How often do you clean your mask/hose?

Pagarc · Post by **Pagarc** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 6:31 pm

As a new cpaper, I was wondering just how religious you veterans are about cleaning you mask and hose?

Be honest.....

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): hose

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 6:44 pm

I stand it up in the corner of the room, if it doesn't fall and coil up, I wash it.

Amigo · Post by **Amigo** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 9:42 am

Nasal pillows - daily

Humidifier H2O - daily

Hose, nasal pilllow interface & humidifier - every two weeks

Foam filter - weekly

Paper filter - monthly

NightTrain · Post by **NightTrain** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 11:36 am

Give it a couple more Months and I'll most likely be with GoofProof on this one!

But for now I find that unplugging the hoses every day and hanging them up to keep them dry and giving them a good soapy wash on the weekends is adequate. I use a quality brand alcohol-free "folded wipe" to clean the mask gasket and interior mask interface daily while throwing it in for a soapy water bath every third night. The wipe contains Aloe which may contribute to the excellent seal obtained vs a soapy bath cleaning. The encore software shows a dramatic gain in mask sealing using this method with no signs of stress on the gasket itself. Keeping a box by the bed is very convenient as well.

Some threads strongly suggest daily cleaning of the humidifier. I'm a pretty germ conscience guy, on the border of a phobia but I'm good with topping off the humidifier with distilled water for two nights and washing it along with the mask, every third night.

As far as the filters go, I generally keep a spare foam one handy for weekly washings and the paper filter is replaced every 200 hours.

Washing your face every night is very important in maintaining a great seal and eliminating red marks and acne, if sensitive to that. Not to mention keeping the gasket a little cleaner in the process.

Good luck to you in your therapy.

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 11:52 am

When the sun and the moon and the stars all line up correctly and Venus is in Mars (or do I have that backwards?).

No, not really. I said every other day but it is sometimes everyday if I am feeling mildy ashamed of being piggy but no less than every third day. I wash the interface in Ivory or Jergens. I rinse the short hose in the same soapy water.

I have now washed the headgear in Woolite every month (2 months) and the Padacheek at the same time this month.

The hose connecter fits on the faucet nicely so I blast some water through it. Someone, I don't recall who or I would give them credit, mentioned the trick of unplugging the xPAP, taking out the card, firing it back up and blasting air through the hose for 15 minutes to dry it thoroughly. I have done that two or three times and it seems to work.

I haven't washed the filter which I guess I should get up and do now.

Things seem to work better when I do wash my face thoroughly but that is not every night. Some nights I just splash water and dry.

SB

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 2:04 pm

Don't think 1 1/2 months makes me a veteran CPAPer-but I am a veteran of infection control
Mask seal-baby shampoo daily-as much ro remove skin oils as potential germs-hope it makes the mask last a longer time.
Hose-rinse daily-baby shampoo & vinegar rinse weekly
Humidifier-rinse daily without removing baffle-baby shampoo & vinegar rinse weekly after taking it apart
Hard plastic part of mask-baby shampoo & vinegar rinse weekly
Headgear-woolite & warm wash & rinse, air dry monthly
Hose cover gets tossed in with similar laundry monthly.

Steve-o · Post by **Steve-o** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 2:12 pm

I think you missed the catch all category of "less than once per month"

th · Post by th » Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:50 pm

10 to no more than 14 days

Marie · Post by **Marie** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 9:12 am

Read the instructions given with the equipment.

Simple

Marie

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 12:29 pm

Marie wrote:Read the instructions given with the equipment.

Simple

Marie

Marie, the poll is asking "How often do you clean the equipment?". Not how often doe's the manufacture recommend that is cleaned.

Ric · Post by **Ric** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 12:46 pm

RELIGIOUSLY!
(every christmas and easter)

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 2:44 pm

i'm with goofproof. only wash mask when it starts looking a bit yucky. so no schedule, just yuckiness quotietnt. swift gets yuckier faster because i have to contend with dried vaseline crud. and i don't like yellowed silicone. someone here asked me why. it feels like that is dirty, and it's just ugly.

caroline

3isles · Post by **3isles** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 3:01 pm

Actually my vote gives a wrong impression. I do wash the mask and its little hose extension every day,
but the big hose I only wash about once a week.

Cathy

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 3:22 pm

I have to join the "slob crew". To be perfectly honest, I never clean the hose, other than when I first get it. I seldom rinse out my humidifier - but I did once after 2 years because I saw some crud in it. ..

But, I do run hot water through my nasal pillows about every 3 or 4 days - when I think of it.

But I never get colds, infections, etc. So why bother?

But my house is clean.... .....

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 5:01 pm

Ric wrote:RELIGIOUSLY!
(every christmas and easter)

Hahaha!

I was going to say "once in a blue moon" but Ric's answer fits better.

Well, I may be bad with my nose mask and hose, but I can say that in the ENTIRE time I've been on cpap (a year and 4 months), I've not had a single cold (knock on wood), which simply boggles my mind. The closest I came to getting a cold was at Christmas when I took my cpap to my brothers but not the humidifier (I liked to die from cotton mouth!!). So whatever I'm doing or not doing....... I'll continue!!

Linda

Mask

Additional Comments: Large mask collection