Do you wash your new tubing before first use?

[AMinNJ]

Just curious... who here uses new CPAP tubing straight out of the package, and who washes it first?

On a side note, my current hose sprung a leak that I couldn't fix. My insurance only covers two hoses per year, so I checked with a medical supply store around the corner... I couldn't believe it, they want $42.00 for a generic 6-ft CPAP hose! I asked, geez, is it made of gold or something? Fortunately I found a spare new one in that I had stashed under my bed in case of emergency, and I know I only paid about $10 for it here at cpap.com. Thank goodness for cpap.com.

Angela

[Autopapdude]

Yes I do wash all new equipment (except for the Autopap, obviously). I wash masks and hoses, as they often have that heavy plastic smell as new. It is my esthetic thing, and not necessarily a sanitary issue.

[Hawthorne]

I wash all new cpap equipment before I use it - hoses, masks, mask parts, humidifier water chambers.

I don't wash filters or the machine itself but everything else.

[bearded_two]

It is a good idea to take hoses and masks out of their plastic bags and letting them air out before using them. Airing out will reduce or eliminate the odor.

[Catnapper]

Yes. I find the new plastic smell very irritating. I also leave them to air out for weeks in advance of using one if possible to give them a chance to lose that plastic odor.

Just me, maybe, but the plastic smell gives me headaches and burning eyes.

Catnapper - Joanie

[ozij]

Yes, I do.

[AMinNJ]

Thanks for all of your replies. I usually wash mine, too... just feeling tired today and didn't know if I was being over-cautious and just creating more work for myself. Guess not! So now I'm off to wash my new hose...

Thanks again everyone!

Angela

[gingerdos]

I don't wash new hoses or masks
Ginger