How often do you clean your stuff?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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Cathyann
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How often do you clean your stuff?

Post by Cathyann » Wed Jul 01, 2015 4:37 pm

Just curious about how often you clean your stuff- mask, hose, etc..How often do you replace the filters on your machines?

Also, how long do your masks last you before you replace it?

Thanks.

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LSAT
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Re: How often do you clean your stuff?

Post by LSAT » Wed Jul 01, 2015 5:54 pm

Everything is subjective. Personally I don't clean much because I use distilled water. Hose cleaning...never. Mask cushion cleaning nightly with baby wipes. Replace filters according to manufacturers recommendations. Masks last indefinitely...cushions/pillows need occasional replacement. When something is not working properly...replace it.

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Madalot
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Re: How often do you clean your stuff?

Post by Madalot » Thu Jul 02, 2015 10:56 am

I wipe our masks (hubby and me both use equipment) daily with a baby wipe. Once a month, I give masks, cushions, hoses, filters & his humidifier tank a soaking in baby shampoo. Let everything soak for 15-30 minutes, rinse & dry.

I have 2 sets of hoses & filters, as well as his humidifier tank, so I rotate, letting one set dry for the week. Masks are dried and put back in place.

As previous poster said, replace items when necessary. We make our masks/cushions lasts 6-9 months easily, sometimes longer. I have extra masks in stock in case of emergency, which has happened before. I dropped my mask once and it hit the oxygen concentrator just right and cracked it. Good thing I had more!!

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lucrezaborgia
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Re: How often do you clean your stuff?

Post by lucrezaborgia » Thu Jul 02, 2015 12:33 pm

Have you ever tried Cetaphil daily face wash? It's even gentler than baby shampoo.

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Madalot
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Re: How often do you clean your stuff?

Post by Madalot » Thu Jul 02, 2015 12:38 pm

lucrezaborgia wrote:Have you ever tried Cetaphil daily face wash? It's even gentler than baby shampoo.
I haven't, but we found a lavender scented baby shampoo and it works well for us. I used to use Dawn Direct Foam, but people here said it was too harsh for the silicone parts, so we switched to the baby shampoo.

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Goofproof
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Re: How often do you clean your stuff?

Post by Goofproof » Thu Jul 02, 2015 12:52 pm

Not very often, I don't live in a pig pen, I don't live with cats. I no longer live with a dog, but wish I did.

I change the filters @ 3 WEEKS and wipe the machine off, I wash the mask when I change the soft parts 3 to 6 months. I don't clean the HH, as I haven't used water in it in two years. The hose has my clean air running thru it, so cleaning it is moot. Any germs in my bedroom are my household germs, my body keeps them in control. Jim

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Re: How often do you clean your stuff?

Post by paulasmess » Sat Jul 04, 2015 2:19 am

I empty water reservoir out each morning, turn upside down and let dry out. I was my mask, head gear, water reservoir, and tubing at least every 10 days. I use Ivory dishwashing soap and rinse thoroughly. I also have a Hurricane drying machine for all my equipment and everything dries (including all tubing) within an hour. Love it and saves me so much frustration! Everything fits in there at once. (Don't put the reservoir in there as there is no reason to).

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Krelvin
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Re: How often do you clean your stuff?

Post by Krelvin » Sat Jul 04, 2015 3:14 am

What I clean and when...

HOSE
NEVER in 9years of CPAP usage. Absolutely no point.

TANK
Rinse it out with facet water once every couple weeks or so. No soap and since I only put distilled water in it, there is no buildup in it. Dump it out and wipe the outside so it is not wet, put it back in the humidifier and fill it up with Distilled Water. IF it were to get some build up after a couple years I would just replace it.

MASK
Wipe the mask cushion down almost every night. Wash it every couple weeks unless I've been sick with mild soap. Normally do this before going to bed, so I rinse it good, put it back together (WARNING THIS MIGHT BE A CHALLENGE TO SOME) and let the machine dry it out when I put it on to go to sleep. I dont share my mask with anyone, nobody touches my machine and I don't let the pets play with it (or in the room).

FILTER
Change at least every month or more often if necessary. I use the Hypoallergenic filters. Some parts of the year are dustier than others so I change it more often. They are cheap.

MACHINE
Just wipe down at least once a week (Sundays) when I clean the rest of the surfaces in the room unless it got really dusty for some reason. Warm damp towel. Never open the machine. No soap or cleaner needed.
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The Baby Crow
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Re: How often do you clean your stuff?

Post by The Baby Crow » Sat Jul 04, 2015 7:34 am

I wipe my mask and humidifier tank out every morning to get any bacteria from my mouth (mouth is terrible place for bacteria) with a Cottonelle wipe (no chemicals in them).

I wash my hose, mask and humidifier tank once every 2 weeks.......just put some dawn in luke warm water and swish them around and rinse off with luke warm water. Hang the hose up so the water drips out.......sometimes I have to swing the hose around in the air to get the last few drops out.

No bacteria or dust = better sleep.

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: How often do you clean your stuff?

Post by ChicagoGranny » Sat Jul 04, 2015 8:31 am

The Baby Crow wrote:I wash my hose
Question: How does the inside of a hose get dirty?


Answer: Like this --->
The Baby Crow wrote:Hang the hose up so the water drips out.......sometimes I have to swing the hose around in the air to get the last few drops out.

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palerider
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Re: How often do you clean your stuff?

Post by palerider » Sat Jul 04, 2015 11:09 am

The Baby Crow wrote:\No bacteria or dust = better sleep.
I do hope you're not washing your stuff in the bathroom... it's the dirtiest room in the house, every time you flush, a spray of fecal bacteria gets ejected into the room, and settles on things...

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LSAT
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Re: How often do you clean your stuff?

Post by LSAT » Sat Jul 04, 2015 1:16 pm

palerider wrote:
The Baby Crow wrote:\No bacteria or dust = better sleep.
I do hope you're not washing your stuff in the bathroom... it's the dirtiest room in the house, every time you flush, a spray of fecal bacteria gets ejected into the room, and settles on things...
Most people that waste their time washing equipment do exactly that...They wash it and then leave it in the bathroom all day to dry.

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bettiola
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Re: How often do you clean your stuff?

Post by bettiola » Sun Jul 05, 2015 10:10 pm

Good question! I'm a newbie (3 + months) and follow the ResMed cleaning instructions for the most part. Once a week I disassemble my mask and wash it, my mask liner, the elastic strap, the hose and the water reservoir in a clean bowl in my kitchen sink. I hang the hose to dry. The strap and liner take longest to dry so I hang them in front of a fan. I should probably wash the mask more often (ResMed says once a day and the technician who showed me how to use the mask said a couple of times a week.) I appreciate the helpful ideas from other posters - about Cottonelle wipes, Cetaphil, etc.

Sonnyboy
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Re: How often do you clean your stuff?

Post by Sonnyboy » Sun Jul 05, 2015 10:27 pm

LSAT wrote:
palerider wrote:
The Baby Crow wrote:\No bacteria or dust = better sleep.
I do hope you're not washing your stuff in the bathroom... it's the dirtiest room in the house, every time you flush, a spray of fecal bacteria gets ejected into the room, and settles on things...
Most people that waste their time washing equipment do exactly that...They wash it and then leave it in the bathroom all day to dry.
Yep,

Right next to the toothbrush, facecloth, hand towel, razor, make-up, etc.

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SewTired
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Re: How often do you clean your stuff?

Post by SewTired » Mon Jul 06, 2015 9:56 pm

Cathyann wrote:Just curious about how often you clean your stuff- mask, hose, etc..How often do you replace the filters on your machines?

Also, how long do your masks last you before you replace it?

Thanks.
I'm a newbie myself. I should be very diligent in cleaning, but many days a crisis of some kind occurs in the a.m. and I don't even remember to take my meds. I try to clean the nose pillows a couple of times a week and everything else weekly. I have to do this for my brother as well as he is unable to do so. Filters depends on your machine and the dust/pet hair you have. However, in general, you replace the fine white filter monthly and any washable filter every 6 months. Some people have to change their filter more often because of extreme dust environment. Filters aren't that expensive and you can even set the newer machines to remind you to replace it. Remember, you are breathing in this air, so you want it as clean as you can get it.

Masks are also a mileage-may-vary thing. You change stuff when it starts to leak more. If you get your supplies via Medicare, there is an official replacement schedule. Many insurance companies follow that or have their own.

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