I am taking the lazy route here and asking you guys. Actually, my brain fog/sleepiness is severe, so reading all the directions is tough for me.

I have been using my CPAP for about a week, so it's time to clean everything. I haven't cleaned the mask all week (gross, I know...sorry) either. If the mask would have seemed gross in any way I would have, but it's the Swift LT...so very little of it touches my face/skin.

ANYWAYS....

For the tubing, I am thinking of just submerging it in mild, soapy water. Then rinsing, and air-drying. That would "clean" it. But I'm wondering if I should add some vinegar to the submerging water to also sterilize the tubing? Or could the acidity be bad for the tubing? Is sterilization not really necessary if things remain "clean"?

I find myself asking the same question for the humidifier (to sterilize or not). When I had a room humidifier, I would periodically sterilize it with vinegar. But I believe those room humidifiers have filters and stuff, so that leaves more room for an "ick" factor. So is keeping these CPAP humidifiers simply "clean" enough?

Also, I find myself wondering where I should do this "submerging." I find the idea of doing it in a bathroom sink pretty gross. I would say a bathroom sink has more bacteria than the tubing itself. Same with a kitchen sink (I live in an older apartment, so there are scratches in the sinks, etc...nothing is from this decade). Does anyone have an idea of what I could submerge my tubing in? I am thinking my best bet is a large glass Pyrex bowl I have.

Ignore it. The air flows toward you only so there's nothing to really get dirty. I and alots of members of this forum never clean a hose.


JeffH

Some people clean the tubing everyday with soap and water and hang to dry and some of us clean it once in a blue moon, same goes for masks. You can add vinegar also and rinse well. Some people add water to the humidifier as needed and clean it once in awhile. Some people clean the humidifier everyday with soap and water and rinse well and some also rinse with vinegar. It all depends on what you are comfortable with. Everyone has a definite opinion on this.

rosie

Okay, that makes sense, thank you.

So I'm guessing vinegar (diluted) won't damage the plastic? I'm thinking if I'm gonna clean it, might as well add a swish of vinegar?

I am more in the camp of, clean less often....because I use distilled water, which is clean, and if I'm constantly adding soap to this stuff everyday, that just results in soap scum, which gives bacteria a place to grow.

I'm one of those OCD people who learned fairly early in the game that washing a hose is counter-productive. Too many ridges to collect soap residue if not rinsed forever, and taking too long to soap & rinse. There just isn't any need for adding the probability of increased bacteria into the hose with all that washing routine, since there will only be water vapor passing through the hose with your cpap! Don't bother! The humidifier tank can become a little slimy, but harmless, as I understand it, if not cleaned every couple of months or so. If you see any spots of mildew or mold, then I would say you definitely should clean the tank. Otherwise, just not a problem.

rosiefrosie wrote: -- some of us clean it once in a blue moon, same goes for masks.

That's me. Once in a blue moon. Or even once every other blue moon.

rosiefrosie wrote:It all depends on what you are comfortable with.

I'm comfortable with the blue moon schedule.

rosiefrosie wrote:Everyone has a definite opinion on this.

Here are links to bunches of opinions:

Cleaning CPAP Equipment
topic started by forumadmin - April 2005
http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=18245#p18245

More-Sterile/Easier-Cleaning Process?
topic started by bozmon - February 2005
http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=7811#p7811

Cleaned my mask now it leaks
topic started by gerrys - June 2007
http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=184829#p184829

Cleaning water tank
topic started by seernst - June 2008
http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=275976#p275976

Weekly Mask Cleaning---OverKill ???
topic started by DannyP - August 2008
http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=293520#p293520

THE HOSE - TO DISINFECT OR NOT TO DISINFECT ?
topic started by Marietjie - March 2009
http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=352004#p352004

How often do you clean your hose?
topic started by Juliebove - April 2009
http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=361594#p361594

Poll: How Often Do You Clean Your Tank?
poll started by NeedSomeAir - September 2009
http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=405431#p405431

CAsleep wrote:...

Also, I find myself wondering where I should do this "submerging." I find the idea of doing it in a bathroom sink pretty gross. I would say a bathroom sink has more bacteria than the tubing itself. Same with a kitchen sink (I live in an older apartment, so there are scratches in the sinks, etc...nothing is from this decade). Does anyone have an idea of what I could submerge my tubing in? I am thinking my best bet is a large glass Pyrex bowl I have.

An inexpensive 4 - 5 gallon plastic bucket will work, but you have to hold it under while pouring soapy water into one end to be sure the hose is completely filled.

Quite a nuisance if you ask me.

Since Medicare will pay for a replacement hose every three months, I assume the insurance companies will also. I doubt your hose will get that "dirty" in three months.

If, however, you're "thrifty" like me, you'll put up with the nuisance and keep using the same hose for as long as possible. I have three, and alternate them. The oldest has been around for about three years, and gets "washed" every 2 - 4 months.

Blue moon for me too.

The only thing that goes into the hose is the air in your bedroom. And because of the filters, the air your XPAP puts through the hose is probably cleaner than the room air you would be using to dry the hose after you wash it.

Come to think of it, I think I'll adopt RG's schedule, every other blue moon.

Probably every fourth blue moon for my mask. I've never washed my hose.

Hose ? wash it? Moi? no.

The humidifier gets a shake of diluted vinegar and a drop of tea tree oil once a month and a scrub by a bottle brush if needed. Mask gets washed when needed. I washed the Quatro every day 'cause it got drooled into - I don't seem to do that with the Hybrid.