THE HOSE - TO DISINFECT OR NOT TO DISINFECT ?

[builta]

Thanks, Paul! I'll try the pharmacy brand next time. And, I've been thinking about getting one of those home distillers. They are around $100, though, so that's over 100 gallons before breaking even. But, if it provides a cleaner/purer distilled water, I just might go for it.

Update: Well, I just went for it—ordered a home distiller. After reading about the potential benefits of this water for other uses, I decided to order. Ordered this one:
http://www.a1-water-distiller.com/a-ss-outside.htm

Hi RipVW,

I have been distilling my own water for probably about 20 years. Actually burned one of those puppies out! Mine will make about 4 gallons per day but, normally make and use about 1-2 gallons/day. Cost per gallon varies based on electricity cost but I think that it is less the $0.10/gallon (USD and US gallon). I am quite confident that it is cheaper then store bought. Plus I know exactly how it is distilled.

I rinse the boiler out after each run (to remove the concentrated contaminates and give it a vinegar soak about once a year (to clean up any deposits that form).

BTW: Both units came from Sears. My first one looked alot like yours (from the link). My replacement one came in a little cabinet with an integrated pitcher. I like this second one because I can "Sneak a glass or two" during distilling without making a mess. Sort of like what you can do on some coffee makers.

It is a easy way to pick one up without waiting for the shipping.

[Guest]

Just remember that we ALL are paying for these outrageous prices for healthcare costs......whether it's an $80 hose at a DME or a $20 aspirin at a hospital (probably alot more by now). And, the reason they're so high is because they can get away with charging those prices because the insurance entities (including Medicare/CMS) can just keep increasing OUR premiums to pay for them.

Den

[RipVW]

Thanks, Paul! I'll try the pharmacy brand next time. And, I've been thinking about getting one of those home distillers. They are around $100, though, so that's over 100 gallons before breaking even. But, if it provides a cleaner/purer distilled water, I just might go for it.

Update: Well, I just went for it—ordered a home distiller. After reading about the potential benefits of this water for other uses, I decided to order. Ordered this one:
http://www.a1-water-distiller.com/a-ss-outside.htm

Hi RipVW,

I have been distilling my own water for probably about 20 years. Actually burned one of those puppies out! Mine will make about 4 gallons per day but, normally make and use about 1-2 gallons/day. Cost per gallon varies based on electricity cost but I think that it is less the $0.10/gallon (USD and US gallon). I am quite confident that it is cheaper then store bought. Plus I know exactly how it is distilled.

I rinse the boiler out after each run (to remove the concentrated contaminates and give it a vinegar soak about once a year (to clean up any deposits that form).

BTW: Both units came from Sears. My first one looked alot like yours (from the link). My replacement one came in a little cabinet with an integrated pitcher. I like this second one because I can "Sneak a glass or two" during distilling without making a mess. Sort of like what you can do on some coffee makers.

It is a easy way to pick one up without waiting for the shipping.

Wow! 20 years! I'd say you were ahead of the times when you started distilling your water at home. So now I know whom to ask if I have questions as a new distiller! Can't wait to get the machine. Thanks!

[JoyD.]

Rip Van Winkle wrote: I use passive/no heat as well, and I use only distilled water. But, after a few weeks my humidifier tank actually gets an orangish scum inside the tank!? Wonder why mine needs to be cleaned, gets that scum going. It's actually very slimmy, has to go! Maybe I'm getting contaminated distilled water (get the gallon jugs at the grocery store).

Though no one probably cares , that "orange slimy stuff" is likely a yeast (fungus) called "Torulopsis glabrata" that's found in a damp environment and is often seen around the caulking on a tub that hasn't regularly been cleaned. Sometimes it is pink to rose in color. (That earth-shattering info comes from a former microbiologist who is, a bit rusty herself )

"Bugs" (germs, bacteria, fungi, viruses) associated with environmental contamination seem to just "appear out of nowhere". That's why I'm just more comfortable cleaning everything periodically. I don't disinfect because I clean with warm water and Ivory Liquid fairly often. Disinfection with a proven disinfectant would be needed only in a hospital-like environment where pathogens proliferate and you don't want cross-contamination between patients (or if you've just purchased a "used" mask). A lot of things forum folks are using for disinfection won't really kill pathogens anyway (vinegar, mouthwash, etc). Regular cleaning periodically lends to prevention mostly by "physical removal". Yet, many cpaptalkers report that they never clean their equipment & have never had problems. What can I say? . . . Great!! Your "environment" is probably a lot cleaner than mine anyway . . . Of course, to be completely honest, my own kids have called me a "germ fanatic" on more than one occasion.

Joy

[builta]

Rip Van Winkle wrote: I use passive/no heat as well, and I use only distilled water. But, after a few weeks my humidifier tank actually gets an orangish scum inside the tank!? Wonder why mine needs to be cleaned, gets that scum going. It's actually very slimmy, has to go! Maybe I'm getting contaminated distilled water (get the gallon jugs at the grocery store).

Though no one probably cares , that "orange slimy stuff" is likely a yeast (fungus) called "Torulopsis glabrata" that's found in a damp environment and is often seen around the caulking on a tub that hasn't regularly been cleaned. Sometimes it is pink to rose in color. (That earth-shattering info comes from a former microbiologist who is, a bit rusty herself )

"Bugs" (germs, bacteria, fungi, viruses) associated with environmental contamination seem to just "appear out of nowhere". That's why I'm just more comfortable cleaning everything periodically. I don't disinfect because I clean with warm water and Ivory Liquid fairly often. Disinfection with a proven disinfectant would be needed only in a hospital-like environment where pathogens proliferate and you don't want cross-contamination between patients (or if you've just purchased a "used" mask). A lot of things forum folks are using for disinfection won't really kill pathogens anyway (vinegar, mouthwash, etc). Regular cleaning periodically lends to prevention mostly by "physical removal". Yet, many cpaptalkers report that they never clean their equipment & have never had problems. What can I say? . . . Great!! Your "environment" is probably a lot cleaner than mine anyway . . . Of course, to be completely honest, my own kids have called me a "germ fanatic" on more than one occasion.

Joy

Hi Joy,
Actually, you sound very sensible person to me. BTW, I agree with you.

[builta]

[quote="RipVW]Wow! 20 years! I'd say you were ahead of the times when you started distilling your water at home. So now I know whom to ask if I have questions as a new distiller! Can't wait to get the machine. Thanks![/quote]

Don't know about being ahead of my time, I just didn't care for the "flavor" of my city water and all of the calcium in it.

[KarenP]

After washing my hose with a a bit of mild dishwashing detergent in a plastic wash tub filled with warm water, I rinse the hose with fresh water until there are no more bubbles. Then I rinse a little more just for good measure.

If I'm in a hurry, I'll drape the hose through a tubular plastic hanger and hang it from the shower curtain. In warm weather, this works fine to dry the hose. In colder weather, it takes way too many hours to dry.

I came up with an idea for a drying tool from my daughter playing clarinet. After playing, moisture can accumulate in the hollow core of the clarinet. It's dried by using a square linen cloth with a long cord tied to one corner and a weight tied to the end of the cord. You drop the weight into the tube and pull it out the other end, drawing the linen cloth through the tube and drying it in the process. I made one for my cpap hose using fishing line, a fishing weight, and a piece of cotton cloth. It works pretty well. Afterwards, I hang the hose through a tubular plastic hanger to get any residual moisture that might have been missed. I also hang the drying contraption on the hanger so the cloth can dry.

[roster]

Some ingenious ideas for cleaning what does not need to be cleaned.

And maybe in the process introducing foreign materials that would never have been there if not "cleaned".

[Paul56]

Rip Van Winkle wrote: I use passive/no heat as well, and I use only distilled water. But, after a few weeks my humidifier tank actually gets an orangish scum inside the tank!? Wonder why mine needs to be cleaned, gets that scum going. It's actually very slimmy, has to go! Maybe I'm getting contaminated distilled water (get the gallon jugs at the grocery store).

Though no one probably cares , that "orange slimy stuff" is likely a yeast (fungus) called "Torulopsis glabrata" that's found in a damp environment and is often seen around the caulking on a tub that hasn't regularly been cleaned. Sometimes it is pink to rose in color. (That earth-shattering info comes from a former microbiologist who is, a bit rusty herself )

"Bugs" (germs, bacteria, fungi, viruses) associated with environmental contamination seem to just "appear out of nowhere". That's why I'm just more comfortable cleaning everything periodically. I don't disinfect because I clean with warm water and Ivory Liquid fairly often. Disinfection with a proven disinfectant would be needed only in a hospital-like environment where pathogens proliferate and you don't want cross-contamination between patients (or if you've just purchased a "used" mask). A lot of things forum folks are using for disinfection won't really kill pathogens anyway (vinegar, mouthwash, etc). Regular cleaning periodically lends to prevention mostly by "physical removal". Yet, many cpaptalkers report that they never clean their equipment & have never had problems. What can I say? . . . Great!! Your "environment" is probably a lot cleaner than mine anyway . . . Of course, to be completely honest, my own kids have called me a "germ fanatic" on more than one occasion.

Joy

I have been thinking about your post a few days now trying to think of where I have seen this "Torulopsis glabrata" before when it just dawned on me this morning...

Several years ago I used to have a boat with a vinyl top and it would have this pinkish reddish discoloration in a few spots that was almost impossible to remove. Typically the top would not get cleaned early in the spring then not be cleaned from May thru October while it was sitting in a damp environment... cannot get much more damp than sitting in the lake.

[stacia123]

Though no one probably cares , that "orange slimy stuff" is likely a yeast (fungus) called "Torulopsis glabrata" that's found in a damp environment and is often seen around the caulking on a tub that hasn't regularly been cleaned. Sometimes it is pink to rose in color. (That earth-shattering info comes from a former microbiologist who is, a bit rusty herself )

Regular cleaning periodically lends to prevention mostly by "physical removal". Yet, many cpaptalkers report that they never clean their equipment & have never had problems.

Quick question: I have some of this pink slimy stuff in my humidifier tank. The thing is, I rinse it nightly with warm water and occasionally with soapy water so it really should have been fine (although I'm sure some people will tell me I deserve this because I was "too clean" or whatever.)

The pink stuff is in the nooks and crannies of my tank and there is some I just can't reach. Does anyone have any thoughts on what I can use to clean it out without hurting the tank or seal?

EDIT: My husband came home and solved the mystery of WHY I got the pink goo: I was using the filtered water, not distilled. Dear hubby thought putting filtered water in an old distilled water jug was a good idea. I checked the Brita filter and sure enough, it had pink goo on it. I shall be having a "discussion" with my "dear" husband about this.

[Section1]

I cleaned the hose when I first got it home but haven't bothered again. I do a visual on it sometimes to see if everything looks OK but plan on replacing it after 6 months of use.

[Sleepdiva]

I clean my hose with 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts water. This was recommended to me when I got my CPAP. I do this once every few weeks. Rinse very well and this works for me just fine.

I was also told to wash the mask every day with A mild soap such as baby shampoo or a very mild, unscented dishwashing soap and this adheres better to my face.

[BlissPirate]

I see no need to wash my mine - the air is filtered, the water distilled, and I turn on my CPAP before I put on my mask - so there shouldn't be any breath making back up into the hose.

[PSGMAN]

wow, lots of different ideas. personally, i would clean the hose once a week in a mild soap like Dove. The humidity can cause bacteria. I usually reccomend people to wash it, then get as much water out as possible, then put it back on the machine and turn the machine back on. If you have a ResMed, bacteria isn't as much as a problem because after you turn the machine off, it will still blow a gentle breeze through the hose to dry out condensation. But, I am a germaphobe, and can't stand the idea of not cleaning something that I breath into for 6-7 hours a night.