Hi there

[TropicalDiver]

Don’t the humidifier get some kinda bugs or bacteria with the water being heated ?

Be gentle. I’m learning.

I am more conservative than most. Some wait to see algae. And guidance should be different if you are immune compromised.

Every day, I take my humidifier out and dump the water. I then let it dry during the day. I refill using distilled water (others use tap) right before bed.

When I wash my supplies (ideally weekly but, honestly, monthly at best), I do wash my tank and hose (along with the rest). I have never needed my hose brush. I use a hurricane dryer (a luxury albeit a useful one).

[prodigyplace]

I see you have a P10 mask. Periodically washing the headgear band ( I usually let mine soak) allows it to shrink back when it dries.
It tends to stretch over time.

[Guitarist]

Thank you everybody for the responses. I do appreciate all of them and I think I got a good idea on the cleaning now.
Great forum here and thanks for all your patience with me.

[ChicagoGranny]

... hard water.
It leaves a nasty white film on silicone.
Wash quickly like a water bottle--hot water and dish detergent, then rinse.

After a weekly washing in Dawn, I sling all the water possible off the mask in order to avoid that slow mineral buildup you speak of.

[chunkyfrog]

That buildup is not slow. SOAKING for a half hour puts it on SILICONE.
I only use baby wipes on silicone.
I used to wash them, but realized it was a lost cause. The wipes promote longer use.
I wash the frame and headgear separately. Different materials need different treatment.

[ChicagoGranny]

I wash the frame and headgear separately.

Gosh, I can't remember when the frame and headgear last were washed. The cushion, which touches the skin, is the only part that gets regular washing.

[beautifuldreamer]

I used to wash everything daily when I started 6 years ago, but in the past couple of years, I have switched to once a week=ish . . .

Also, a few months ago, when I was switched out to my ResMed, I use my old respironics for setting up with using a the sleepweaver cloth mask -and I found out that my old water chamber in the respironics has this bad mildewy type of smell in it- I probably didn't wash that out enough the last time I used it . . . it took awhile but I finally got that mildewy smell out of it (kind of like a wash cloth gets this smell when you haven't laundered it for a few days) . . .

since noticing the mildewy smell,
I take out my water chamber and open it up to let it air out before using it during the night - my way of avoiding the mildewy kind of smell . . . and sometimes on my water chamber i wash twice a week . . .

[Guitarist]

UPDATE:


So I downloaded Sleepyhead and Oscar and I plopped a SD card in her a couple days ago.
I have 2 nights data to look at. Cool stuff.

Interesting to see data on "Me"
I understand most of it so I'm good.


and.... I had my 1st night in a long time where I got (2) 3hour sleeps so that was good.
It's normally about a hour. I hate the machine but whatcha gonna do ?

and there you have it

[Dog Slobber]

UPDATE:


So I downloaded Sleepyhead and Oscar and I plopped a SD card in her a couple days ago.
I have 2 nights data to look at. Cool stuff.

Interesting to see data on "Me"
I understand most of it so I'm good.


and.... I had my 1st night in a long time where I got (2) 3hour sleeps so that was good.
It's normally about a hour. I hate the machine but whatcha gonna do ?

and there you have it

For a lot of us:

What was an hour or so sleep,
became a couple of hours sleep,
then a few hours, with breaks inbetween,
then fewer and shorter breaks,

and then one day being woken up by an alarm clock with your last memory being going to bed.

YMMV.

Looking forward to that update.

[Guitarist]

UPDATE:


So I downloaded Sleepyhead and Oscar and I plopped a SD card in her a couple days ago.
I have 2 nights data to look at. Cool stuff.

Interesting to see data on "Me"
I understand most of it so I'm good.


and.... I had my 1st night in a long time where I got (2) 3hour sleeps so that was good.
It's normally about a hour. I hate the machine but whatcha gonna do ?

and there you have it

For a lot of us:

What was an hour or so sleep,
became a couple of hours sleep,
then a few hours, with breaks inbetween,
then fewer and shorter breaks,

and then one day being woken up by an alarm clock with your last memory being going to bed.

YMMV.

Looking forward to that update.

lol ... I had that thought in my head kinda sorta but ...

I couldn't compute

[Miss Emerita]

Congratulations on the improvement! And yes, Oscar is very cool. As an RT you’ve probably looked a lot at other people’s data, but it must be intriguing to look at your own and try to map the graphs onto your memories of the previous night.

[roadcycler]

Are you a respiratory tech in a hosp? If so don't forget that the people are there for a reason (infections, etc) and cross contamination either by hands, other sick people's bugs, air handlers etc. So yes there is a real reason to clean and disinfect all of the hardware with that many people around. At home the chance of contamination is limited to ourselves or our spouses/significant others ( we have already swapped bugs with them ) So it is a much more controlled environment.

Rob

[LakeGuy85]

To everyone who's not cleaning the machine and tubing much, which sounds great, are you also never changing out the machine filters or do you still do that monthly?

[ChicagoGranny]

are you also never changing out the machine filters or do you still do that monthly?

... about twice per year. My house is not dusty, and we never open the windows to let in pollens and whatever.

Even at six months, the filter that comes out looks as clean as the new one that is going in.

[Guitarist]

Congratulations on the improvement! And yes, Oscar is very cool. As an RT you’ve probably looked a lot at other people’s data, but it must be intriguing to look at your own and try to map the graphs onto your memories of the previous night.

It sure is pretty cool. Downloaded data this morning and I showed the wife the RN and she said it was greek to her. Started explaining stuff and she told me I was obsessed....lol. No Honey, this is what I do. Just taking a look to see.

Are you a respiratory tech in a hosp? If so don't forget that the people are there for a reason (infections, etc) and cross contamination either by hands, other sick people's bugs, air handlers etc. So yes there is a real reason to clean and disinfect all of the hardware with that many people around. At home the chance of contamination is limited to ourselves or our spouses/significant others ( we have already swapped bugs with them ) So it is a much more controlled environment.

Rob

RT since Jimmy Carter was President
I understand all that and appreciate the advice. I'm not gonna clean everything everyday but I'm gonna keep it clean.
I've seen some disgusting machines and I can't do that. I can't drive a dirty car and I won't use a dirty CPAP machine. YMMV

I see you have a P10 mask. Periodically washing the headgear band ( I usually let mine soak) allows it to shrink back when it dries.
It tends to stretch over time.

I have a assortment of New masks. Don't ask how I got them ...lol
I switched to a Phillips Respironics Nuance Pro a few days ago. The P10 didn't like my nose much. I may re-visit the P10 after my skin gets more durable if that makes sense. I did like the P10 minimal strap. The gel on the Nuance Pro is working better for now. I'm experimenting.