How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

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Leea
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How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

Post by Leea » Fri Aug 21, 2015 12:55 pm

I bought a used machine to save money (AirSense 10 auto, less than 100 hours). It has a smell to it. I am hyper sensitive to smells. I can't tell what it is but it reminds me of pipe tobacco. I discovered much of the smell comes from the case which I won't use. I think it permeated the plastic a bit. What can I do to clean the machine? I haven't started to just flush it yet, I am waiting for my new filters to arrive, tomorrow I think. I was wondering can I put an open dish of bleach or vinegar next to the air intake and just let it run for days.

On another note the filter is called hypoAllergenic. I was assuming that meant they should block pollen etc. However the seal between the filter and the case seems iffy at best and I am sure it will leak once the filter starts to get clogged.

thanks
Lee

UPDATE:
I tried flushing the machine for 24 hours. It still had the smell.
I couldn't find unscented Ozium (why put in an air freshener that has its own smell when I am trying to get rid of all smells) and then found out they don't make it. So I gave up on air fresheners.
I flushed another 24 hours with vinegar. (Put a dish in front of the air intake.)
Then I flushed over night plain air again. It is better, I would say at least a 50% reduction.
My next step would be using an air ionizer to try to get rid of it and flush over night with that. It sounds like a workable idea to me. Does anyone know if there might be a danger in that.
Last edited by Leea on Thu Aug 27, 2015 11:02 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Sir NoddinOff
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Re: How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

Post by Sir NoddinOff » Fri Aug 21, 2015 1:08 pm

As a last resort:

If you are really freaked out about the smell and you can't sleep till it's gone, then send it to professionals to take it apart and thoroughly clean it. I like CPAPtalk member Accurate, short for Accurate Biomed, a large company that services CPAP machines in Florida. Search the member list up above for accurate and ask Ian to help you out, plus he'll give you some prices. I've dealt with them several times and they are very efficient and fair.

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Re: How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

Post by jim22 » Fri Aug 21, 2015 8:08 pm

How about sealing the machine in a plastic bag with some baking soda for a day or two WITHOUT it running? If it has a humidifier, that you could take off and be more aggressive with, like good soap and water wash, but you need to keep anything with electronics dry.

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LSAT
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Re: How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

Post by LSAT » Sat Aug 22, 2015 5:46 am

Run it outside or by an open window for several hours...do this for several days. Then change the filter.

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Re: How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

Post by Krelvin » Sat Aug 22, 2015 6:13 am

The filter only filters inbound air. Air from inside the machine doesn't flow through the filter. Only air from outside the machine flows through the filter.
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LSAT
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Re: How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

Post by LSAT » Sat Aug 22, 2015 9:59 am

Krelvin wrote:The filter only filters inbound air. Air from inside the machine doesn't flow through the filter. Only air from outside the machine flows through the filter.
You are right, but if the machine has been sucking in outside air for several days the filter may have impurities that may not be present if the unit was run strickly indoors.

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Re: How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

Post by Sleeprider » Sat Aug 22, 2015 10:36 am

I recommend getting unscented Ozium available in auto parts stores and online. Just spray some on a cloth, and let the machine draw that into the system. Ozium does a great job of deodorizing and disinfecting. It is often used for reconditioning used cars and a number of us on the forum have used it to resolve odors in used machines. Smoke odor may require replacement of any silicon seals between the fan and humidifier.

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

Post by ChicagoGranny » Sat Aug 22, 2015 11:30 am

Sleeprider wrote:I recommend getting unscented Ozium available in auto parts stores and online. Just spray some on a cloth, and let the machine draw that into the system. Ozium does a great job of deodorizing and disinfecting. It is often used for reconditioning used cars and a number of us on the forum have used it to resolve odors in used machines. Smoke odor may require replacement of any silicon seals between the fan and humidifier.


You just revealed a clue to your favorite pastime.

http://forum.grasscity.com/general/9667 ... tizer.html

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Re: How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

Post by palerider » Sat Aug 22, 2015 1:03 pm

LSAT wrote:
Krelvin wrote:The filter only filters inbound air. Air from inside the machine doesn't flow through the filter. Only air from outside the machine flows through the filter.
You are right, but if the machine has been sucking in outside air for several days the filter may have impurities that may not be present if the unit was run strickly indoors.
and quite likely to suck up more dust and pollen and stuff outdoors.. changing the filter is cheap.

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Re: How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

Post by Leea » Sat Aug 22, 2015 5:56 pm

The filter is cheap which is why I will flush it with a clean one and then throw that one out.
I want to try the Ozium and don't want to breath that.
Lee

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Re: How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

Post by Sleeprider » Sat Aug 22, 2015 6:28 pm

ChicagoGranny wrote:
Sleeprider wrote:I recommend getting unscented Ozium available in auto parts stores and online. Just spray some on a cloth, and let the machine draw that into the system. Ozium does a great job of deodorizing and disinfecting. It is often used for reconditioning used cars and a number of us on the forum have used it to resolve odors in used machines. Smoke odor may require replacement of any silicon seals between the fan and humidifier.


You just revealed a clue to your favorite pastime.

http://forum.grasscity.com/general/9667 ... tizer.html
Only when it is other people's.

Just imagine what a great bong a CPAP could be.

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archangle
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Re: How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

Post by archangle » Sat Aug 22, 2015 6:36 pm

Leea wrote:The filter is cheap which is why I will flush it with a clean one and then throw that one out.
I want to try the Ozium and don't want to breath that.
Lee
DO NOT!!!! spray anything into the machine. There are some delicate sensors that might be damaged. I wouldn't even put anything on a cloth near the input, but that's less dangerous.

The smells should go away on their own. There's no way to clean the insides, and it's not really needed.

Leave the machine in the open for a while. Let it run for a bit just blowing air before you start using it each night. That should flush out any smells. There's a lot of air flowing through the machine while being used, so it should dilute the smells pretty quickly. Clean or replace the mask, hose, and water tank.

Please fill in the equipment on your profile. There's a link in my signature line at the bottom of this post to help you do that. We can give you better input on cleaning if we have that.

Make sure the CPAP machine is sitting somewhere that the air it sucks in is clean and fresh.
jim22 wrote:How about sealing the machine in a plastic bag with some baking soda for a day or two WITHOUT it running? If it has a humidifier, that you could take off and be more aggressive with, like good soap and water wash, but you need to keep anything with electronics dry.
That won't do anything versus just putting the machine in clear air. Baking soda just soaks up what's in the air around the baking soda. It won't help the CPAP machine air out any faster unless you put the baking soda into the machine. Blowing a fan on the machine for a few days might help a little, but just letting it "soak" in clean air will do about as good.

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palerider
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Re: How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

Post by palerider » Sat Aug 22, 2015 6:44 pm

Sleeprider wrote:Just imagine what a great bong a CPAP could be.
what, wasting most of it with the constant vent?

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Re: How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

Post by Goofproof » Sat Aug 22, 2015 6:56 pm

palerider wrote:
Sleeprider wrote:Just imagine what a great bong a CPAP could be.
what, wasting most of it with the constant vent?
You and 30 of your friends stand in a closed shipping container, have friend 31 light the cpap bong, hook it's output to the container, load container on a truck to Canada until all the wars are over. No waste, happy world. Jim
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Re: How to clean/deoderize/sanitize machine

Post by chunkyfrog » Sat Aug 22, 2015 8:40 pm

Ozium is sometimes sold at "head" shops; (no, not plumbing suppliers!)
Don't ask how I know.

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