Cleaning a hose

[tired57]

Post you method of cleaning you hose.
I'm new at this looking for options .

[Pugsy]

viewtopic.php?p=567264#p567264

Take your pick in the above link. Just about as many methods/regiments and schedules as there are forum members.

[tired57]

Thanks, Pugsy That answered my question.

[Pugsy]

It all comes down to what suit your needs. Some people are clean freaks and germophobes and some people aren't.
I might wash my hose a couple times a year if I think about it. Obviously I am not a clean freak or germophobe.
When I first started cpap therapy 5 years ago I was much more strict with my cleaning schedule but that got old real fast and weekly cleanings became bi weekly...then monthly...then whenever I think about it.

My nasal pillows get a good washing about once a week though.

[HerbM]

Like Pugsy said (sort of).

Caveat: I am NOT a clean freak but prefer reasonable cleanliness while having no time to waste on the unnecessary (I use that up posting in forums )

I went about 45-50 days before one night thinking my air smelled a LITTLE off, maybe a little like mildew or stale water. It was ALMOST imaginary and ALMOST bad enough to get me out of bed to fix it.

The next day, I ran hot water through the hose a few minutes, then put a vinegar solution in there for a couple of hours, followed by another hot water flush and hung it to dry.

Smell gone -- about 2 weeks now so I am thinking that doing this about once per month probably makes sense FOR ME.

Each morning, I run hot water on the nasal pillows, shake them semi-dry, and put them on a little 'drying stand' (two nasal spray bottles with the 'tips' in the pillow recesses).

When I did the main hose, I also soaked the pillow in vinegar in a tupperware container, and ran the hot water and vinegar through the pigtail hose on the mask. (Also, every couple of weeks, I use the hot water on this part of the mask.)

The "hose brush" I bought turned out to be ALMOST useless -- it wouldn't go all the way through the hose and could only be inserted in the ClimateLine from one end due to the fitting on the other end. (I might use it or just pitch it out.)

Oh, ever couple of weeks I wash out the humidifier water reservoir with hot water and maybe liquid soap. Been meaning to stick it in the dishwasher but it's never convenient and doesn't seem necessary. And I use nothing but tap water in it even though many people are convinced that distilled water is the only way to go.

The above is not advice, just part of my story.

[Sir NoddinOff]

Since I live in a dusty area near a large agricultural tract of land, I fill my hose once a month with Control III diluted as per instructions on the label (available at CPAP.com). I let it soak for an hour then rinse with clean water. That's all I do and my hose always smells nice and fresh. That Control III cleans stuff like crazy and is good for humidifier tanks too, especially the ones with hard to reach nooks and crannies - yes, that means you PR .

[sleeplessinaz]

I am pretty much on Pugsy's cleaning schedule lol! 7 years ago I did clean everything on a regular basis but now only when I think about it lol! Nasal pillows get a good scrubbing a few times a week though. No need to clean the hose - what would be making it dirty?

[xyz]

My first point, since others brought it up, is about the need to clean and how often.

I don't think of this as being a clean freak (or not) issue. What each person needs to do depends on several things that are specific to them.

1. Allergies (and the _degree_ of allergies).
Allergic to mold and mildew? Clean more often.
Not allergic? Clean less often.

2. The area you live in.
Read Sir N's post about dusty agricultural areas.

3. How clean (or dusty) you keep your house. And how often you change or clean the two xpap filters.

4. Whether or not you use distilled water.
I recommend using it since it's just a 3 cents per night decision.
Empty it all out in the morning.
You're only saving 1.5 cents if you don't empty it.


Now to answer your question about method of cleaning.

In the deep kitchen sink (not the shallow bathroom sink), run the water until it's hot. Run hot water through the hose until it comes out the other end.

Run it through for about a minute. Empty the hose. Run the water through the other end for another minute.

Fill the hose with vinegar. Let it sit (full) for a few minutes.

Regular vinegar is 5% alcohol. Walmart has a cleaning vinegar that is 6%.

Empty the vinegar. Do the hot water rinse again. For those of us who have a nose like a bloodhound, this helps to get rid of the vinegar smell.

Fill the hose with hot water and a mild dish detergent. Let it set a few minutes.

Those with serious allergies should use a "free & clear" variety, like Seventh Generation.

Finish with the hot water rinse again.

Those of us with allergies who go through Kleenex on a _daily_ basis like (the old Redneck expression) poop through a goose (lol) do more. Others do less.

One size does not fit all.

[tired57]

Ok, I'll probably not be so anal about the hose cleaning but will wipe the mask daily.

Thanks