cleaning hoses

[beccatin]

I have read many posts about cleaning the cpap hose. I am new to the cpap world since October. A few of you helped me get started. *thanks* I have found a nice way to clean my 6 foot long hose as well as my mask hose. I use a rod for cleaning guns. yeppers it is growing up in the mountains of Idaho that made me think of this. A shotgun barrel is 3 feet but the hose compacts. I use clorox or lysol wipes on the end of my rod to clean my hoses out then a clean dry cloth to dry them. This works better then a blow dryer and better then hanging.

[cassaro]

I do the same process but use a rod from Home Depot. The rod is used to fish electrical wires through the wall of your home. The rod is about a 1/4" in diameter and 6' long. It is made of fiberglass and is stiff yet flexible. The cost was just under $20 and very easy to store in the corner when not being used.

[Marietjie]

then a clean dry cloth

baccatin....how often do you clean your hoses....once a week ? ? ? Most of the members prefer NOT to wash/clean the hoses. I've got a new hose now and I like how you clean them. If I may suggest something....?..... get a lint free cloth to dry the hoses.

I use a rod for cleaning guns

....it's one of those simply things that makes one ask: 'Now why didn't I think of that' ! ! ! I'll ask hubby to get me a rod - thanx for the idea

[drubin007]

am I doing it wrong?

As I have learned from this forum, and here is what I have been doing for the 3 weeks I have been on cpap:

once a week (usually mid week) I drain the water tank for the humidifier and let it air dry (so it does not grow a film on the bottom).

Evert weekend (Saturday or Sunday) I soal my hasal pillow attachment, my hose, and the water tank in baby shampoo/water mix. Let soak for half hour or so (sure to rinse soapy water thru the hose). rinse clean, and then do the white vinegar/water cocktail, rise again, and let air dry for the day... I do not push a rod thru the hose to dry it, let the air do it for me.

[DreamStalker]

I have not washed my hose since I got it about 3 years ago (looks exactly the same as when I got it). I have only swish/rinsed out my HH reservoir 2 or 3 times in the same period (looks exactly the same as when I got it ... and I use only distilled water in and nothing else).

Basically, if stuff starts growing (or moving) in your equipment or it begins to smell ... you probably should clean it more frequently ... otherwise the frequency of cleaning is based on how comfortable you are with cleaning it.

[drubin007]

I have not washed my hose since I got it about 3 years ago (looks exactly the same as when I got it). I have only swish/rinsed out my HH reservoir 2 or 3 times in the same period (looks exactly the same as when I got it ... and I use only distilled water in and nothing else).

Basically, if stuff starts growing (or moving) in your equipment or it begins to smell ... you probably should clean it more frequently ... otherwise the frequency of cleaning is based on how comfortable you are with cleaning it.

3 years??? Maybe I am still wet behind the ears here, but don't you get new components every 6 months? (hoses, masks, etc)? I have read the horror stories on here, and must be 100% compliant or my insurance company threatned to come over and cause bodily harm to my person... I would imagine your cpap is something of a science experiment?

[SaltLakeJan]

Mornin' drubin007,

How do those who have apnea survive, without the ideas the people on Cpaptalk.come up with? Many do not. It would be fun to have a consecutive list of the creative and inventive ideas that members of the forum have originated.

Since getting my CPAP equipment, I have not been satisfied with the results of washing my hose. As the result of reading today, I can:

I may suggest something....?..... get a lint free cloth to dry the hoses.

use a rod for cleaning guns. " shotgun barrel is 3 feet but the hose compacts. I use clorox or lysol wipes on the end of my rod to clean my hoses out then a clean dry cloth to dry them. This works better then a blow dryer and better then hanging.

I do the same process but use a rod from Home Depot. The rod is used to fish electrical wires through the wall of your home. The rod is about a 1/4" in diameter and 6' long. It is made of fiberglass and is stiff yet flexible. The cost was just under $20 and very easy to store in the corner when not being used.

.

Find a rod that fits my purposes, wash the hose, and dry it with a lint free cloth.

Thanks for all suggestions. They are great.

Jan

[JayR_1945]

About once a month, I fill the kitchen sink with water and a dishwashing soap, and just a few drops of bleach.
A few (small) drops will kill anything, and too much leaves a "bleach" smell in the hose.
Soak the hose and mask and foam filters for about 10 minutes.
I use an unbent coat hanger with a 2x6" piece of cloth(from an old undershirt) crimped to the end, yes like a gun cleaning rod.

Fill the sink with rinse water, repeat the same.
Hang the hose in the shower to dry.
Connect the hose and run the CPAP without "auto off" for about an hour to get rid of the remaining moisture and bleach smell.

[Wulfman]

I have read many posts about cleaning the cpap hose. I am new to the cpap world since October. A few of you helped me get started. *thanks* I have found a nice way to clean my 6 foot long hose as well as my mask hose. I use a rod for cleaning guns. yeppers it is growing up in the mountains of Idaho that made me think of this. A shotgun barrel is 3 feet but the hose compacts. I use clorox or lysol wipes on the end of my rod to clean my hoses out then a clean dry cloth to dry them. This works better then a blow dryer and better then hanging.

WHAT? You mean you don't run some Hoppe's No. 9 through it, too? (he said with tongue-in-cheek)

http://www.hoppes.com/products/kits_sho ... g_kit.html

I've got DreamStalker beat. I haven't cleaned my hose (same, original one) for the 4+ years I've been on this therapy. All the extra "stuff" (machines, hoses, filters, masks, etc.) that I have, I have purchased out-of-pocket and don't rely on my insurance to pay the over-inflated prices from the brick & mortar DMEs. I've also got 4+ years on my original mask and seal......and it's still working great. And, I've never had my original humidifier tank apart. I just empty it after a few months, then rinse with hot tap water and refill with distilled. It's still crystal clear and appears "new". (but, I don't use heated humidification)


Den

[socks349]

Still newbie, but taking a more moderate approach. I hang my hose up each morning, and I simply rinse the mask pillows and the feed hose in water each day, then hang it up to dry. Each week I wash hose and headgear in warm soapy water and rinse before hanging up. My only concern re using something like chlorox is that if any traces remain then it could generate something of a response - I know that for some reason I've become hypersensitive to chlorine-based products. I think if we develop relatively neutral cleaning methods that discourage bacteria then these will likely be good long-term techniques.

[plr66]

I am one who agrees with Den and DreamStalker. There simply is no reason to be washing your hose. You have a filter on your xpap machine, and you should be using distilled water whether or not you use the heated humidifier or passover humidity. There have been hundreds of threads on this subject, if you do a search in the block at the top of this page. Washing the hose can actually create problems your hose would not have had if you had kept it clean from soap and tap water. Ordering new equipment which is not necessary, just because insurance covers it at a certain time-frame, is unconscionable, IMHO. Don't get me started

[6PtStar]

I don't clean my hoses very often but once in a while I do. I don't know why but I have a hose connector, the kind made to hook 2 hoses together. I put a little water and Johnsons baby shampoo in the hose hook the 2 ends to the connector and spin the hose for a bit. Take off the connector and drain the mixture. Hook it to the bathroom faucet and flush. I have a lot of gun cleaning rods but I found that a fishing sinker tied to a nylon string with a loop on the end works better. I have a couple of strips off of a faux shammy that I bought to wash the car that I put in the loop on the string and pull through to dry. Completely dry in no time. I do have two hoses and I do rotate them so they do dry well between uses. Seem like I don't make as big a mess this way.

Jerry

[DreamStalker]

3 years??? Maybe I am still wet behind the ears here, ,,,

... I would imagine your cpap is something of a science experiment?

Yep ... that's prolly cuz you wash yur stuff way too often

My experiment was completed over two years ago. My system is tweaked for maximum efficiency and effectiveness and I'm willing to bet I do better than average.

[taberge]

OK I have THE solution for everyone that has a problem of cleaning your hoses. I don't know if anyone else posted this method but I I figured this out on my own for sure.

All my equipment is cleaned once a week with hot water and baby shampoo. I can't find the "pure" soap anywhere so baby shampoo has worked just fine. The only thing I clean with pure water is the foam air filter. I try to dry off the mask pieces and the humidifier tank as best as possible to prevent deposits from forming on the equipment. The hose I hang and let drain for at least 30 mins. Now what you need to dry it out nicely is one of those air matress inflation pumps. You can get them in any sports dept or sport store. I got mine for Wal-mart for $12.97 at the time. I blows cool air at first then it gently warms up a little drying the hose out very nicely.

For me, not cleaning all the pieces would be unthinkable. I would be anxious about catching something nasty.

[JayR_1945]

I would be anxious about catching something nasty.

I would agree that there is a lot of personal preference in the degree and frequency of cleaning. I'm a bit more scrupulous during the Feb-April cardiac and flu season than I am during the rest of the year, where I may let it go 2-3 months. Same with bathroom cleaning and those growing things in the fridge. I'm busy. And, there are always paper plates.
The concern is that the hose, especially one that is damp from humidification may harbor bacteria and viruses. That's why we are urged to get our influenza shot every year and a phuemonia shot every 3 years or so. Because of exposure to hypoxia, our immune system is often compromised.

Pnuemonia shot, cleaning and/or buy new hoses? Our choice.