Cleaning

[Gman29]

Hi all
I have always wondered if ut's necessary to replace my tubing and humidifier every 6 months. Can't I just clean them? Any suggestions on sterilizing the tubing etc?
G

[Wulfman...]

Hi all
I have always wondered if ut's necessary to replace my tubing and humidifier every 6 months. Can't I just clean them? Any suggestions on sterilizing the tubing etc?
G

Go up to the Search line and put in the word "cleaning" and start reading. You'll find a broad spectrum of what people do. Many of us (almost) NEVER "clean" our tubing and humidifiers and then there are others who do it daily. There is probably no "right or wrong" way, it's what you feel comfortable with.

I've personally never "cleaned" my hose.......and I'm using the very same one I started with 8 1/2 years ago and only finally took my HH tank apart and cleaned it after about 7 years (in early 2012).
I do rinse my foam intake filters out twice a month and wash my mask and headgear whenever I get around to it.....think "months".
I've purchased all of my supplies out-of-pocket and never used my insurance other than the first initial purchase in early 2005.


Den

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[torontoCPAPguy]

I only use my humidifier when I have a cold; I clean it weekly at that time using Control III disinfectant and rinse thoroughly. Use only distilled water BTW.

I have five masks and wash them with Control III weekly (i.e. the chore is done once a month as I rotate them). I have two or three hoses and clean them at the same time.

As one who has had acute bacterial pneumonia that almost killed me (three weeks on total life support) as a result of Influenza A, I can assure you it is not worth screwing around. You do NOT want to be the lottery winner in this case.

One of my good friends is head of the microbiology lab at a major hospital. His suggestion was that it was worth cleaning ALL THE TIME with Contol III. I compromised.

[SoClean]

Dirty equipment can cause a multitude of health issues, especially respiratory infections. You should definitely clean your equipment according to the manufacturer or your doctor's recommendations.

I know manually cleaning a CPAP can be a huge, time-consuming pain! I work for a company called Better Rest Solutions and we make the SoClean. It's a totally hands-free, automated CPAP sanitizer.

I'd be happy to give you more info, just PM me!

[Bobshouse]

Same here, really not necessary to clean hoses, but I do rinse out my humidifier every few days. If you have a DME that replaces items on a schedule, you good to go.

[locust78]

Keeping your equipment clean is an extremely important part of CPAP therapy. Certain surfaces can over time grow more and more resistant to deep cleaning and should probably be replaced. That said, regular cleaning can go a long way in prolonging the lifespan of your equipment. Anything along the pathway that leads to your respiratory system merits attention when it comes to cleaning (mask, hose, & reservoir). I have a history of sinus issues that make it necessary for me to keep my equipment cleaned to a high degree. Along with regular washing with soap & water, I've been using the SoClean to supplement my cleaning regimen and have had very good results with this approach.

[baboomski]

Don't think the Doctors emphasis the issue enough to keep the machine clean, especially the humidifier. And if you notice a bad smell, don't use the CPAP until it's cleaned. I did and got pneumonia. Not a severe cash; but fever, pain, lightheadedness, fatigue.
It would be nice if the CPAP manufacturers could put a UV lamp inside the humidifier to kill the germs.

[sleeplessinaz]

Why on earth would you use the same hose for 8 years when they coat like 6 bucks?

[jamiswolf]

Why on earth would you use the same hose for 8 years when they coat like 6 bucks?

I agree. Wulfman, PM me and I'll mail you a free hose...just so I don't have to worry about you!

I keep two hoses active, alternating them every few weeks or a month. I wash them inside (using hose brush) and out. Then they get a good air drying. After a year they get replaced.

Also, remember the machine filters. They are important for clean intake air and also for machine health. It's hard for the air pump to suck air through a clogged filter. My 2 cents...
J

[Wulfman...]

Why on earth would you use the same hose for 8 years when they coat like 6 bucks?

I agree. Wulfman, PM me and I'll mail you a free hose...just so I don't have to worry about you!

I keep two hoses active, alternating them every few weeks or a month. I wash them inside (using hose brush) and out. Then they get a good air drying. After a year they get replaced.

Also, remember the machine filters. They are important for clean intake air and also for machine health. It's hard for the air pump to suck air through a clogged filter. My 2 cents...
J

I have eight hoses of various lengths. Two that have been used.....one on my primary machine and one for a backup machine (light use) which is packed away in a travel bag. The other six are of various lengths......one 10 ft., two 8 ft. and three more 6 ft. hoses that are still in sealed packages that have never been opened.

I rinse out my foam filter twice a month (on the 1st and 16th). They're clean.......everything is clean.

I don't use heated humidification. The relative humidity where I live is VERY low and water evaporates very quickly. My hose is probably "dry" as soon as I turn off my machine. I faithfully use distilled water.

Don't worry about me. I have plenty of spares of everything and can afford to buy them out-of-pocket (which is how I've bought all my supplies and extra machines). I believe there is more likelihood of "contamination" by disconnecting, cleaning, hanging and drying them, than to leave them connected. I would never consider scraping/scratching a brush through a hose. That would be a good way of creating scratches inside. For people who are paranoid or OCD about places for things to grow, that should be a no-no.

I do not believe that any (possible) pathogens can be carried out of the water chamber with water molecules.

Also, I'm a firm believer in the "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" philosophy.

And, for an answer to the initial question......I want to see how long this stuff (really) lasts.
For years, I've seen people post that their "insurance pays for" this stuff at intervals that don't seem realistic to me (one month, three months, six months, etc.). To me, it seems wasteful, so I prefer to buy my "consumables" out-of-pocket.
I also own a total of ten Legacy model machines......four Autos w/C-Flex and six Pro 2 machines.


Den

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[hyperlexis]

Hi all
I have always wondered if ut's necessary to replace my tubing and humidifier every 6 months. Can't I just clean them? Any suggestions on sterilizing the tubing etc?
G

There are people on the internet playing Russian roulette with their health. They value their health apparently enough to be on cpap, but not enough to bother to maintain the equipment as directed either because of basic laziness, pathological cheapness, hoarding disorders, or, even more shockingly, because they simply do not 'believe' the manufacturers' warnings about cleaning. It's almost like a perverse challenge -- how far can they push neglecting the situation before something happens. They can't control much else in life, but they can, and will, control this one little thing. For goodness sakes there are some people who re-use disposable needles or catheters, or push a toothbrush as far as the bristles will go...

Now you will have to decide what you want to do -- Would you would feel comfortable eating in a restaurant where, say, unused glasses of water were left filled, but unused, each day. Would you want to drink a glass of water that had been left out, sitting open and untouched for two days? Three? Four? No one touched it and it just sat undisturbed until you sat down and it was brought to your table?

If that bothers you, then think twice about your equipment, and whether its too much trouble to dump out and clean your water tank, etc.

Re throwing out the hose, the manufacturers recommend washing them, daily. It's easy and fast if you develop a routine to do it. Or if you cant do it daily, then consider every two or three days. You do not need to put a brush into the hose. Again, just simply follow the manufacturer's washing instructions. I don't think any hose manufacturer states the hose must be replaced every six months. Insurers will allow it, but there is no rule mandating it.

Eventually, however, there will be a film of residue from water, bacteria, and soap residue built up on the hose plastic. That serves as a breeding ground for even more microorganisms. Some people here say they therefore throw out the old hose after a year.

It's really your call.

[SleepyBobR]

I thoroughly wash my mask every day and believe this is very important for hygiene and to prevent leaks. It is the Simplus mask and comes apart very easily and I just take it in the shower with me every morning and wash it with shampoo. However, other than laundering the hose cozy, I rarely clean the hose because it just doesn't get dirty and I haven't replaced it because it is still like new after four years. It's not the cost - I have insurance. It just doesn't need replacing. I do change the CPAP filter every month or so but I sometimes wonder why as it is always pristine even after two months use. We use 3M furnace filters so the air in our house is already squeaky clean. There is nothing but filtered clean dry air going through my machine and hose; it doesn't need to be cleaned regularly because it isn't getting dirty. I definitely would clean the humidifier daily if I used it but I don't because, for me, nothing causes congestion faster and worse than a CPAP humidifier.

[robysue]

There are people on the internet playing Russian roulette with their health. They value their health apparently enough to be on cpap, but not enough to bother to maintain the equipment as directed either because of basic laziness, pathological cheapness, hoarding disorders, or, even more shockingly, because they simply do not 'believe' the manufacturers' warnings about cleaning. It's almost like a perverse challenge -- how far can they push neglecting the situation before something happens.

Add to your list: They were never told to clean the equipment nor taught how to clean the equipment from the DME who sold it to them. It happens more often than it should.

Re throwing out the hose, the manufacturers recommend washing them, daily.

Actually both the Resmed and Philips user manuals specify weekly hose cleanings, not daily ones.

It's easy and fast if you develop a routine to do it. Or if you cant do it daily, then consider every two or three days. You do not need to put a brush into the hose. Again, just simply follow the manufacturer's washing instructions.

Washing the hose may not be that difficult, but thoroughly drying the hose is not that easy if you live in a humid area. I use two hoses and switch about every week or so: I wash the hose I've been using and then I hang the clean hose on a hook in the bedroom after whipping it around lasso style as long as I have patience and my arms hang out to get as much of the water out as I can. And a week later (when it's time to swap the hoses) there are still visible water droplets in the middle of the hose that have not evaporated. And even if I stick it back on my machine and run the machine without the humidifier on, it takes over 30 minutes and there can still be some visible water droplets in the middle part of the length of the hose. I'm not patient enough to baby-sit the machine running with the hose attached in an attempt to dry it, and I don't like leaving it running while I'm out of the room. And the noise when there's no-one attached to the mask is quite loud and the cat's curiosity is likely to get the better of him. All in all, I've learned to just put up with the fact that after cleaning my hose, it's going to take a week or more for it to dry out completely. I've also learned that if it's not completely dry when I swap it back into the hose cozy for use, it's not going to create any serious problems with rainout or discomfort.

I don't think any hose manufacturer states the hose must be replaced every six months. Insurers will allow it, but there is no rule mandating it.

Eventually, however, there will be a film of residue from water, bacteria, and soap residue built up on the hose plastic. That serves as a breeding ground for even more microorganisms.

My insurance company is willing to pay for a new hose every three months based on the rationale that hoses are more difficult to thoroughly clean than masks and they want to make sure users have a new, germ free tube at the beginning of every season to help reduce the chances of their PAPer customers getting colds, the flu, and other upper respiratory illnesses.

Do I fully buy into this rationale? Not really. I still think that even with daily washing, the mask is a more likely breeding ground for germs long term. And masks wear out---or at least their cushions do---and sometimes after a pretty short interval. But my insurance company disagrees: I have the choice of ONE replacement pillow or ONE replacement mask every six months. And I've never gotten a full six months of wear out of a single Swift FX nasal pillows cushion. *sigh*

[hyperlexis]

Re throwing out the hose, the manufacturers recommend washing them, daily.

Actually both the Resmed and Philips user manuals specify weekly hose cleanings, not daily ones.

Thank you for clarifying this! Point well taken. This will certainly make things a tad easier.