More-Sterile/Easier-Cleaning Process?

bozmon · Post by **bozmon** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 3:33 pm

As I've mentioned in a previous thread, the cleaning rituals are a pain the neck to me. Another cpap'er (not a member here) mentioned to me that he uses a hot steam baby bottle cleaner for his equipment. It is normally meant to hold 12 baby bottles...you put 3 ounces of water in a holding tank, and the steam process cycle takes 8 minutes total. He says he cleans his silicone (non-gel) mask and hose every week this way.

Can anyone think if this would be a bad idea to copy his advice?

Thanks.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 3:54 pm

I would be careful about how hot that steamer can get. Different masks are made of different materials and some will wear faster if they are subjected to extreme heat. A good way to disinfect is to use a 1 part white vinigar to 3 parts water solution and use that once a week or once every other week. I would recommend removing the headgear if you use the fabric kind or the smell will never come out. Be sure to remove all components of the mask also as the oils and dirt can get in the small cracks and spaces.

unclebob · Post by **unclebob** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 6:51 pm

Hi Guest 4:54 pm,

I was told to use a 10 to 1 water / vinigar solution once a week. Why do you say 3 to 1 and can you get away with every two weeks?

I hate the cleaning thing too so looking for advice. I do not do any cleaning during the week - told I should wash in soapy water every day.

Rested Gal said she doesn't change the water in humidifier daily (as I was told to do) so am following her advice, just add and wash & disinfect weekly.

Any hot tips on this subject out there?

snugglebunner · Post by **snugglebunner** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 7:03 pm

I do the 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water.

But I have another problem - rainout! How do you disinfect the tubing???? I've thought of pouring the vinegar mixture through the tube and rinsing, but I have that fleece sleeve on it and it's not quick or easy to take off. Any thoughts?

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 3:14 am

Unclebob is right, I just add more distilled water to my humidifier. Actually, I never remove the water chamber to "clean" it - not weekly, not monthly. It stays crystal clear and clean just fine with distilled water. The only thing blowing across the water anyway is filtered air.

Hose - I haven't rinsed out in months. Again, all it has coming up through it is filtered air and clean distilled water moisture. Our own breath doesn't even go down into the main hose while the machine is on. Our breath goes out the exhaust holes of the mask.

Mask - I rinse the plastic shell out with plain water every few days. Perhaps once every month or so I slosh mild soapy water around in it. I never take it apart...ever.

Mask cushion and nasal pillows - now those I wipe off gently each morning with mild soap/water/soft cloth to remove any skin oils. Keeping the surface of the cushion that touches the face clean and washing the face before putting the mask on helps any mask seal better.

Headgear - I hand wash as needed. Doesn't seem to need it very often, thankfully.

I want things clean, but I'm just not going to go through elaborate soaking rituals that don't really seem necessary. Clean filters, distilled water, cushion wiped off...that's worked fine for me for over a year.

Pohtaytoh · Post by **Pohtaytoh** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 7:02 am

I'm with rested gal on this, to a point. I do the vinegar rinse on the hoses about twice a month on everything. The mask cushion is a daily wipe down. I have found that baby wipes work great for this. One in the morning to clean the cushion and give it a toss.

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 9:02 am

I'd be very cautious about not cleaning the humidifier on a regular basis. Especially if you have any allergies or are inclined to sinus problems. Distilled water is NOT sterile water and any unsealed container of water will foster bacteria growth.

I chatted with the Infection Control Dr. here at work (I'm in a large teaching hospital) about this. He suggested the following:

RISKY: Leaving the unsterilized water to sit day after day, only adding water as needed. Warm, still, unsteralized, unsealed water makes a great place for bugs to grow.

LESS RISKY: Dumping out the water daily, rinsing the humidifier with clean water and allowing to sit open so that it drys completely before refilling and using.

NO RISK: Empty the humidifier chamber, wash it with an antibacterial agent, rinse well and let dry completely.

I sure hate to suggest a practice other than what Rested Gal does (she has taught me SOOOOO much) but as I'm almost always an inch away from a sinus infection, I'm really cautious about not letting a bug grow in the humidifier. I wash the nasal pillows every morning as well as the humidifier. I wash the hose weekly.

bozmon · Post by **bozmon** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 9:26 am

So...back to the original question: Is the baby bottle sterilizer a good idea, or not? The original suggester says yes. One guest says no.

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 12:14 pm

Sure, it is a good idea as long as the humidifer parts can tolerate the heat generated in the bottle steralizer.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 3:25 pm

Good point, WillSucceed, about people with allergies or sinus problems needing to be extra careful. I have neither problem, so I suppose that might be why I do ok with a more casual routine.

Also I felt reassured (falsely, perhaps, since this does look oversimplified) by an answer given by Fisher and Paykel to a question on another site:

Q. Is it possible for a patient to catch an infection from a humidifier?

Dave Hargett · Post by **Dave Hargett** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 9:56 pm

Well, everyone has their own system for cleaning and almost nobody follows all the "rules".

My skin is oily and my hair is oily too. I wash my mask and headgear together, soaking them in the bathroom sink in hot tap water and Ivory dish detergent. I do this daily. I then rinse them off. Squeeze excess water from the headgear and wipe dry the surfaces of the mask cushion and shell. I lay them on a towel spread over the top of the hamper to air dry.

Once a week I throw my tubing into the same soapy water, rinse it out, towel dry the outside and hang it over the shower rod to drip dry during the day.

I have a 5 year old F&P Cpap with humidifier. I use distilled water each night and only add just a little more water than I will use. In the morning I throw away the balance. I just let the chamber air dry. Once a week I do the hotwater and Ivory routine with the humidifier chamber, rinse it out and turn it upside down and let it air dry.

It's really not a burden to stick to that schedule at all and doesn't take a lot of time. I usually have a routine of shaving, put the equipment in the sink, shower, rinse off the equipment and then out of the bathroom. The whole thing adds maybe 5 minutes a day to my routine.

What I don't do is disinfect the equipment (don't throw any stones!) I absolutely detest the smell of vinegar and haven't wanted to pay for bottles of other disinfectants. In 10 years I've never had a problem, but I have had a very regular cleaning schedule.

Dave

Yoga · Post by **Yoga** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 3:47 pm

Dave,

I remember you saying on Awake in Philly that you used Control III. Does Control III have an odor like vinegar?

Dave Hargett · Post by **Dave Hargett** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 4:25 pm

Dave Jackson is with AWAKE in Philly, not Dave Hargett.

I have never posted on that board and it is not affiliated with the American Sleep Apnea Association or our A.W.A.K.E. Network although he started the group as a regular A.W.A.K.E. group several years ago.

I've never used the Control III either.

Dave HARGETT

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 4:34 pm

Considering the fact that the humidification water gets heated every night, which is even more conducive to bacteria growth, I dump mine every morning and rinse the reservoir out and let dry. Fill with fresh distilled H2O every night. The RT said put the reservoir in the top rack of the dishwasher once a week, and voila it should stay clean enough. I'd think. I swish the mask (Activa) and hose every morning in Dawn and warm water, rinse well and let airdry all day. It really doesn't take very long.

OK, the truth is we have only have been on CPAP for three days! Maybe I will get lazy and take shortcuts with the above hoopla as time goes on I doubt it though.... Want to avoid any problems in exchange for a brief investment of time.

Both hubby and I found out last month we have severe OSA. Now we both have Remstar Pro2 with C-flex. He started with the Activa mask, and I had the Comfort Gel for one night and then turned it in for the Activa as mine leaked too much with head movement. I like the Activa! We have each stayed on it for about seven hours each night. Feel better already!!!! I had some rainout problems last night as it was really cold in the room but will lower the device tonight so that condensation will hopefully run downhill instead of into my mask. Think it was sitting too high (on the nightstand). Also wrapped the hose with a fleece scarf to see if that helps tonight. If it does, I'll make a cover for it. Rainout... just what this Seattleite needs, right. This weekend we are in very low humidity central Washington, and the rainout was worse here that when we were on the boat last week. (Lots colder here, too.)

lynn, who has no time for making hose cozies but was wondering if Liam in his restless hours could make some for those of us who need them Liam, you hang in there, please, it will get better!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 4:57 pm

"Also I felt reassured (falsely, perhaps, since this does look oversimplified) by an answer given by Fisher and Paykel to a question on another site:

Q. Is it possible for a patient to catch an infection from a humidifier?

Rested Gal's link (above) is interesting. Thanks, RG. We're going to dinner tonight with friends, one of whom is a microbiology professor. Going to pose this question to her just for grins.

lynn, who will pose the infection question AFTER dinner but just prior to deciding whether to order dessert

More-Sterile/Easier-Cleaning Process?

More-Sterile/Easier-Cleaning Process?

Cleaning / Sterilizing Equipment

Humidifier wash-out