Washing equipment

Sleet · Post by **Sleet** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:21 am

I've read posts about which soap to use, but the search function is letting me know. What brands are people using to clean their mask/hose/humidifier?

Thanks.

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:26 am

I use a very old bar soap product called Kirk's Castile. It's an all natural soap and rinses clean. I also will use a vinegar rinse on my hose about once a month, ditto for the humidifier. I have the M-series humidifier that has been know to have leaks after a time of use. I never take it apart, but do let it air dry every other day or so and also do the vinegar rinse on that once a month.

Hawthorne · Post by **Hawthorne** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:39 am

I have used Ivory Dishwashing Liquid CLASSIC for 5 years now and my equipment is in great shape!!

Allyboy · Post by **Allyboy** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:05 am

I use Milton, which is a mild disinfectent used to sterlise babies bottles. It works really well, you would not even know it has been on and is totally safe.

jimbassett · Post by **jimbassett** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:06 am

I use distilled water in my HH so there is no reason to wash it and introduce foreign matter. The filtered air should be clean so why worry about washing the hose. I think you're doing more harm than good. The mask I wipe down with a hot rag to remove faceial oils. This has been working for over a year. I believe in the KISS theory. jim

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:25 am

Me and a bunch of folks use Johnsons Baby shampoo. It is easier to find than some of the other soaps.

Jerry

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:27 am

I use baby shampoo. It's gentle, yet it cleans, and I like the way it smells. I clean the rubber mask parts daily, and the humidifier maybe once a month or so. It's always topped off w/distilled water and has never given me a reason to clean it more frequently.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:59 am

I use IVORY dishwashing liquid , and I do use Distilled water in my Heated Humidifier and used to wash it everyday but I heard people say washing it wasn't needed so I finally did a test to see what would happen if I didn't wash it ( I waited for 2 weeks before washing) and it started to get slimy on the bottom and little bubbles started forming so needless to say, I am back to washing my humidifier tank with warm soapy Ivory Dishwashing liquid everyday, washing my mask parts to and it sure makes cpap therapy easier to tolerate for me smelling the clean parts along with using pur-sleep oils.. I use the aussie heated hose (and can't wash it) because of the wires but before I got that I was washing my 6 foot hose everyday as well!

Was it a MAJOR HASSLE??? Yes, but like I said, it was well worth it, I actually sleep better smelling clean smells instead of my breath from the night before

jimbasset, if you read your booklet that came with your heated humidifier, you will then understand why you should clean the HH tank regarless of what type of water you put in it! You can eventually get sick (lungs)...

xyz · Post by **xyz** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:12 pm

Seventh Generation Free & Clear Natural Dish Liquid.
You can find it pretty much anywhere these days. All the stores around here carry it.

The thing about a F&C soap is that _everyone_ can use it. You don't have to be allergic to use it.

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:25 pm

I, too, like the Seventh Generation Free and Clear Natural Dishsoap for just about everything! Really nice for people who are overly sensitive to smells, like me.

I was a little skeptical of NOT opening up my M Series heated humidifier.
(praying I'm not going to cause it to leak, so far, so good.)

I only use distilled water, but after about 2 weeks of not cleaning it, just adding new water nightly, I noticed that the inside was a little slimy when I opened it up. YUCK! So that kind of scared me. Have been cleaning it every week or so, since then.
This probably could be done safely without opening it up.

Now I'm beginning to worry because I never wash out my Heated Hose.
Should I be doing that and how often? Scared of getting something wet.

Sleet · Post by **Sleet** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:34 pm

I have used baby shampoo so far, but I may try the 7th or Ivory dish soap. It's nice to know what options are available.

Another question: Do you dismantle the entire mask assembly before cleaning, or do you just remove the headgear and dunk the entire mask?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:39 pm

You are to disconnect the mask from the headgear and clean them seperately on most masks!

Have a BLAST

jimbassett · Post by **jimbassett** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:58 pm

I just removed my M HH, dumped the water and looked it over very carefully in the sunshine. Its as clean and clear as the day I got it in Jan '07. I have never washed it with soap. I don't think you can get all the soap out of there with rinsing. It has never had anything in it but pure distilled water so I don't see how anything can grow in there. Anyway I'm not going to fix it if it isn't broke. Regards, jim

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:08 pm

jimbasset.

Goodluck in the future

kennethryan · Post by **kennethryan** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:50 pm

[quote="jimbassett"It has never had anything in it but pure distilled water so I don't see how anything can grow in there.[/quote]

Remember the machine filter is a particle filter, and not a very good one at that. It won't do diddly to stop something as small as bacteria or mold spores.

Since you haven't had a problem yet, your house must be absolutely *immaculate*.

Just like NeedinZs, I also use only distilled water and one day took a close look and found a surprise - a thready black blob attached to an inside corner. Yuck!

Anyway, to warp a phrase: "Just Keep On Checkin'!"

Washing equipment

Washing equipment

Washing equipment

cleaning HH

Re: cleaning HH

Mask	Humidifier