New Approach to Thoroughly Cleaning Your CPAP

[SuperSleeper]

I think the problem is us. The kids dont play in the dirt anymore not allowed to touch something cos its dirty, we are just too clean and now our kids who have grown up have a bad immune system. Give us back the good old days cos dirt is good for you

TOTALLY AGREE. Way too many kids more interested in gazing at a hand-held game device than going outside and having fun like we used to do in the good old days.

DIRT IS GOOD.

[Dreamcatcher]

[sleepisgreat]

Well yeah, if you're breathing into something the whole night it's going to get bad. The best thing is just water on cleaning them out but make sure you don't over do it.

[DocWils]

If you are using properly distilled water and regularly (but not madly) clean your equipment and dry it thoroughly with clean warm aid (a blow dryer should do, air drying is fine if you avoid areas where dust and other contaminants can attach to the surfaces of your device while wet)You shouldn't have much in the way of bacterial build-up. Distilled water has nothing in it for a growth medium, and germs from your out breath don't get all that far back up the hose.

Sure ozone is a great idea, but after long experience with home use of CPAPs, the manufacturer's cleaning guidelines should be sufficient. If you feel a bit worried about it, most manufacturers also provide cleaning guidelines for hospital level disinfection, usually with product you can get form your pharmacy or medical supply shop. We don't autoclave the devices or the hoses at the hospital, we use alcohol and other anti-bacterial and anti viral substances. Not that hard, really.... One the other hand, the ozone method does work, and it is certainly great toy value. It really all depends on how much you feel about what you perceive as the acceptable level of cleanliness.

[Shastzi]

Yanno kids.
Ozone is great for killing germs! Yup.
It's O3, the toxic evil twin of our life giving friend, O2.

It has a distinct metallic smell to it and it kills people too in large enough quantities but most folks leave when they get a headache.

Oh, it also *DESTROYS PLASTICS*, unless that certain plastic is specifically ozone stabilized.
Guess what all our cute little maskies are made of.....RIGHT!

To the next issue: "Does it matter?"
Maybe not.
If you throw away all your hoses and masks anyway after a couple months it may not make any difference.
Will it save you from washing?
Nope.
You have to mechanically remove all the crap first by washing it.
So, there you have it.

Don't take any wooden nickles ether.

Cheers!

[Ugly]

Yanno kids.
Ozone is great for killing germs! Yup.
It's O3, the toxic evil twin of our life giving friend, O2.

I thought ozone was good
And holes in ozone are bad

[PaulaO2]

It is good where it is up in the atmosphere, not so good here with us.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone

It is a gimmick. Anything for a buck. Using an ozone "cleaner" is along the same lines of "our weight loss pill works! taking it twice a day, along with regular exercise and healthy eating, will melt off the fat!".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone#Consumers

In the U.S., air purifiers emitting low levels of ozone have been sold. This kind of air purifier is sometimes claimed to imitate nature's way of purifying the air without filters and to sanitize both it and household surfaces. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared that there is "evidence to show that at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone is not effective at removing many odor-causing chemicals" or "viruses, bacteria, mold, or other biological pollutants." Furthermore, its report states that "results of some controlled studies show that concentrations of ozone considerably higher than these [human safety] standards are possible even when a user follows the manufacturer’s operating instructions."[66] The government successfully sued one company in 1995, ordering it to stop repeating health claims without supporting scientific studies.

(original report: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html#conclusions )

[Better Rest]

While ozone is indeed a powerful substance, when used responsibly and safely, it can be highly beneficial. Today it can be found being used in many municipal water purification operations, as well as in food handling/processing. Ozone has the ability to break down certain materials, most notably natural rubber and nylon. If you Google "ozone compatibility" you can see just what kind of materials don't do well when exposed to ozone. I've been using the SoClean for over a year now, with no adverse affects to any of my CPAP components. The same can be said for many more satisfied users. That ozone has the ability to destroy biological pathogens is solidly established. It can do so far more quickly and efficiently than many other substances.

The EPA has been critical of certain "air cleaners" that make use of ozone–and rightly so. These devices expel ozone into the outside environment where human exposure to it can be a problem. Ozone, in high enough concentration, can cause respiratory problems. It's important to note the SoClean emits no ozone into the outside environment. It functions as a closed loop, with any ozone expelled during operation being converted back into normal oxygen (O2) by means of a filter. Any residual ozone left in the machine reverts back into O2 in about 2 hours time.

There are many misconceptions about the home use of ozone. The SoClean website can answer many of them. Feel free to give them a call as well.

[PaulaO2]

To be totally sarcastic, yeah, call and ask the company making the product to answer your questions about the concerns of ozone and the debunking of their product by the FDA. It's like going swimming with the sharks to ask them just how to avoid being eaten by one.

[Shastzi]

...and I have a bridge to sell ya...