02-11-2016, 01:16 AM
Cleaning my cpap after exposure to smoke
Hello I'm new and this questions probably been asked before but I spent 5 nights away at a family members house. I am a non smoker who is actually a little sensitive to exposure to cigarette smoke shortly after being exposed I lose my voice and my chest gets wheezy.
But I love my mom and I wouldn't think to tell her I won't stay at her house because she smokes. When I'm there she smokes outside but when I'm not she smokes inside. After the 5 nights I stayed over my cpap machine has a strong cigarette smoke smell. Thinking it was the mask I've cleaned it several times. But I think it's in the hose and machine too. I changed the white filter but the smoke smell is lingering.
Is there a way to sanitize the machine well enough to completely remove the smell? I made sure I brought it because my whole family was staying over and sharing a room and without my cpap machine I snore terribly.
Any advice would be welcome. I love my machine but it's making me sick and I'm having problems falling asleep. I plan to clean the hose tomorriw. But not sure what to use to really clean it well enough to get it 100% smoke free.
02-11-2016, 09:26 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-12-2016, 07:24 AM by JWR.)
RE: Cleaning my cpap after exposure to smoke
Quote:
Any advice would be welcome. I love my machine but it's making me sick and I'm having problems falling asleep. I plan to clean the hose tomorriw. But not sure what to use to really clean it well enough to get it 100% smoke free.
Sorry to be the one to tell you that it's next to impossible to completely remove smoke smell from a cpap machine. I have even completely torn down machines to the last part, cleaned sanitized and the smell is still there. Problem is the smell gets in the silicone parts and the blower. Short of a new/ newer machine from a smoke free home or new you will have a smoke smell. Keep you old machine for when you go to your mother's house. Craigslist is a good place to pick up used machines. Just check the hours and make sure you smell the output port of the machine.
RE: Cleaning my cpap after exposure to smoke
Thank you, that's disappointing to hear but makes sense.
02-11-2016, 10:03 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-11-2016, 10:05 AM by Sleeprider.)
RE: Cleaning my cpap after exposure to smoke
Silicon seals and parts can be replaced, and that usually completely removes the smell. I am using an Auto BiPAP that had an awful cigarette odor when I bought it off Craigslist, and it is absolutely undetectable now. I replaced all filters and used Ozium original spray to spray a small cloth that I then placed close to the machine intake, and let that vapor pass through the machine. Ozium is used to recondition vehicles that have smoke odor and is a very powerful disinfectant and odor remover. Just don't spray it directly into the machine. That removed most of the odor. I then replace the silicon seals on the dry box (seals between blower and humidifier), and the humidifier lid. These all cost less than $10. After that, the problem was fully resolved.
It takes some work, and while I know where to buy seals for respironics machines, I don't know about resmed. Try the Ozium, and just order a new hose. A Climateline heated hose is $40 and an standard unheated hose is under $20. These are replacement items anyway, and your provider may give you one as a routine replacement, otherwise, just look online.
02-11-2016, 12:30 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-11-2016, 12:37 PM by HermannTheGerman.)
RE: Cleaning my cpap after exposure to smoke
I used ozone in my cars plenty of times before I sold them.
I have been a heavy smoker until 2 years ago.
Ozone did a great job. No cigarette odor after that.
There is a ozone cleaning device for cpap machines. It is a bit expensive for single use, but I would think about it if you go to visit your mom more often.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzv2PGaOZF8
Greatings
Hermann
RE: Cleaning my cpap after exposure to smoke
(02-11-2016, 01:16 AM)Mykidsandi Wrote: I plan to clean the hose tomorriw. But not sure what to use to really clean it well enough to get it 100% smoke free.
I made a small video some times ago, how I clean my hose.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1qr1P_o...e=youtu.be
Hermann
RE: Cleaning my cpap after exposure to smoke
That is very clever; it looks like it makes hose cleaning fun...
RE: Cleaning my cpap after exposure to smoke
Hi Mykidsandi,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Good luck to you with getting your machine cleaned and much success to you with your CPAP therapy.
Hang in there for more responses to your post.
trish6hundred
RE: Cleaning my cpap after exposure to smoke
(02-11-2016, 12:30 PM)HermannTheGerman Wrote: There is a ozone cleaning device for cpap machines. It is a bit expensive for single use, but I would think about it if you go to visit your mom more often.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzv2PGaOZF8
The SoClean ozone device does NOT treat the blower unit, just the water chamber, hose, and mask. None of the ozone goes into the blower unit.
Get the free OSCAR CPAP software
here.
Useful links.
Click
here for information on the main alternative to CPAP.
If it's midnight and a DME tells you it's dark outside, go and check it yourself.
RE: Cleaning my cpap after exposure to smoke
Just to clarify, I was not suggesting use of ozone or an ozone generator. Ozium is an aerosol product, often sold in automotive stores or on Amazon, CVS pharmacies, etc. It is a glycolized air sanitizer. In addition to deodorizing cars, hotel rooms and other commercial uses, pot heads have found it even eliminates evidence of their smoking activity. It really kills cigarette smoke, but you don't want to inhale this stuff, or spray it directly into the machine.
