manufacturer's and insurance's recommendations. Not what the DME wants to sell me. No more, no less. Not to say there are special situations that apply.