Cleaning masks

[Merryj]

Best thing to use for cleaning nasal mask... any suggestions?

[Madalot]

I have a full face mask, but I think the cleaning is about the same for either one.

I have some cpap mask cleaning spray and I use that with baby wipes every morning. This wipes off the face grease and sweat from the night before. Once a week, I soak my mask (& filters & hose) in the sink with Dawn Direct Foam and give them a good cleaning.

This works well for me.

[ThirdOutOfFive]

I use baby wipes daily, once per week wash with an eco friendly dish detergent, and bi-weekly soak in warm water & white vinegar which is a mild disinfectant. I also soak my hose & humidifier container in the vinegar/water mix.

[Merryj]

Thanks - will give the baby wipes a try

[Lizistired]

It seems I read somewhere in ResMeds documentation that you aren't supposed to use vinegar on the silicone, but I have used it too with no problems.

[jmelby]

Water and liquid hand soap... I clean the mask seal every morning. My DME warned me not to use Dawn because it breaks down the silicone.

[Sheriff Buford]

Merry: I wipe down my mask every morning using pampers thick wipes for sensitive skin (no alchohol to break down the silicone and no aloe - that will leave a film). On Saturday, I scrub the mask (with a toothbrush) using baby shampoo, then soak the mask a few hours in a plastic tub with a mixture of water and baby shampoo (suds). Then I rinse the mask real good. I don't like the scent of the shampoo on my mask. There has been a lot of discussion lately on using vinegar. Look on the website of the manufacture of your mask. It will give cleaning instructions. My manufacturer says not to use vinegar (though I think small amounts won't hurt), so I have stayed away from it. Scrubbing my mask every week and wiping it down on a daily basis gives me a clean mask. I won't risk vinegar - the mask is clean.

Sheriff

[avi123]

I use one of these wipes to clean my unassembled FF mask once a week:

http://www.diapers.com/p/Pampers-Thick- ... 72ct-35098

[jamiswolf]

Hi Merry and group,

My dme suggested to wash my mask daily so that's what I've been doing.

I use Dr Bronner's Peppermint liquid castile soap. Lather's nicely and rinses off easily. At most, you might get a mild pleasant minty smell. Rinsing is done with distilled or reverse osmosis water to minimize residue.

I also soak in 50% vinegar solution weekly per dme instructions though I'm re-thinking the need for that.

Jamis

[Sheriff Buford]

I use Dr Bronner's Peppermint liquid castile soap. Lather's nicely and rinses off easily. IJamis

Jamiswolf: I'd like to try Dr Bronner's Peppermint liquid soap. Is there a nation-wide retail store that you could suggest I purchase it (walgreens, Wal-Mart, Target, etc)?

Thanks, Sheriff

[jamiswolf]

I'd like to try Dr Bronner's Peppermint liquid soap. Is there a nation-wide retail store that you could suggest I purchase it (walgreens, Wal-Mart, Target, etc)?

Hi Sheriff...I don't know of any nationwide distributors. A specialty bath store might. I got my latest bottle from an eBay seller. Plenty available there and comes in different scents too. Cost just under $10 for a 16 oz. bottle and lasts a long time.
Jamis

[Fulltimer]

Walgreens carries Dr Bronner's Peppermint liquid castile soap.



don

[archangle]

I have disassembled and dishwashed my ComfortGel masks for 7 years and get about a year out out of the cushions. (I don't wash the straps.) I like knowing my mask is clean enough to eat off of.

I probably wouldn't dishwash the foam cushion on the Zest mask without doing a lot of experimenting with a disposable cushion.

If you're worrying about being too rough on your mask, realize what you're risking. If you damage a mask or cushion, you're risking a known amount of money. If you don't get it clean, you're risking your health. Get a spare mask and cushions as soon as your insurance allows and then experiment on the old parts. You need a spare anyway in case you damage the mask some other way.

[cpeterson]

I had talked with the CPAP Store and was adivsed still the best solution in cleaning masks and hoses are Ivory Soap (Dishsoap). Was also told they recommend using Baby Shampoo to clean. It's the first time I have heard about using Baby Shampoo. I was also adivsed to use like water and vignar to clean also.

I was thinking there would be something else that could be used to clean the mask and hoses rather than Ivory and water / vignar. Over past years of being on the CPAP, seems when I get sick, my cold lingers cause my equiptment seems it doesn't get cleaned well enought.

I had though there would be something new out there to disinfect the hose and mask after having a cold and this is the advise I was given.

I have been told using anything but Ivory Soap, Baby Shamopp, and water vignar will harm the hoses and masks like Dawn Soap. I had used it with Dawn soap on a nasal pillow for the Swivel FX that I no longer use and amazed what happened to it. Not a good thing......

[archangle]

I have been told using anything but Ivory Soap, Baby Shamopp, and water vignar will harm the hoses and masks like Dawn Soap. I had used it with Dawn soap on a nasal pillow for the Swivel FX that I no longer use and amazed what happened to it. Not a good thing......

Baby Shamopp. Is that the baby killer whale at Seaworld?

What actually happened to the the nasal pillow with Dawn?