Is Putting Vinegar "In" Humidifier Water Safe?

[Lobo]

I got to thinking: if vinegar kills bacteria and fungal growth, wouldn't that be something good to put "in" my cpap's humidifier water? Wouldn't that help fight infections in my lungs to be breathing in steam with it in it? I actually have already tried--put a teaspoon of vinegar in my distilled water. I could not tell the next day if it helped me or not--didn't seem to hurt me, though.

[Matt00926]

I don't think it's possible for regular vinegar that you would use in cooking to harm you. That said, a regular routine of cleaning and maintaining the humidifier should be more than sufficient.

[knothead]

Gonna turn into a pickle...

[Morbius]

I don't think it's possible for regular vinegar that you would use in cooking to harm you.

Using that logic, inhaling broccoli isn't harmful either.

Anyway, in reponse to the OP, depending on the concentration, it can really FU your lungs:

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/81-123/pdfs/0002.pdf

[ChicagoGranny]

Gonna turn into a pickle...

[Matt00926]

I don't think it's possible for regular vinegar that you would use in cooking to harm you.

Using that logic, inhaling broccoli isn't harmful either.

Anyway, in reponse to the OP, depending on the concentration, it can really FU your lungs:

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/81-123/pdfs/0002.pdf

Right, the household use of acetic acid/vinegar is very concentrated. The vinegar you put on your chips and in your salad could be huffed all day long with probably no harmful effects.

I'd love to see a research piece on huffing broccoli.

[lindalrc]

Vinegar is acetic ACID and acetic acid is volatile (easily gives off fumes). As a former laboratory safety officer, I can not believe that breathing in acid molecules nightly for hours can be good for the lungs, even at very low concentrations. My opinion is DO NOT do this. However, absolutely use it for cleaning. Brief inhalation is not going to be a problem unless you have damaged lungs. Just rinse well.
lindalrc

[ChicagoGranny]

can be good for the lungs

[grayghost4]

can be good for the lungs

Now you know that is NOT what he said !!!

Why would you take it out of context and twist the meaning ?

You must be a Political analyst

[Sir NoddinOff]

Vinegar is acetic ACID and acetic acid is volatile (easily gives off fumes). As a former laboratory safety officer, I can not believe that breathing in acid molecules nightly for hours can be good for the lungs, even at very low concentrations. My opinion is DO NOT do this. However, absolutely use it for cleaning. Brief inhalation is not going to be a problem unless you have damaged lungs. Just rinse well.
lindalrc

I agree and I don't think the smell would be that pleasant all night long. Besides if you use distilled water and clean your tank from time to time there is no need for any type of acid. For cleaning I like the salt slurry trick while using a Q.tip for the corners.

[Wulfman...]

I got to thinking: if vinegar kills bacteria and fungal growth, wouldn't that be something good to put "in" my cpap's humidifier water? Wouldn't that help fight infections in my lungs to be breathing in steam with it in it? I actually have already tried--put a teaspoon of vinegar in my distilled water. I could not tell the next day if it helped me or not--didn't seem to hurt me, though.

NO! and NO!
You obviously don't know that water vapor molecules are too small to carry any pathogens (viruses or bacteria) out of the HH tank water to you. They would stay in the tank if they may exist at all. So, other than some smell you wouldn't be getting any benefit from it. I don't know if it would do you any harm, but I sure as Hell wouldn't want to be breathing that stuff all night.


Den

.

[ChicagoGranny]

You must be a Political analyst

This list of misquotes and misattributions might interest you - http://listverse.com/2008/05/15/top-10- ... misquotes/

[Goofproof]

While putting vinegar in your HH, it won't kill the vinegar, it will weaken the vinegar.

Maybe you need to read the 100 posts here on proper use of a HH with your XPAP. JIM

[PoolQ]

Just because you can eat something does not mean that you should breathe it.
Just clean your water chamber like the instructions say and you will be fine.

[palerider]

Just because you can eat something does not mean that you should breathe it.

case in point, drinking water is good, breathing water is bad.