Vinegar to clean hose and tank

[Pugsy]

P:
> if you use distilled water there won't be any build up and so no need to use vinegar.

For the buildup, maybe.
For germs, wrong-o.

Directed towards me? I don't count vinegar as an adequate disinfectant if my sole purpose is germ warfare.
The plastic tanks can easily handle something hugely stronger if germs in the tank were my concern (which they aren't). I would use hydrogen peroxide or something designed specifically to kill germs.
I have never heard of anyone in the medical field using vinegar to sterilize anything nor use it in any form of wound care to prevent infection. Now as an antifungal/mold agent or removing mineral build up, yeah, I can see that but not as a major germ killer.

So, if someone doesn't like the smell of vinegar, there are any number of other agents that will do a better job if germ warfare is all that is wanted.

[xenablue]

I soak parts in 1:10 vinegar:water, and wash in soap after - I used Dr. Bronner's - either peppermint, eucalyptus or lavender. No vinegary smells for me.

Cheers,
xena

[wmcanally]

I went back to the DME today to get yet another mask. These people there are great. I have developed some sore spots on the sides of my nose. I ended up with the Swift FX nasal pillow. We discussed some of my concerns with the other masks. I then told her i had bought a SD reader and downloaded the Sleepyhead Software. She cautioned me that it could erase the data on my SD card and that my Doctor was going to to have a fit. He doesn't like his patients accessing the data and self treating. I told her I'm not adjusting anything i just want to see the data and monitor my progress. I have a issue when the Doctor decent want me to look at my own data. Has anyone ever heard of Sleepy head software erasing your SD cards data? My DME Respiratory Therapist doesn't have a issue with me looking at the data but cautioned it could erase the card.

The data she looked at on the card she stated looked fine. No major leakage and low AHI each day. Unless looking at this data has the possibility of erasing the data, I'm going to continue to monitor from time to time.

Thank you on the cleaning tips.

[Mr Bill]

Vinegar, hmmm, well white vinegar maybe for a quick rinse, but if it has color you also have a mixture of higher molecular weight organic acids, aldehydes, and ketones; which will stick to the plastic and will be resistant to being desorbed just by rinsing. You might need very hot water or steam to get the last traces of colored vinegar out of your tank and hose.

I usually just rinse with very hot water (hose and mask) then call it good, The tank gets three quick rinses with distilled water and refilled. If I wanted to wash and disinfect, I think some dawn in hot water would do the trick. For any stronger disinfection, you run the risk of leaving volatile traces behind that you will be breathing for some time.

[robysue]

Vinegar, hmmm, well white vinegar maybe for a quick rinse, but if it has color you also have a mixture of higher molecular weight organic acids, aldehydes, and ketones; which will stick to the plastic and will be resistant to being desorbed just by rinsing. You might need very hot water or steam to get the last traces of colored vinegar out of your tank and hose.

I think the presumption when vinegar is mentioned is that we are indeed talking about distilled white vinegar. I can't imagine using any other kind of vinegar for cleaning purposes. But plain old distilled white vinegar is a pretty decent cleaner for a number of things around the house, including CPAP equipment---if the smell doesn't bother you.

[xenablue]

I'm with robysue - never even occured to me to use anything other than plain 'ol white distilled vinegar for cleaning - any other kind seems counterproductive....


Cheers
xena

[Mr Bill]

No Balsamic Vinaigrette then? I work in an environmental lab. The problem with lingering vinegar smell is the boiling point of gacial acetic acid which is 118-119 °C, or, 244-246 °F. That and having an acid group which likes to stick to plastics. You can think of our hoses as being a long gas chromatograph column. If you pass enough clean air or water through in one direction, eventually you will elute off the column, all the acetic acid. But some smells stick amazingly well unless the temperature is also near the boiling point. I'd also speculate that the volatile oils that accumulate in PC fans in most homes can eventually accumulate even in our vent equipment. These can act as fixatives (like those used in perfumes) for undesirable smells. So, washing with a detergent may be more effective in getting out vinegar smells than simply flushing with hot water.

[robysue]

So, washing with a detergent may be more effective in getting out vinegar smells than simply flushing with hot water.

Ah, but in my case, the smell of vinegar is preferable to the perfumed smells of most detergents. There are some dishwashing liquids that make me sneeze when I squeeze a blorp in the sink to do the supper dishes. Obviously we don't buy them, but my mother-in-law does.

[FizzyWater]

Has anyone ever heard of Sleepy head software erasing your SD cards data? My DME Respiratory Therapist doesn't have a issue with me looking at the data but cautioned it could erase the card.

If Sleepyhead is the software (not the web-version) that's been offered on this forum, then I can say it never erased my card.

If your computer has an SD slot, you can always copy the data to a safe place on your computer before running Sleepyhead. Then, if the worst happens and it does erase it, you can just copy it back!

[RTJg]

I always thought you would have to soak the hose and or humidifer for at least 30 to 45 minutes to completely kill any bacteria in the hose or humidifer chamber. Reason being vinegar is an acid that kills any harmful bacteria that can grow on the rigid areas like inside the hose. I could be wrong but that's what I tell my patients you have to allow proper time for the acids in vinegar to work and kill off the bacteria. If not properly clean easy way to catch pnuemonia or infection.

[chunkyfrog]

Washing the tank (when it looks suspicious and feels slimy):
Hot water and a dab of Dawn. Rinse with hot water.
If I feel like it, I swirl a shot of cheap vodka around the tank a few times, dump and rinse again.
{{this is really cheap vodka--I only sip the good stuff}}

[suesq]

When I started a year ago, the respiratory care where I got my machine recommended baby shampoo so that's what I use!

[Cannuck 1]

Washing the tank (when it looks suspicious and feels slimy):
Hot water and a dab of Dawn. Rinse with hot water.
If I feel like it, I swirl a shot of cheap vodka around the tank a few times, dump and rinse again.
{{this is really cheap vodka--I only sip the good stuff}}

I like the formula might have to try that one.
I find a large clean salad bowl 1/4 vinegar approx. 3/4 warm water approx. hand liquid soap (zest) and a splash of mouth wash.
I don't get the vinegar taste like others have mentioned with mouth wash(some mouth washes with alcohol are not good for silicon??). wash fiercely in the bowl and then rinse. Air dry in a suitable place.

[jmsnyc]

I don't even think the mask needs to be cleaned daily. Yet I put a little dish detergent in a sink, fill it with water swish around and let air dry. Twice a week. The headgear band, once every two weeks. The hose, once every 6 months I would take it in the shower, pour a little bit of regular white distilled vinegar (5% acidity) with both holes pointed up. Swish around then repeat process with a little dish soap. Then rinse and hang over shower to dry. I think if I was on cpap longer than a year (not yet) I would fill a bucket with water and a very small amount of bleach and soak everything in it. Very diluted bleach will not harm it once a year and it will disinfect much better than vinegar.

Washing the tank (when it looks suspicious and feels slimy):
Hot water and a dab of Dawn. Rinse with hot water.
If I feel like it, I swirl a shot of cheap vodka around the tank a few times, dump and rinse again.
{{this is really cheap vodka--I only sip the good stuff}}

I actually mix 50% vodka with and 50% carbonated water once in awhile when I plan on getting drunk in dreamland. Not only are my dreams loads of fun but the solution also doubles as a disinfectant for my humidifier and hose (Please don't try this at home)

[Sir NoddinOff]

I actually mix 50% vodka with and 50% carbonated water once in awhile when I plan on getting drunk in dreamland. Not only are my dreams loads of fun but the solution also doubles as a disinfectant for my humidifier and hose (Please don't try this at home)

That would be a lot more funny if this thread wasn't a relic. However you are an old-time member, so you get a pass
As long as this zombie thread is resurrected: For those stubborn scum/mineral build-ups, try the 'SALT TRICK' for super clean tanks (Pugsy dubbed it that). Search for 'salt trick' in the search window under the CPAPtalk logo.