How to clean your Resmed AutoSet 10 heated hose?

[Hmm888]

Can you immerse the entire heated hose in water even with the special connector? Reading the manual seems to suggest you can?

[DeepBreathing]

Yes, I've been immersing the entire hose for years with no problems. I dunk it in a basin of hot soapy water, slosh it back and forth a few times then drain it. I then run very hot clean water through it to flush out the soap, and hang it up to dry.

[mesenteria]

Just for a little cheap insurance against oxidation of the connector tabs, the electrical ones on the male end of the hose, I would dab at all their visible surfaces with a Q-Tip dipped in isopropyl alcohol.  It is hydroscopic and will absorb all the water, which, as you probably are aware, is an enabler for oxidation if it is the least bit acidic.  Or, purchase a small can of electrical contact cleaner and give them a short blast once every five or eight cleansings after you have finished rinsing them under water and the water has evaporated apparently.

I have even gone to rubbing the visible contacts with a clean, freshly scrubbed (on your jeans), pencil eraser.  This works wonders to restore contacts on cordless phones as well, BTW.  Even the side of a rubber band will do in a pinch.  The rubber will scrub off oils and contaminants and some of the oxidation, much of which is not always visible.

Again, you needn't do this as often as you swish and rinse the hose.

[MitchS]

I completely immerse my hose, slosh the water around in it, dump the water, repeat and then rinse in hot water. I use an air mattress inflater to blow air through the base to dry it out.

[Big Guy]

Yes, I've been immersing the entire hose for years with no problems. I dunk it in a basin of hot soapy water, slosh it back and forth a few times then drain it. I then run very hot clean water through it to flush out the soap, and hang it up to dry.

^^^^^^ What he said! 

[Walla Walla]

An easier approach is to not wash it at all. I've never found mold or growth in my hoses after I stopped washing them.

[Big Guy]

What's the old saying?

An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. 

[SarcasticDave94]

Clean up time for my CPAP/ASV equipment involves Dawn dish liquid and very warm water. Soaking about half hour. This does include full immersion of the heated hose. Let all parts air dry for 4 hours or more. My cleaning intervals vary a bit, but roughly it's been between monthly and quarterly-ish.

[Lenerd]

I was recently hospitalized with a preliminary diagnosis of pneumonia. Later, I googled "does using a CPAP increase the risk of pneumonia?" Turns out, it does. (I did NOT have pneumonia, I did have sepsis! Not at all related to CPAP use.)

A member of the hospital staff said to get a bucket with a close-fitting lid and put hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and water in a 1:1 (equal parts) ratio and immerse the mask, hose, and humidifier chamber in the solution overnight. Rinse with hot water and hang to dry. Do this once a week and alternate the parts, one set soaking, rinsing, drying; one set on the machine. I wash my mask every day with soap and water, so I'll probably leave the mask out of the mix.

The H2O2/water solution can be used multiple times. Just put the date of the compounding on a card, when I've used the solution 4 times, make new solution. 

I came here to find out if immersing the heated hose would be okay. Yes, it is! And found other great stuff, including the "eraser on the metal contacts" piece. THANKS!

I'm all set to try this new cleaning regimen. Even though I didn't have CPAP-related pneumonia, I do want to clean, clean, clean that humidifier and hose. As the hospital staff person said, we like to breathe warm, moist air and bacteria love that, too! Hydrogen peroxide gives a knock-out punch.

[Big Guy]

I have to admit, the longer I'm doing this (CPAP Therapy) the more relaxed I am about it. It'll be 6 years in mid Sept.

I don't worry all that much about the hose anymore. I tend to focus on the mask. It gets a good cleaning about once a week or so. I use some Clorox anti-bacterial wipes between a good dunking in hot water and dish soap.