ACTIVA CLEANING

[roztom]

I am posting this because I couldn't find a previous post about it.

I remember reading that Disassembling the Activa Nasal Mask for cleaning was a bad idea. That the mask would not go back together and function as well as it did previously.

If that is the case then are you just cleaning it intact and not removing the parts other than the hose extension?

Experienced ACtiva users...

Thanks,

Tom

[Moogy]

I have only been using Activa a few weeks, so I might not rate as "experienced." but I rarely take it apart for cleaning. Half the time I don't even disconnect the headgear, but just swish the mask in the soapy water (trying to keep the headgear as dry as possible) and then the rinse, then hang on the shower curtain rod to dry. The headgear can be arranged to help the mask hang in a good position for drainage.

Yesterday I took off the pillow and the clip to let it dry faster. Yes, that is faster, but more trouble, too!

Moogy

[Ric]

I am posting this because I couldn't find a previous post about it. I remember reading that Disassembling the Activa Nasal Mask for cleaning was a bad idea.

To that I (politely) say HUMBUG. You can snap it apart, and back together again in less than a minute. You might want to study it for a minute or two while you have it apart, everything has only one way it can go back together, nothing mysterious. The green triangular snap ring requires a small amount of dexterity, but it comes out of the soft elastomer cushion, and back, perfectly and easily. For sport I tried to rotate it 120 deg to see if it WOULD go back wrong. With some difficulty I did manage to make it snap together wrong, but it feels wrong and looks wrong. It takes some real determination to put it together wrong. The headgear will unsnap from the mask, and the top part can be un-velcro'd. Since I (finally) have it adjusted just right, I have made little marks on the strap with a permanent Sharpie® marker so I can re-velcro it to the same spot. To make all of this difficult or challenging you might consider doing it with the lights out. Otherwise, this is something Forrest Gump could do in about 20 sec. Me, about a minute. I also have a new appreciation for how well this was engineered. (Hat's off to the plastic engrs at ResMed).

[reval]

Completely agree with Ric. It is not more complicated than with other masks.

[sleepyred]

I just snap out the mask every morning and wash that part. It's only come a part from the seal a couple of times and I just snap it back in place. I wash the other plastic parts about once a week. I wash the entire unit every month - usually on a Saturday morning to give it time to dry. Hope this helps. I have used this mask (changing occassionally to the breeze) since October 2005.

[roztom]

OK - I don't know what the issue was that I read about with taking the Activa apart.

I snapped the cushion out and cleaned it this morning after reading your fine comments - it hasn't blown up yet so all looks good.

I just snapped the cushion out and then snapped it back in to dry. I agree, I can't see what the problem could be.

When I watched the3 CD instructions there seemed there were a few more steps to completely disassemble it, maybe that's it but snap, snap then click , click - doesn't get much easier than that.

As far as my first night, the mask has a great seal. It is a bit heavier than my Ultra Mirage - so I did feel the weight which I have to get used to.

Also, I don't know if I had the strap tension correct, it hardly pulsed at all.
I had the straps very loose.

I had virtually no leaks except if I yawned.

My AHI was a bit higher but that may have nothing to do with the mask.

I'm glad I got it - all I nedd to do now is keep the windows closed so the birds don't wake me up at dawn.

I just bought a white noise machine to mask the birds -IO'll report on that as soon as it arrives.

Thanks,

Tom