Swift FX nasal pillows

[Mark184]

Two months in now. Relatively okay experience so far.

I've noticed that the nasal pillows start to leak a lot after about three weeks use, maybe a little more, but not quite 4. Is this common. I've not really been cleaning them. Should I? And should I use baby shampoo? I use this on the hoses. I thought I read here that the mask material does not take well to soaps of any kind.

My insurance seems to cover a new mask per month, but I hate needlessly feeding the industry money. (unless it gets in the way with my sleep!) Help me get the most life out of my "pillows"!

[apneawho]

Hi Mark,
I wear the same pillows you do. I wash them once per week in diluted Ivory liquid soap. I don't do anything else really.
The amount of use I can get out of each pair varies, but averages about a month I'd say.

[Pugsy]

Wash them in some mild soap, I use J & J baby wash since it smells good. Wash gently in your hands in warm water, rinse and let air dry.
I used to wash mine daily but long ago got lazy and wash every 3 to 5 days if the mood hits me.

Facial oils will accumulate and make them more leaky and may cause some deterioration in the pillows. Some people can't seem to get the pillows to last very long but I get months of use out of them.. I rotate between 2 every couple of weeks. Every time I see one get leaky I take it off and wash it, set it aside, can't bear to toss it out without giving it another try and usually it works perfectly again.

I used the same routine with the Swift LT pillows till I got the Swift FX about a year ago. Same results. Those pillows still had life in them when I changed masks.

[Carl LaFong]

My insurance seems to cover a new mask per month, but I hate needlessly feeding the industry money. (unless it gets in the way with my sleep!)

Right. Money spent (whether it's yours or someone else's) is never wasted if it brings about results.

[Lizistired]

Some people get months out of them, some only 2 weeks. Your insurance likely pays for 1-2 pillows a month and a mask every 6 months.
You do need to clean the pillows, probably more so than the tube. There are almost as many cleaning methods as members on this board.
I keep a small jar of soapy water in the kitchen and just drop them in every couple of days, let them soak, wash and rinse.
I have also had good luck with simmering them in water with a little baking soda on the stove for about 20 minutes. Don't ask me why, we just tend to try anything.
After cleaning, look closely at the inner cone inside each pillow and make sure it isn't inverted. It happens alot when cleaning and really messes up the fit.
Go ahead and get replacement pillows though. I think you will be suprised at the difference new pillows make. I keep my old ones for backups.

You can also search for the pillow exchange thread for swaps.