Do I have to "clean" my heated CPAP hose?

[ejbpesca]

I have not cleaned my hoses for over 15 years, heated and not heated. I replace them every 3 months. Masks get cleaned with soap and water to get the oil off. If too tired I clean the mask with alcohol and water from a spray bottle and rub it down with a baby wipe. I have read not to use alcohol on the masks yet it does not seem to harm them.

[Deborah K.]

I never clean mine either. I get new hoses but am still using the one I got with the machine in March of 2021.

[Sleepy Quixote]

No cleaning of the hose here either (heated without humidification), I wear a ResMed P30i the head gear gets a thorough hot water rinse every few days, the nasal pillows get a daily wipe down, the muffled pillow vent (some sort of fibrous filter like material) gets flushed with water frequently, the reduction in air passage from the material being wet greatly reduces my central events, its about a simple an EERS system you can get.

[Palmtrees]

oh golly, and here I am, cleaning away!  wash out the nasal pillows every morning with soap and water, air dry.  Humidifier chamber gets emptied and air dried each am.  Once a week, I clean out everything with 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water, then with soapy water and then rinsed and air dried.  Well, I live in South Florida and ANYTHING that is damp or wet will grow mold, very quickly.  I just clean it.  As for the heated hose....yes, it gets rinsed out once a week w the vinegar solution, then the soapy water, then fresh water and hung up to dry.  I used to work in an ICU and I saw how they had to clean out the humidifiers on the ventilators.  Nuh-uh...no molds for me.