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mold on CPAP hose

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:23 am
by Catnapper
There have been many discussions about cleaning and drying the hose from the CPAP machine, and I don't hope to resolve the issue here.

However, after following the logic that mold needs more than just moisture to grow, I have not worried so much about daily drying of the hose. That is, until yesterday. When I disconnected the tube of my mask (the Aura - whateve rit is called) from the CPAP hose, I noticed a black dot inside the end of the CPAP hose. On closer inspection, it sure looked like mold or maybe mildew to me.

I washed the hose well with hot water and Ivory liquid. My husband told me that would not kill the mold. So, I looked online for reasonable mold killers, and the one that came up is vinegar. According to what I read, straight 5% white vinegar will kill 82% of molds. So, after washing the hose, I will soak that darn thing in straight vinegar, then wash it again to remove the acid from the surfaces in case that could be harmful to it.

Anyone have any other good ideas for mold control?


Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:27 am
by robbieh
I think a mild vinegar solution is what was recommended to me to clean the hose. I hate the smell of vinegar so I follow that up with a baby shampoo soak. Then I hook the hose up to the machine and blow it dry.


Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:48 am
by Stefernie
I use vinegar weekly myself. Keeps the humidifier chamber clean and hard water free.

I'm like ya'll and blanch at the smell, so I wash it with Dawn afterwards.


Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 9:16 am
by Slinky
Actually, with MOST insurances you are eligible for a new hose every 30 days. Which is ridiculous, no one needs a new hose every 30 days - BUT - that hose you have that had the little black dot that looked like mold? I'd toss that baby in the trash immediately and get a new hose!!!

I do remove my hose from mask and machine each day and hang it over the bedroom or closet door to thoroughly dry - just from the moist, humid air from my humidifier. I've never had a problem w/rain out.


Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 9:57 am
by rested gal
I heard about someone who also hated the smell of vinegar after cleaning hose and mask. To get rid of the vinegar smell he gave the hose and mask a good soaking in a baking soda/water solution afterwards.

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:08 am
by Cliff
I don't think we need to change hoses each month, but I would not want to exceed 90 days......there are sites that will sell the respironics performance hose (white) for as little as $10.00 each (with quantity requirements), and third party hoses even cheaper. It just is not worth the worry (or risk), when replacements are so cheap.

Cliff


moldy hose

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:42 am
by Catnapper
I think that is a good idea to toss the hose. I will do that and forget trying to clean it.

Has anyone else noticed mold?

Anybody have any idea what caused it to get moldy? What could it be living on? The only thing I can guess is that my breath somehow went against the air pressure up the mask tube which is over a foot long. That doesn't even seem likely.

How can I prevent mold from growing again?

I am allergic to mold, so this is an important issue for me.


Re: moldy hose

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:03 pm
by geoDoug
Catnapper wrote:Anybody have any idea what caused it to get moldy?
Mold thrives in damp environments, especially those with little circulation. That's why in the winter houses that have no central heating tend to get mold problems. However, even if there is circulation, any environment with a steady supply of moisture can create a perfect breeding ground. The best way to avoid it?

Sometimes, it seems like there are as many opinions of methods, products, and frequencies as there are posters here. To avoid mold, at the very least let it dry regularly (daily?)--ESPECIALLY if you have rain-out problems. Get a second hose and alternate them if you have to. I'll let others go into other solutions (pun fully intended).

Doug.


Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:07 pm
by jennmary
Yeah my insurance pays for a new hose every month. The worst asthma attack I ever had (almost died, 3 days in the hospital) was brought on by my mold allergy. I was cleaning the shower and all the steam mixed with all the mold spores I had just released into the air (not many as my shower had been cleaned 2 weeks before) did it for me. That was not a fun ambulance ride.
So now I am really vigilant about mold control. I spray the inside of the shower down daily with bleach. Same with my sinks and toilets. I give my kitchen, bathroom and windowsills a big cleaning about twice a week.
I am almost at my 30 days with this first hose.....I will be getting a new one next week.
I am a weirdo....I kind of like the smell of vinegar.


Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:13 pm
by oceanpearl
I clean and then soak my hose and mask in a 1 part vinegar and 2 parts water for around 45 minutes. My wife then takes the solution and sprays down the showere with it.


Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:16 pm
by jennmary
That is a great idea.....and less toxic than bleach.

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:18 pm
by ozij
I'm like Slinky - I remove the hose daily - disconnect the mask from it - and hang them to dry. I actually put hooks on the back side of the bedroom door, and the equiment hangs there every day.

Mine is a heated hose - not something I can change frequently (have been using this one for almost two years - and I don't even wash it that often, but hanging out to dry - maskless - that yes, ever day. The insides of hoses can become humid without there being a rainout problem Rainout only happens when the humid ari touches a colder surfaces, and you get drops. I also want me mask to dry out daily.

O.


Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:25 pm
by momadams
The Walgreens DME RT told me to disinfect weekly with vinegar, mixed 3 to 1 with water.
After rinsing, I don't notice any odor.

A bonus - since we live in the desert the soil is alkaline and we have a chlorosis problem because the iron in the soil gets bound up. My apple tree LOVES the vinegar baths I've been giving it with the leftover disinfection solution!


Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 5:32 pm
by RosemaryB
The discussion about vinegar reminded me of the veggie/cutting board/countertop washing procedure I'd read about some time back. The idea is to spray first with peroxide then spray with with vinegar (it doesn't work as well if they are mixed). Here's a link

http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arc ... 6/food.htm

I'm using the Aussie Heated Hose and wonder if vinegar could be used to clean it. I have a slight mold problem in my bathroom during the humid summer months. I've been hesitant to wash it much but have been rinsing occasionally and hanging to dry each day. I love the heated hose and had horrible rainout before using it.

What do you use to clean your Aussie hose?


Re: mold on CPAP hose

Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2016 3:47 pm
by cindy.cassel@yahoo.com
I just had a freak-out over my CPAP tubing and wanted to pass along some info. I took the tubing off to run some disinfectant (Control III) through it and noticed black stuff that looked like mold.
When the disinfectant didn't remove the stuff, I soaked it in a 1:3 vinegar-water solution and that didn't work either!
Upon closer inspection (running my fingers over the outside of the tubing) I discovered the discoloration wasn't on the inside - it was discoloration from the black tubing cozy that I put over the tube last week.
So before you freak out, like I did, check to make sure that it's not the fleece tube cover that's causing the problem!
I'm still going to clean my tubing weekly, but I thought I ought to share my experience.