Cleaning humidifier vs. distilled water

[skylark40]

The distilled water I use must be truly distilled as the only time I ever see anything amiss is when I run out of it and use tap water for a couple of days (or I'm out of town and use tap water). I wash the chamber about once every couple weeks as long as I'm using distilled water. It's interesting, the tap water seems to smell different from the distilled water. Wondering if that's my imagination or something. Not bad, just different.

Chlorine and other stuff in your tap water make it smell. Plus, sometimes tap water smells different depending on the season and how much treatment they put in it.

[SewTired]

I get that bio film from Spring until Fall and my brother never gets it at all (other side of house, but same level). I have a Resmed, he has a Respironics. I presumed the reason he didn't get it was because he has a Honeywell Air filter in his room, but the design is a bit different. I top off mine all week and then wash once a week until the bio film season goes away. Then it's once a month if I'm organized enough. I wash brother's stuff at the same time.

Vinegar is pretty good, but does not eliminate all bacteria. I discovered that during my aquarium keeping years - you'd be amazed how many critters can survive in it. Still, if you are sensitive to smells or chemicals, it's probably a better choice (lemon juice also works if you hate the odor of pickles). My bro is completely intolerant of Dawn, so I just use vinegar to clean his stuff.

[McSleepy]

Never had to clean my equipment - ResMed now (Colorado, 9 years), Respironics previously (Michigan, 6 years). Once in a while, when I travel, I'd open it and rinse it, and it's always clean.
McSleepy

[Esme]

Sheepish, that vid brought back memories. My older brother used to play that steppenwolf record on his portable turntable while hiding in his bedroom closet so my very strict parents wouldn't hear the shocking language

I work in healthcare and have a particular fear of lung infections so I probably clean my equipment more than most. Humidifier gets emptied daily, rinsed with hot water and air-dried. Hose gets hung to dry (and to keep it away from curious and destructive paws that might think it's a toy). Mask cleaned with baby wipes. Once a week everything gets washed in warm soapy water and air dried. Never seen any slime.

[hosed_off]

. . .the second rinse gets a capful of Phillips vodka.

I am totally trying tequila in my humidifier tonight.

[Goofproof]

. . .the second rinse gets a capful of Phillips vodka.

I am totally trying tequila in my humidifier tonight.

Rinse Only, NOT Instead of. Jim

[jjc155]

not sure if it helps (im not getting any gunk in my humidifier tank) but once every week or so I pour some distilled white vinegar in the tank, slosh it around for a minute and rinse it out. No issues.

J-

[Guest]

I occasionally used to get the pink film and would wash the tank once a week. Then black spots started showing up on the gasket that were impossible to remove. This was concerning as it was possibly mold. After that point and a new humidifier tank, the tank got emptied every morning with gasket removed and both set out to dry all day. No more pink stuff or black spots and no cleaning. Distilled water is used most of the time. On the few occasions tap water is used, I make sure to fill the tank up and mineral deposits don't form on the bottom since the tank is not dried out on the bottom. Seems to work for me.

[TedVPAP]

I use tap water. Dump it every morning and air dry. No slime if you allow the surfaces to dry.

[#1Guest]

I occasionally used to get the pink film and would wash the tank once a week.

You can get the pink slime from just rinsing with tap water (even when using distilled).

After that point and a new humidifier tank, the tank got emptied every morning with gasket removed and both set out to dry all day. No more pink stuff or black spots and no cleaning.

IMO leaving the humidifier or other parts exposed to the room air which contains other food sources for bacteria is not the best thing. I never leave things esp. my humidifier tank open or exposed to dry.

[TedVPAP]

I occasionally used to get the pink film and would wash the tank once a week.

You can get the pink slime from just rinsing with tap water (even when using distilled).

After that point and a new humidifier tank, the tank got emptied every morning with gasket removed and both set out to dry all day. No more pink stuff or black spots and no cleaning.

IMO leaving the humidifier or other parts exposed to the room air which contains other food sources for bacteria is not the best thing. I never leave things esp. my humidifier tank open or exposed to dry.

I suspect you rinse your tooth brush and let it air dry twice a day.
A dry surface won't grow slim.

[Guest]

I suspect you rinse your tooth brush and let it air dry twice a day.

I don't but then again I don't breath thru my toothbrush either. Could that be the difference?

Take a look at the overflow drain in your sink that you can't see unless you crank your neck or use a mirror or look under that brim inside the toilet again you can't see there w/o a mirror then let me know if you see pink slime and why do you think its there? After all you do drink that tap water right?

[WearyOne]

The distilled water I use must be truly distilled as the only time I ever see anything amiss is when I run out of it and use tap water for a couple of days (or I'm out of town and use tap water). I wash the chamber about once every couple weeks as long as I'm using distilled water. It's interesting, the tap water seems to smell different from the distilled water. Wondering if that's my imagination or something. Not bad, just different.

Chlorine and other stuff in your tap water make it smell. Plus, sometimes tap water smells different depending on the season and how much treatment they put in it.

Makes perfect sense. And now that you mention it, the smell it kinda like chlorine. Not strong, but definitely there.

[Guest]

It's interesting, the tap water seems to smell different from the distilled water. Wondering if that's my imagination or something. Not bad, just different.

Chlorine and other stuff in your tap water make it smell. Plus, sometimes tap water smells different depending on the season and how much treatment they put in it.

Tap water contains minerals and those minerals will vary in different parts of the country or world. Distilled contains no minerals which is why it is recommended for use w/cpap. The lack of minerals make it oderless and tasteless but pure water.

I have been in parts of the US where the water smells like sulphur or rotten eggs. They say its not toxic or harmful but I sure wouldn't want to breath that all nite. Hey, I don't want to drink or shower in it either.

[TedVPAP]

I suspect you rinse your tooth brush and let it air dry twice a day.

I don't but then again I don't breath thru my toothbrush either. Could that be the difference?

Take a look at the overflow drain in your sink that you can't see unless you crank your neck or use a mirror or look under that brim inside the toilet again you can't see there w/o a mirror then let me know if you see pink slime and why do you think its there? After all you do drink that tap water right?

No comment on your dental hygiene habits.

No need for me to look at a sink drain which remains wet - slim grows.
Dry your CPAP equipment. Air drying is drying.