Newbie with a few questions

[unityco]

Hi there,

I've been poking around your excellent resource, but haven't yet found the answers to some of my questions (even though I'm sure they're there ) I've only been using my machine for 5 nights.

I'm wondering a lot about cleaning - solutions in particular. I've read about bleach and vinegar, but what about concentrations and timing? Is there a link to a simple cleaning regime out there somewhere? I've been using "Diva Wash" on my nasal pillows - but any gentle wash should be fine? Does the piece the pillow snaps into need to be cleaned daily with the pillow, or less often?

Rain out - I was going to ask what this was 'til I experienced it myself the other night. My machine came with a hose wrap, and using it has helped somewhat, but it hasn't completely eliminated the problem. Strangely, during the night I spent in the lab on their machine - with my mask and hose - I had no rain out issues (and they did use a humidifier.) I didn't notice what machines they were using.

Aromatherapy! I did not realize this was an option and it sounds awesome! I have a bunch of essential oils (I'm not very schooled on their effects, though.) Any recipes and tips on that? (I know not to put them in the water.)

Travel? We do a lot of that. Mostly domestically to visit family. I saw that a hose handler was considered "essential equipment". I guess I should be looking at a travel version of that?

Anything else you think I should know? Thanks in advance for your wisdom!

[Wulfman]

Hi there,

I've been poking around your excellent resource, but haven't yet found the answers to some of my questions (even though I'm sure they're there ) I've only been using my machine for 5 nights.

I'm wondering a lot about cleaning - solutions in particular. I've read about bleach and vinegar, but what about concentrations and timing? Is there a link to a simple cleaning regime out there somewhere? I've been using "Diva Wash" on my nasal pillows - but any gentle wash should be fine? Does the piece the pillow snaps into need to be cleaned daily with the pillow, or less often?

Rainout - I was going to ask what this was 'til I experienced it myself the other night. My machine came with a hose wrap, and using it has helped somewhat, but it hasn't completely eliminated the problem. Strangely, during the night I spent in the lab on their machine - with my mask and hose - I had no rain out issues (and they did use a humidifier.) I didn't notice what machines they were using.

Aromatherapy! I did not realize this was an option and it sounds awesome! I have a bunch of essential oils (I'm not very schooled on their effects, though.) Any recipes and tips on that? (I know not to put them in the water.)

Travel? We do a lot of that. Mostly domestically to visit family. I saw that a hose handler was considered "essential equipment". I guess I should be looking at a travel version of that?

Anything else you think I should know? Thanks in advance for your wisdom!

If you're wondering about all of those, go up to the Search line and type each one of those words I have highlighted in there.


Den

[Gerryk]

Welcome aboard!

Cleaning solution. First off keep bleach in the laundry room. Bleach is ok for whitening clothes but you don't want to clean your cpap equipment with it. Occasionally I forget to put salt in our water softner and end up with my humidifier chamber looking nasty, that's when I reach for the vinegar.

For cleaning my mask the whole thing after I have taken it apart, I use dove dish soap without the perfumes in it. I wash when it looks like it needs to be washed, I think about it or it isn't sealing on my face the way it should. Now for my hose I clean it the same as above but I use Johnsons baby shampoo or the local generic for it. I use it becuase it is gentle and well it smells nice. The reuseable filter on my machine I have only rinsed them out.

Rainout, try adjusting your humidifier a little lower if you can but also try some hose management. I use a hose buddy to hold the hose above my head.https://www.cpap.com/productpage/HoseBu ... ystem.html That and a hose cover have reduced the rainout to almost nil. Others swear by keeping the hose under the covers with them. I struggle enough just to keep my wife from pulling the covers off me let alone a hose.
You asked about a travel verson of a hose holder, Yes I use one and often. I am a firemen and I do travel some so I am away from home at least every third day and I have a portable one that folds up flat and goes into a little storage bag. https://www.cpap.com/productpage/flexib ... -lift.html

Neither of these hose holders are prefect as I am sure none are perfect. But the hose buddy is strong and durable and has a hook on the end to hang your mask when it's not on your face. The hose lift system is extremely portable and is very durable.

When I travel, I do take my humidifier and I dry it out as best I can before it goes into the machine but I also scrunch up a few kitchen paper towels and put them in the chamber then put the chamber into the machine. That pretty much guarantees no water in my machine.

Here are some links to posts on here that would be good for a newbie. I startes some or posted on them but most of this is from other peoples experience.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=47015&p=423792#p423792
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46872&p=421763#p421763
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=39321&p=421720#p421720
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46871&p=421715#p421715
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46871&p=421715#p421715
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46750&p=421545#p421545
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46529&p=421515#p421515
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46726&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

Ok, I don't want to put too many links here or it will be too busy. But I put up some good links for you.
Again welcome aboard and good luck.

Gerry

[kteague]

About the aromatherapy, place a drop or two of whatever scent essential oil you enjoy and find relaxing on a small pad and place behind your machine near the intake filter. You might want to protect the table by not allowing the oil to come into contact with its surface.

[unityco]

Thanks, everyone!

[rested gal]

Hi unity, and welcome to the board.

I'm wondering a lot about cleaning - solutions in particular. I've read about bleach and vinegar, but what about concentrations and timing? Is there a link to a simple cleaning regime out there somewhere? I've been using "Diva Wash" on my nasal pillows - but any gentle wash should be fine? Does the piece the pillow snaps into need to be cleaned daily with the pillow, or less often?

There are a lot of different opinions about cleaning regimes. Here are some interesting discussions about that:

Cleaning CPAP Equipment
topic started by forumadmin - April 2005
viewtopic.php?p=18245#p18245

More-Sterile/Easier-Cleaning Process?
topic started by bozmon - February 2005
viewtopic.php?p=7811#p7811

Cleaned my mask now it leaks
topic started by gerrys - June 2007
viewtopic.php?p=184829#p184829

Cleaning water tank
topic started by seernst - June 2008
viewtopic.php?p=275976#p275976

Weekly Mask Cleaning---OverKill ???
topic started by DannyP - August 2008
viewtopic.php?p=293520#p293520

THE HOSE - TO DISINFECT OR NOT TO DISINFECT ?
topic started by Marietjie - March 2009
viewtopic.php?p=352004#p352004

How often do you clean your hose?
topic started by Juliebove - April 2009
viewtopic.php?p=361594#p361594

Poll: How Often Do You Clean Your Tank?
poll started by NeedSomeAir - September 2009
viewtopic.php?p=405431#p405431

Rain out - I was going to ask what this was 'til I experienced it myself the other night. My machine came with a hose wrap, and using it has helped somewhat, but it hasn't completely eliminated the problem. Strangely, during the night I spent in the lab on their machine - with my mask and hose - I had no rain out issues (and they did use a humidifier.) I didn't notice what machines they were using.

LINKS to discussions about the Aussie heated hose - to prevent rainout
viewtopic.php?t=5305

Travel? We do a lot of that. Mostly domestically to visit family. I saw that a hose handler was considered "essential equipment". I guess I should be looking at a travel version of that?

You'll find quite a few ways to hang the hose up out of the way (whether at home or traveling) in the links here...everything from elaborate to very simple:

LINKS to Hose hangers and methods of managing the air hose
viewtopic.php?t=10640

You've already found the most essential piece of "equipment" there is -- this message board. Dig in and enjoy.