A10 cleaning

[palerider]

...and I tend to discount 99.9% of marketing material.

that generally seems to be the wisest course

[Jim Bronson]

I must be the forum slob. Here's my 18 month cleaning history:

Humidifier: I top it off with distilled water every morning. I dump, rinse and refill it it about monthly. I think I've washed it in dish detergent once or twice.
Air filter: Replaced it twice.
ClimateLine Hose: Soaked it once or twice in diluted vinegar. Still using the original one. I may have rinsed it in detergent water once.
Mask: I wash it in anti-bacterial liquid hand soap about every two weeks. I use them until they begin to discolor or the silicone starts to crack (about two or three months).
Mask frame: I think I've washed it once or twice.
Head gear: Still using the original. Haven't cleaned it yet.

I have drawers full of replacements that my DME insists on sending me anyway. Don't you just love the government.

[holden4th]

Food grade hydrogen peroxide - 6%. As it works on the gunk build up in your mask and hoses it loses one hydrogen atom and becomes water. Vinegar changes to something else.

I use H2O2 for a variety of purposes and put it into both my mouth (morning gargle) and my ears to get rid of excess wax build up with no ill effects. Isopropyl alcohol will do a similar job but I trust the chemical reaction from H2O2 over isopropyl alcohol.

[shewhorn]

Is anyone using CPAP specific wipes? That's what I've been doing to clean the mask cushion. They seem to do the job just fine. If I hold the mask up to the light before and after, it looks like they're getting rid of the oil which seemed to be the main concern as it can compromise the seal.

Other than that I just dump the remaining water as soon as I get up, and then put the empty tank back in the machine until the cool down cycle is complete, after which I take the tank out and leave it open (without the tank inserted, air will not flow down the hose to dry it out). If I really want to make sure everything is dried out, I run a warming cycle with the tank empty, and then let go into cool down. Pretty sure after those two cycles, there won't be any moisture left in the system.

[Sleeprider]

I do home brewing, so I started using Star San for disinfecting CPAP equipment. It is an acid sanitizer that is odorless and tasteless. It takes a dilution of just 1.5 cc/quart (liter), and does not require rinsing. It keeps mineral deposits under control, and leaves the humidifier, hose and other ask parts sanitized. I just use Dawn for the nasal pillows.

Whatever works for you is fine, but I don't like the smell of vinegar, and it actually can support organisms as a food source, so that is not something I use.

[Sleepster]

Is anyone using CPAP specific wipes?

I do use wipes on occasion when it's more convenient than a wash in warm soapy water. Removing the oils is indeed the solution. Any kind of wipe will do, as long as it doesn't contain a lotion designed to soothe the skin, as that is just as bad as the skin oils you're trying to remove.

[sdb7802]

Is anyone using CPAP specific wipes?

I'm been using some citrus mask wipes from Supplier #1. They clean my P10 just fine and don't leave a citrus smell on the nasal pillows. I'm sure there are cheaper options but these work pretty well for me.