Soaking mask cushions for longevity?

[bbmiller]

Hi I heard from several people in a support group as well as professionals that the oils in your face is what eventually wear out your mask cushions. I have absolutely no insurance coverage for masks or mask cushions so I need them to last long. When I was about to order me ask from cpap.com in the customize your order section I came across this product.

Control III Disinfectant CPAP Cleaning Solution - Home Care Kit

Important Tips
After extensive in-house testing and comparison of CPAP cleaning products, we found this to be the most effective and longest lasting. It is also the most cost-effective cleaner on the market. For instance, it is more effective and less expensive than vinegar and water.

It can be used to disinfect and clean mask cushions, mask parts, hoses or tubing, humidifier chambers, etc.

Since you can store any diluted solution for up to 14 days, we recommend getting a small spray bottle, following the directions for dilution and using the spray bottle for everyday cleaning needs.

You can also store diluted solution that has been used for disinfecting in a small container or bucket with a lid and re-use for up to 14 days.

Items must soak for 10 minutes to actually disinfect. It is recommended to pre-clean your items first with a little baby shampoo or some other very mild soap and water before using Control III as a disinfectant.

Please follow the directions on the Control III label for effective use: Control III label Instructions

Well if you did what is said in the last line of the quote above namely "Items must soak for 10 minutes to actually disinfect. It is recommended to pre-clean your items first with a little baby shampoo or some other very mild soap and water before using Control III as a disinfectant" would that be a good regiment to follow to make your mask cushions last longer? If so how frequently? What another product be even better for this purpose? Are any of you soaking your mask cushion to make it last longer by removing the oils from the mask cushion? If so or not what way is the best way to get the oils out of your mask cushion to make it last as long as it possibly can?

Thanks

[billbolton]

Hi I heard from several people in a support group as well as professionals that the oils in your face is what eventually wear out your mask cushions.

Since a mask CUSHION should never come into contact with your facial skin, this is just wrong.

In my experience, cushions eventually (over several months) lose their ability to provide enough "springiness" and at that point need to be replaced. I can't see how facial oil would, in any case, play any part in that process.

In terms of a mask SEAL, washing it daily in warm soapy water is all the basic maintenance it needs.

For my mask seals, I get ~12 months of actual usage life out of every seal by doing that, plus an a occasional bath in an ultrasonic cleaner filled with warm sopay water.

Cheers,

Bill

[nanwilson]

I've been using the same quattro since last April ---BUT---- I use a mask liner from padacheeks, no part of the mask, including the forehead piece touch my skin. I have mask liners for my hybrid and my comfort get nasel - I made these myself.
N

[DreamDiver]

Well if you did what is said in the last line of the quote above namely "Items must soak for 10 minutes to actually disinfect. It is recommended to pre-clean your items first with a little baby shampoo or some other very mild soap and water before using Control III as a disinfectant" would that be a good regiment to follow to make your mask cushions last longer? If so how frequently? What another product be even better for this purpose? Are any of you soaking your mask cushion to make it last longer by removing the oils from the mask cushion? If so or not what way is the best way to get the oils out of your mask cushion to make it last as long as it possibly can?

Thanks

I rarely wash my mask. Others wash them every night. Some oils do take a toll on silicone parts, but facial oils seem less problematic than something like vaseline. Control III is a disinfectant. Disinfection will have little impact on mask longevity and wasn't designed to remove oils. There are no body flora or fauna that eat or attach to silicone, so disinfection is superfluous to the goal of mask longevity. Unless you're preparing the mask for someone else to wear, you probably don't need to disinfect. Simple washing with baby shampoo is probably enough. While durability is important, it's more important that you don't wake up because of mask problems. If washing the mask every night gives a better seal or feels more comfortable, wash every night. Contrarily, if you find having a little facial oil lends to a better seal, don't wash the mask as often. Good sleep is more important than mask duration.

Masks and equipment do need replacing. You won't be able to stick with one mask forever. Similarly, your machine will also wear out after three to five years. CPAP is a medical necessity. It would be prudent, if you can, to budget for the eventuality that you will need at least a new mask. If you don't have a backup mask, consider budgeting for that too.

[bbmiller]

If washing the seal every night with baby shampoo is the answer for the longest lasting seal? Does anybody think it would be better to find a technique which would not involve removing the seal every night and instead wash it in place washing part of the mask as well?

[LinkC]

My experience with the Hybrid is when you dunk the mask assembly in soapy water, they usually come apart anyway.

I usually wash the shell along with the cushion (about every third night or so). In that time there is likely "drool" residue in the mask shell anyway. (Hey, it happens...) I let them dry separately and assemble just before bedtime.

I've also found that shaving with a blade and cream (vice electric) provides a much better seal. I suppose it's the "moisturizing" of the cream that does it.