Humidifier Tank cleaning - Is vinegar necessary?

[dbreweur]

(please excuse the rambling - It's 5 am, and I've been dealing with some insomnia the last few days)

I'm in the middle of packing and getting ready to move (the big moving day is Saturday and am honestly so ready to be done with this whole process; There are boxes everywhere and it's driving me nuts) which means packing away the cpap machine to transport to the new house.

I will admit that I am a bit lax on my CPAP cleaning regimen - I clean the face cushion daily (normally just a rinse in the morning, but if it feels oily, I will use soap & tap water.
I typically only use soap & tap water once every couple days otherwise), the headgear whenever it gets a little grimy (every couple weeks, just because it's a pain in a half to take apart to hand wash), I'll run some soapy water & tap water through the hose and then hang it over my bedroom door handle with a towel on the floor underneath to let it air dry. I've only ever used the recommended vinegar solution once like 1-2 weeks after receiving the machine, hated the smell of the vinegar and spent the better part of the next few days trying to get rid of the vinegar scent on my supplies.

My primary concern is the humidifier tank.

I only ever use distilled water in it - but I definitely do not empty it on a daily basis as it seems like such a waste of water. However, when thinking about it, it's probably been three weeks or so since I've completely dumped the water out (it was a brand new reservoir when I filled it up at the beginning of February). I haven't even needed to add any, as my cpap use has been sporadic, at best, all month.

Do y'all think I'd still be okay with just dumping the water, giving it a good washing with ivory soap and water (should I use distilled or tap?) and continue using it - or should I actually try and use the vinegar solution? I don't want to be breathing in potential mold or mildew spores or anything - but I just really hate the vinegar scent (plus, with us moving, I don't really have time to make an extra trip to the store to get the vinegar in the first place, not when this is all I'd be using it for)

[prodigyplace]

Personally, also using distilled water, I just periodically dump & refill. I need to add water every night though.
Washing the tank with soap & water should not hurt it. Do not use a dishwasher unless the tank is designed for it. There is one for my CPAP but insurance only provides the normal tank.

[RicaLynn]

No, vinegar is not required. Give it a good scrub like you usually do and don't stress. Truth be told, i only wash my tank once a month or so. Soap and water and a good scrubbing is all you need.

[palerider]

vinegar is only needed to remove mineral deposits created from using tap water.

infection BS:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5611769/
stuff in reservoir not transferred
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3716664/
sterile unnecessary:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16236866

the only reason to use distilled water is to prevent mineral deposits. the manuals in europe just say to use water, not distilled... simply because it's harder to find distilled water over there.

[DxRxTx]

I wash it very seldom. I rinse it daily. I used previously boiled cool water in the tank. Works just fine.

[D.H.]

If your objection to vinegar is not the odor, I see no reason not to use it. If it's truly objectionable, however, soap and water and a thorough rinse should do.

I do suggest dumping the water every morning. I also suggest running the machine on empty for half an hour every morning as well. You can let it run while you're eating breakfast, showering, and/or getting dressed.

[Pugsy]

I do suggest dumping the water every morning. I also suggest running the machine on empty for half an hour every morning as well. You can let it run while you're eating breakfast, showering, and/or getting dressed.

Why?

[D.H.]

I do suggest dumping the water every morning. I also suggest running the machine on empty for half an hour every morning as well. You can let it run while you're eating breakfast, showering, and/or getting dressed.

Why?

Most things that would be problematic can't grow in complete dryness. Also, what if you unexpectedly have to be evacuated or hospitalized? That way, the machine would be dry for packing.

[Pugsy]

I do suggest dumping the water every morning. I also suggest running the machine on empty for half an hour every morning as well. You can let it run while you're eating breakfast, showering, and/or getting dressed.

Why?

Most things that would be problematic can't grow in complete dryness. Also, what if you unexpectedly have to be evacuated or hospitalized? That way, the machine would be dry for packing.

Well.....are you aware that ResMed machines already will run for 30 to 45 minutes after we take the mask off at a very low flow rate to dry things out?
Maybe you might qualify your general statement and explain why it works for you with your Respironics machine.
After all not everyone uses a Respironics machine.

[SewTired]

The primary reason for using vinegar is to demineralize. If you use distilled, there really is no reason for you to use vinegar at all, especially if you use some other soap say once a month to clear out any hanging around bacteria or mold. FWIW, vinegar isn't a very good cleaner. Lots of critters survive that just fine.

I use vinegar for cleaning my brother's bipap stuff because any after odor from the Dawn dishwashing detergent was making him sick (I use Dawn for my own). I have no sense of smell, so I believe him. Besides, I'm sure he likes the smell of pickles.

[remstarcpap]

vinegar is only needed to remove mineral deposits created from using tap water.

infection BS:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5611769/
stuff in reservoir not transferred
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3716664/
sterile unnecessary:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16236866

the only reason to use distilled water is to prevent mineral deposits. the manuals in europe just say to use water, not distilled... simply because it's harder to find distilled water over there.

Nice, here's the same with Conclusions:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5611769/
Conclusions
This study shows that the use of CPAP, choice of mask and humidifier have no significant impact on the prevalence of infections and micro-organisms isolated. This is very reassuring to the physician prescribing CPAP therapy and users.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3716664/
Conclusions:
Having a positive culture in the CPAP reservoir does not seem to lead to an increased symptomatology of CRS: although the reservoirs often become colonized, there seems to be no clinical impact.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16236866

CONCLUSIONS:
The convection-type humidifier produces water vapor but does not aerosolize the water. We conclude that bacteria, other microorganisms, or even solutes that may be contained in the water cannot be transported into the air and thus will not be deposited in the lung. In order to avoid respiratory tract infections, sterile water is not required, at least in this particular humidifier. We suggest that nonsterile tap water is probably a safe alternative.

[greatunclebill]

I'm still using distilled water, topping it off every day and rinsing it out with tap water when it gets pretty low.