Cleaning

[Laura353]

HI! Question about cleaning the hose... can I submerge the end that has the metal pin in water? The end that plugs into the machine. I am nervous to do that, is that how you're supposed to clean it? Also what kind of "detergent" do you use?

[Pugsy]

Yes...they can be submerged safely. Just make sure the pins are thoroughly dry before plugging in to anything.

I don't do it very often simply because I don't think it is needed often but it can safely be done. In fact just did it couple of days ago because I am sending a machine to someone and the heated hose...and I just wanted to make sure it was extra clean for the person.
More for peace of mind than anything else.

I wouldn't do any prolonged soaking though...it's not needed and I also get a bit nervous about getting anything electrical wet.
Probably wouldn't hurt anything but why do it if it isn't really needed anyway?

As to what kind of soap...I use whatever I have handy. Dawn dish detergent works as well as anything. Remember it's safe for wildlife...it's not going to harm silicone or plastic.
It's not a critical issue. Sometimes I like to add a little aroma to my stuff (masks and hoses) when I can just because I find it pleasant.
Sometimes I use baby shampoo or some sort scented hand soap...depending on what I have handy and the mood I am in.

[Laura353]

This is a huge help, thank you!! The cleaning thing has me stumped surprisingly. Do you make sure the warm soapy water runs all through the hose?

[Pugsy]

Yes...I make sure the soapy water gets inside the hose but it's all very brief. I think I soaked it maybe a minute and swished the water around a bit with my hands and then ran the rinse water through the hose making sure it came out the other end.
I spent more time rinsing than washing.
Hoses don't get all that dirty and actually don't require a lot of extra special effort in terms of cleaning. Think about it...what goes through it...filtered air. How is it going to get dirty????
And most of the time anything we exhale can't even make it to the long hose anyway especially if there is some sort of short hose on the mask.

I did that because the hose was going to someone else.
My own personal heated hose...I have never washed.

[Laura353]

Would I be a huge pain in the ass to ask what are the benefits of the heated hose?

[chunkyfrog]

In the dead of winter, I don't get awakened with a nose cold enough to goose a labrador.

[Okie bipap]

Most of us the heated hose to help control rain out. If your bedroom is cool like ours is this time of year (below 60 degrees), the heated hose makes the air warmer. This is especially noticeable when using nasal pillows.

[Pugsy]

Benefits of the heated hose...like already mentioned.

Comfort...preventing ice cube nose syndrome is what I call it. A cold nose hurts and will wake you up often and we sure don't want to be woke up often. This will depend on your ambient bedroom temp...if your bedroom is 75 degrees...probably not an issue. but if like mine in the low 60s or upper 50s...big issue.
Condensation (rain out) prevention....rain out won't hurt you but it is highly annoying.
More consistent humidity delivery so that if your nasal mucosa likes it one way...that one way doesn't vary much.
I use a heated hose year round for that reason. I just change the hose air temp as needed for the seasons....humidity being delivered to my nose never changes though. My nose doesn't like change.

[Laura353]

THANKS!!! I like my room cold but haven't had any problem with a cold nose so I will just file this info away for future if I need it! Y'all are awesome.

[palerider]

This is a huge help, thank you!! The cleaning thing has me stumped surprisingly. Do you make sure the warm soapy water runs all through the hose?

I don't clean my hose, I've had this one for several years, haven't cleaned it once.

[Laura353]

So you just clean the mask and humidifier? Anything else?

[Pugsy]

In terms of who cleans what, when or whatever and even however, you are going to find a wide range of opinions.
I don't clean my hose.
I clean my nasal pillows when I think about it which isn't very often and the water chamber when I think about it.
Usually I try to do that when I change the filter which is probably the only consistent maintenance I do. It gets changed about once a month...my house is an old, old farmhouse...dusty...live out in the country and I have pets. So the filter I have a thing about changing it when it gets dirty which is about once a month. Sometimes I wash the chamber at the same time...sometimes I don't. I use distilled water so no mineral build up to clean off.

Now when I first started cpap therapy over 9 years ago I had a religious once a week schedule where everything got cleaned...but that got old pretty fast.

But if someone else wants to clean anything and everything more often ...even daily...hey, it's their life, their time and their stuff.
Whatever they want to do is also fine by me.

[palerider]

So you just clean the mask and humidifier? Anything else?

I replace the filter every few months, when it looks dusty.

[palerider]

In terms of who cleans what, when or whatever and even however, you are going to find a wide range of opinions.
I don't clean my hose.
I clean my nasal pillows when I think about it which isn't very often and the water chamber when I think about it

Whenever I see anybody abseiling their way down the rock formations in my water tank, I figure it's time to give it a vinegar soak. That comes dangerously close to chunkyfrog's criteria for deciding to clean (whenever she suspects that biology has happened in there) (Yes, I just love that phrase).

[Laura353]

OMG THE FILTER! I forgot that existed... PHEW... I can't keep track of all this.