Odor in hose

[atruvirgo]

I smell an unpleasant sort of musty smell when I put on my mask. I have determined it is the hose. I have cleaned it but it still smells. I leave it attached during the day. Should I be disconnecting it so it can dry out during the day? Is there something I can use to get rid of the smell? Could it be mold or mildew? I use a humidifier at 1-2 and a hose cover.

[SleepingBeauty]

There is an inherent CPAP smell that just stays with these machines. An aroma of warmed beach rafts. Which, if I were six years old and playing at the river, would be just fine. As an adult who has to breathe in that stinky smell for hours every night, it's not so fine. I have been using Pur-Sleep, the creation of one of our board members. It consists of essential oils - in nine choices of scent - that you place on a pad behind the intake of your machine. It helps disguise the plastic smell that is CPAP.

He is currently running another trial, you might want to PM him to see if you meet the criteria! Look for SleepGuy's post on this forum.

[jennmary]

I would spend a couple bucks and get a new hose personally. Did you try white vinegar and baking soda? That might help.

[Vader]

I smell an unpleasant sort of musty smell when I put on my mask. I have determined it is the hose. I have cleaned it but it still smells. I leave it attached during the day. Should I be disconnecting it so it can dry out during the day? Is there something I can use to get rid of the smell? Could it be mold or mildew? I use a humidifier at 1-2 and a hose cover.

Could be the hose, but another likely possibility is the humidifier water tank.
If you don't clean the tanks regularly they can get stinky. I clean mine once a week with Dawn liquid dishwashing soap. I don't like vinegar, but some folks also do a rinse with diluted (with water) white vinegar.

[atruvirgo]

The hose is only 2 months old. I thought that maybe the cause is that I leave it attached during the day and maybe the water is getting stagnant that is in there. If I can get rid of the smell then I will start detaching it every day to air out. I sniffed the humidifier reservoir and it is definitely the hose.

[margaritagurl70]

When I got my equipment a couple of weeks ago, the medical supplier told me my insurance will cover replacing my hose every month. I asked why so often and she said they will start to smell, get yucky and especially with pets in the house (particularly cats which I do have) they get holes in them. Therefore, they recommend replacing them often. I have already patch my hose in 4 places before acquiring a Snugglehose cover.

[Snoredog]

I think it is the "machine", both of my M series machines have done that, has a chemical or petroleum-like smell lasting for 30-seconds to 1 minute after auto-start kicks in. I've tried different hoses, doesn't seem to matter what hose gets used.

It seems to happen when you put the mask on without turning the machine on first, so it gives you a good wiff of that smell at startup.

I've tried spraying a light mist of FreBreeze near the intake to let the machine suck it through. I suspect the smell is coming from the anti-noise foam adhesive (is what it smells like) either that or plastic off-gassing.

[jennmary]

If it is a musty smell like water in the hose I would try a mix of water, baking soda, and white vinegar. I know a lot of people do take the hose off and hang it to dry every day. I do, and havent had a problem. Though I do still replace every month. I might skip replacement this month...not sure yet. Have to put some thought into it. I might just keep the new one in my cupboard a replacement just in case something happens.

[Hurricane]

I agree with Jennmary, about cleaning the hose weekly, and air drying daily.I have been using the same hose since September 2006, and is working fine no odors, no leakage, even though I have two extra new hoses available, I see no reason to change it. I do wash it out with one cup of white vinegar to one cup of water, note one time I didn't rinse the hose quite good enough, and my wife said the bedroom smelled like an Italian salad, I told her look at the positive side, no calories. I also take my humidifier out of the machine once a week and clean that with a mixture of Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo, which I also use on the mask. Definitely do not put up with any mildew smells or any other odors.
Ed

[Wolfmarsh]

You have mildew or mold in your hose for sure.

That is how mine gets if i dont clean it regularly.

Use the vinegar solution mentioned above, it will kill the mold/mildew.

[MRH]

I had my hose have the musty smell when I didn't rinse it and I ran some listerine mouthwash thru it and then ran some water thru after that it took of the smell. I usually just rinse some hot water thru it everymorning after I take it off, then hang it over a door knob until the next night . That seems to help to not have it get musty.

Mark

[oceanpearl]

I smell an unpleasant sort of musty smell when I put on my mask. I have determined it is the hose. I have cleaned it but it still smells. I leave it attached during the day. Should I be disconnecting it so it can dry out during the day? Is there something I can use to get rid of the smell? Could it be mold or mildew? I use a humidifier at 1-2 and a hose cover.

Could be the hose, but another likely possibility is the humidifier water tank.
If you don't clean the tanks regularly they can get stinky. I clean mine once a week with Dawn liquid dishwashing soap. I don't like vinegar, but some folks also do a rinse with diluted (with water) white vinegar.
Not just a rinse for me, but a 45 minute soak in 1 part white vinegar and two parts of water. IMHO this will totally sterilize the mask. Once this is done I rinse and rinse to get rid of the vinegar odor.

[DreamStalker]

I aqcuired an M auto w/aflex a couple of weeks ago and still use the same hose I have been using since I started treatment a year ago. I'm also using my HC150 humidifier which I got about 7 or 8 months ago.

I have never cleaned or rinsed the hose and have only rinsed the HH reservoir with tap water a couple of times (but never washed). All of my equipment looks and works just like brand new and even that new plastic off-gassing smell is gone ... no bad smell of any kind and I have a pretty sensitive nose (I can smell a cigarette smoker 50 feet away on a windless day). I feel so lucky.

[ozij]

My Aussie heated hose is 2 years old these days. I don't wash it often, it's a real hassle, but I disconnect it and hang it to dry every day.

O.

[oceanpearl]

[quote="DreamStalker"]I aqcuired an M auto w/aflex a couple of weeks ago and still use the same hose I have been using since I started treatment a year ago. I'm also using my HC150 humidifier which I got about 7 or 8 months ago.

I have never cleaned or rinsed the hose and have only rinsed the HH reservoir with tap water a couple of times (but never washed). All of my equipment looks and works just like brand new and even that new plastic off-gassing smell is gone ... no bad smell of any kind and I have a pretty sensitive nose (I can smell a cigarette smoker 50 feet away on a windless day). I feel so lucky.