What do you do with your mask in the morning?

[bcab17]

For years I have always taken my mask off in the morning, and put it (hose still attached) in a ziplock plastic bag closed tightly around the hose, and leave it on my nightstand next to the cpap machine. Since I don't wash my mask every day (usually only once or twice a week), I just thought the plastic bag would help keep any dust or other things floating in the air off the mask between washings.

I was wondering if other folks do anything like this, or do you just leave it on the nightstand exposed all day, or are you actually washing your mask every day?

[blakepro]

I have a hook in my wall and I hang the hose on it with the mask still attached so it can all dry. I'm more concerned about mold and mildew than I am about dust and whatever may be floating in the air.

[mattman]

I wear mine all night, every night. Wake up in the morning and just toss it on the nightstand next to the machine.

About once a year or so I throw it out and put a new one on the hose. That about sums up my daily routine.

[Lila919]

I wash my mask every morning as part of my morning routine and leave it in the shower to dry. I am just more comfortable with a really clean mask.

[rise&shiner]

Odd question but here is my response. I take my mask apart and use a baby wipe to wipe it down every morning and then have a basket that I put it on to dry out. I have a hanger with a band that I loop one end of my tube on and let it dry out during the day from the shower. Once a week I take the 10 minutes and wash my humidifier and mask in baby shampoo. I found online a place that I can buy a 4Hii humidifier that has a two part system so that I have an easier time cleaning my humidifier.

[DBoone]

I hang it on the headboard along with my chinstrap.

[cinco777]

I wash the removable seal each morning in Johnson Baby Shampoo, rinse it thoroughly, and set it out to dry. Once a week, I wash the seal, soak it for 15 minutes in a vinegar/H2O solution (1:5), rinse, and set out to dry. I also wash the plastic part once a week in baby shampoo.

I keep my backup masks, each secured in its own baggie, stored away in a nightstand. I alternate seals (I have three) every month or so.

[Velbor]

Remembering that you have been exhaling warm, moist air into the mask all night ....

Each morning I:
--partially disassemble the mask (extent depending on the mask construction)
--rinse the mask (and any short tubing and connectors) in tap water
--rub the cushion and forehead pad to remove oils (for a better seal when next used)
--shake all parts to remove excess water and produce smaller droplets for quicker drying
--set aside to dry.

About once weekly I:
--do a complete mask disassembly
--soak everything for a while in hot, soapy water, rubbing all surfaces
--tap water rinse, shake and air dry, as above

Enchanting question, rarely discussed here. But I will not become embroiled in a discussion of care for the humidifier chamber and main tubing, which is discussed far too often!

[bdp522]

Wash the nasal pillows with dawn dishwashing liquid. Rinse well. Shake well. Put them back on the mask. Cover the mask with a clean old knee hi stocking. Allows air to circulate, but keeps bugs out!

Brenda

[mattman]

Wow. So I guess I'm the really weird one for not doing any of that! Heh.

The really funny thing is that I used to get sick all the time. Ended up amongst other things on CPAP. The 4 years or so since then I've stopped getting sick all the time. I'm hardly ever sick anymore. But yeah, I just toss the thing on the nightstand and that's it. I don't even think I've changed my hose in maybe 2 years or more.

I did wipe the mask out with a alcohol prep pad and a paper towl one time when I WAS sick and I sneezed before I could get the mask all the way off. I at least get credit for that right? Right?!

[Scarlet834]

I remove the pillow from my Swift LT, rinse it, and I have a little hook in the bathroom where I hang it to dry. I throw the hose over a shower rod in case I've collected condensate overnight. Once a week I clean everything more thoroughly with a little dish soap, per the instructions I received from my RT.

[timbalionguy]

Experience, and the failure mode of my last seal have taught me that cleaning the seal the first ting in the morning is a very good idea.

I rinse the frame in hot water. I clean the seal with a mild dish soap and water, using Dawn once in a while when the oil has really soaked into the silicone. Both pieces are left to dry on a shelf.

The hose is hung up to dry, and cleaned internally every couple of weeks.

The humidifier is left in the machine, filled, and is cleaned in the evening. But I am starting to rethink that based on a recent post concerning humidity condensing inside the machine.

[snoregirl]

I toss it on my bed for the next night.

[sleeplessinaz]

I take off my mask and take it off the main hose. I have an over the door hanger on my linen closet door when I have it hanging to dry out and away from my cats. Once a week I remove the pillow from my Swift LT, wash it in hot water with Dr, Bronner's Castile liquid soap, and I have a little hook in the bathroom where I hang it to dry. Never do I wash my hose --no need to --it stay clean!!! Simple gys--no need to make things complicated!

Carrie

[millich]

I remove the pillow from my Swift LT, rinse it, and I have a little hook in the bathroom where I hang it to dry. I throw the hose over a shower rod in case I've collected condensate overnight. Once a week I clean everything more thoroughly with a little dish soap, per the instructions I received from my RT.

This is exactly what I do. In addition, about once a month, I clean everything with Control III disinfectant.

The humidifier I drain and leave open to dry each morning. I wash it twice a week in soapy water and clean it with disinfectant once a month.