Soaps for cleaning the masks

When I started all of this last November (2009), my RT at the time told me to use "dishwashing soap" to clean my mask. She was at my house and saw what I had and said it would be fine.

I had so much trouble getting a good seal and basically just had problems. A different DME had a cpap seminar and I talked to their RT. We were discussing cleaning and I told her what my RT said. She agreed it was fine, but said "Don't use Palmolive" which of course, is EXACTLY what I was using. Naturally, I got a little curious at that and she explained that Palmolive has lotions in it which can leave a residue on the mask and seal. So I asked her if Dawn Direct Foam was okay and she indicated it was.

First time I switched from Palmolive to Dawn, I found my sealing problems solved and it was much, much better.

I found it interesting how MY RT had no clue about this and told me Palmolive was just fine. What the second RT said made sense, plus changing to Dawn did resolve my problem.

I'm going to keep on eye on it, though, about Dawn breaking down the silicone. Good to get that piece of information. I have found, however, that my masks/seals last longer than the 3-month replacement my insurance provides for. Perhaps because I do "spot cleaning" daily with cleaner and wipes and only do a serious cleaning with Dawn twice a month???

Dove beauty bath bar works for me to wash my nasal pillows.

Dial soap wash hands wash mask wash face dry face dry mask dry hands go to bed.

warm wrote:Dial soap wash hands wash mask wash face dry face dry mask dry hands go to bed.

Complete with instruciones ,

obtw - dial is s'posed to be antibacterial too.

... and most mask insturction manuals say not to use antibacterial soaps on them...

I use plain baby shampoo or Simple Ivory without the added moisturizers and things. My RT specifically told me not to use any type of antibacterial cleaners. I also read somewhere (maybe the resmed directions) not to SOAK the mask only to wash rinse and air dry, not in direct sunlight.

ozij wrote:... and most mask insturction manuals say not to use antibacterial soaps on them...

Sometimes just water is the best thing. I tend to think that if your seal begins to get "cloudy" (for lack of a better description) whatever you are doing/using is not good for the seal.