Cleaning with hydrogen peroxide

[holden4th]

H2O2 is not caustic is you use the food grade type which is diluted to between 3-6%. I use it in my ears to dissolve wax, much better than using a cotton bud. You put it in and you can hear it fizzing away as it dissolves the cerumen. It doesn't affect anything else in the ear.

So if I can put it in my ears then you can certainly use it to clean your machine.

[Marillion]

Hydrogen peroxide as purchased from the store is about 3-4% concentration. Its foaming action, in addition to being an oxidizer makes it a safe and effective cleaning agent.  I use this about once per month in the humidifier chamber, and it cleans places I can't physically reach with other means.  By pouring in 1/2 cup and agitating, and brushing, then leaving the solution for a few hours and agitating before rinsing, I get a shiny, spotless result.  I don't do microbial swabs, but I would put this method up against most other approaches as being effective and safe.

I always defer to Sleeprider's advice!  He knows what he is talking about. 

However, the OP suggested using Hydrogen Peroxide for cleaning the mask and tubes.  I would be much more careful using hydrogen peroxide for the mask and soft plastic tubes as opposed to just the humidifier chamber which is a hard plastic.  The soft plastic may or may not be affected.  In any case, I submit that dish soap and warm water is safe and proven effective for keeping everything clean. Unless you have some specific relevant issues with yourself or your equipment that may occasionally require something more serious.

[DoubtFire61]

Dish soap and water is good enough to get all of those food scraps off your plate, knife, and spoon and keep you from getting Diareahea.  You trust that product enough to put a spoon into your mouth so why not trust t in your cpap machine.

Not to be snarky, but because your digestive tract has a ton of defenses against pathogens starting with saliva (including fast-forward and reverse), your lungs not so much.

[Sleeprider]

Dish soap and water is good enough to get all of those food scraps off your plate, knife, and spoon and keep you from getting Diareahea.  You trust that product enough to put a spoon into your mouth so why not trust t in your cpap machine.

Not to be snarky, but because your digestive tract has a ton of defenses against pathogens starting with saliva (including fast-forward and reverse), your lungs not so much.

Actually detergents like Dawn are very effective at stripping surfaces of contaminates and biofilm, and will leave a clean surface with a very low contamination level that could be "disinfected". It is more than enough for the CPAP equipment, and meets all manufacturer recommendations for individual use cleaning.  Disinfection is not a requirement unless equipment is shared.  In healthy individuals the upper airway and even the bronchial airways are well-defended against common pathogens and aerosol contaminates.  I disagree with your disagreement.

The uses of soap, detergent and hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and mild disinfectants used according to directions are safe on pretty much any component other than the flow generator.

[Snoring Bear]

Dish soap and water is good enough to get all of those food scraps off your plate, knife, and spoon and keep you from getting Diareahea.  You trust that product enough to put a spoon into your mouth so why not trust t in your cpap machine.

Not to be snarky, but because your digestive tract has a ton of defenses against pathogens starting with saliva (including fast-forward and reverse), your lungs not so much.

Actually detergents like Dawn are very effective at stripping surfaces of contaminates and biofilm, and will leave a clean surface with a very low contamination level that could be "disinfected". It is more than enough for the CPAP equipment, and meets all manufacturer recommendations for individual use cleaning.  Disinfection is not a requirement unless equipment is shared.  In healthy individuals the upper airway and even the bronchial airways are well-defended against common pathogens and aerosol contaminates.  I disagree with your disagreement.

The uses of soap, detergent and hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and mild disinfectants used according to directions are safe on pretty much any component other than the flow generator.

SR-

During the one week trial/titration i just completed, one respiratory therapist said that Dawn detergent could strip the silicone material from the hose;  so she suggested using products like Joy, Palmolive or Dove detergent for hose cleanings.  I have no clue if her advice has any merit.

[Sleeprider]

SR-

During the one week trial/titration i just completed, one respiratory therapist said that Dawn detergent could strip the silicone material from the hose;  so she suggested using products like Joy, Palmolive or Dove detergent for hose cleanings.  I have no clue if her advice has any merit.

Everyone is entitled to their preferences, but medical grade silicone is highly resistant to ordinary cleaning detergents and can withstand even harsher hospital grade disinfectants. Dawn is mainly a very effective de-greaser and surfactant and has no more or less effect than other brands of dish detergent. Silicone cannot be "stripped" by any of these products, and one of its features is that it is nearly impervious to solvents other than methyl siloxane.

[Snoring Bear]

SR-

During the one week trial/titration i just completed, one respiratory therapist said that Dawn detergent could strip the silicone material from the hose;  so she suggested using products like Joy, Palmolive or Dove detergent for hose cleanings.  I have no clue if her advice has any merit.

Everyone is entitled to their preferences, but medical grade silicone is highly resistant to ordinary cleaning detergents and can withstand even harsher hospital grade disinfectants. Dawn is mainly a very effective de-greaser and surfactant and has no more or less effect than other brands of dish detergent.  Silicone cannot be "stripped" by any of these products, and one of its features is that it is nearly impervious to solvents other than methyl siloxane.

The lady who gave the advice re Dawn, which is incidentally all I ever use at home for dishes, etc..., is just one lady at Kaiser. She could easily be wrong on this topic as she seems to have been re sinus rinse methods.  It's great to have this forum to get info on anything dealing with sleep apnea.  Thanks!



get info on sleep apnea.

[Sabee]

Hello, my question is:  I read about soft baby shampoo being better than dish soap.  I use a kind of soft dish soap, but I just wonder which one will leave less residue when fully rinsed with clear water.

Thank you 

[Snoring Bear]

Hello, my question is:  I read about soft baby shampoo being better than dish soap.  I use a kind of soft dish soap, but I just wonder which one will leave less residue when fully rinsed with clear water.

Thank you 

The respiratory therapist I saw had mentioned using shampoo for the head straps and a dish soap like Ivory, Palmolive or Ivory for the actual mask.  Of course many people here are happy using Dawn soap for their masks.

Btw, how often do people clean their humidifier tubs? The therapist had told us to empty the water container every morning, let it dry and refill to the first line each night (Resmed 10 Autoset). I can't imagine many people doing that!

[SleeplessinPgh]

Hello, my question is:  I read about soft baby shampoo being better than dish soap.  I use a kind of soft dish soap, but I just wonder which one will leave less residue when fully rinsed with clear water.

Thank you 

The respiratory therapist I saw had mentioned using shampoo for the head straps and a dish soap like Ivory, Palmolive or Ivory for the actual mask.  Of course many people here are happy using Dawn soap for their masks.

Btw, how often do people clean their humidifier tubs? The therapist had told us to empty the water container every morning, let it dry and refill to the first line each night (Resmed 10 Autoset). I can't imagine many people doing that!

That's just what I do.  I don't have to fill it to the maximum line, and there's usually just a tablespoon or two left in the morning.  I'd rather dump it and start fresh each evening.  Once a week, I wash everything with Dawn, then use a vinegar/water soak.  Again, it's just my preference.  On a recent 3-week vacation, I didn't clean at all, just started each night with fresh distilled water.  Didn't seem to hurt anything.