Is mask and hose cleaning important?

Omega3231 · Post by **Omega3231** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 5:16 pm

Hello fellow Cpapers,

I have been lurking on here for a while but now I have a question.

What are the consequences of not cleaning ones mask, hose and humidifier tank?

I have not cleaned mine for about a month now and last night I was thinking I wonder if it is safe? They do not smell bad or anything. I get a very slight musty odor when first using it every night but it goes away within minutes.

So can anything adverse happen from not cleaning it or is it a non issue?

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 5:25 pm

IMO the hose is a non issue...The mask cushion should be cleaned occasionally or wiped with cpap wipes. You will find LOTS of opinions on this...everything from "never clean them" to "clean them every night".

greatunclebill · Post by **greatunclebill** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 5:26 pm

it depends what your personal level of hygeine and cleanliness is. some people couldn't live with themselves if they didn't clean it every single day. some people never clean them at all. neither has died because of how they clean or don't clean their mask. to me this is another of those no correct answer questions like humidifier water. justify it however you want and clean it or don't clean it as you see fit.

sol · Post by **sol** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 5:46 pm

Its important to clean all the equipment (mask, hoses, water tank) thoroughly on a regular basis, so it does not become a desirable environment for bacteria to live and grow.
Don,t forget to change the filter too.

Wonderbeastlett · Post by **Wonderbeastlett** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 8:19 pm

I think its really important to clean the hose, filter, mask and humidifier! I live in a wet climate and if I decide not to clean out my wet hose or mask and just leave them, I get mold! The hose and humidifier are important simply because you're breathing in the wet air and its passing thru the hose.(I even use distilled water in my humidifier so its not tainted or stained) For me, the mask and filter are more important! The mask holds onto the natural oil from your skin. If you keep introducing the old oils to your skin every night, hello zit city! lol Plus I dont want to breathe in dust!

I suppose I just find it important because of my age and where I live. Everyone wants to be heathy and how you choose to take care of your equipement is your personal choice. It can prolong the life of your equipement though. Just be sure to use a mild soap like scentless mild baby wash. Regular soaps will break down the silicone in your mask. Other than that its up to you!

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 8:51 pm

If the smell is funky, it's probably time to clean something. Never know what might make you sick.
Squeaky clean silicone seals better and is less likely to cause acne or contact dermatitis.

xenablue · Post by **xenablue** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 9:47 pm

After seeing a machine, mask and tubing brought into the CPAP DME I go to, none of which had obviously EVER been cleaned in any way, I decided more is better (cleaning, that is).

To ME, it's important my equipment looks and smells clean. But after reading about a young man who contracted Legionnaire's disease from an XPAP humidifier during a sleep study, and later died - that was enough to convince me of the importance of at least washing and drying my humidifier tank at least weekly.

Paranoid? Yeah, maybe a little - better safe than sorry IMHO.

Cheers,
xena

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 11:39 pm

LSAT wrote:IMO the hose is a non issue...The mask cushion should be cleaned occasionally or wiped with cpap wipes. You will find LOTS of opinions on this...everything from "never clean them" to "clean them every night".

greatunclebill wrote:it depends what your personal level of hygeine and cleanliness is. some people couldn't live with themselves if they didn't clean it every single day. some people never clean them at all. neither has died because of how they clean or don't clean their mask. to me this is another of those no correct answer questions like humidifier water. justify it however you want and clean it or don't clean it as you see fit.

I think LSAT and greatunclebill put it well.

Here are some previous topics with "LOTS of opinions on this" ...

Links to Cleaning mask, hose, humidifier
viewtopic.php?p=567264#p567264

-tim · Post by **-tim** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 5:50 am

I'll disagree. If you're getting high humidity in the hose, it needs to be cleaned. So far just running water through it ever few days seems to do the trick. You may find it fits on the kitchen sink faucet very nicely. I run hot water through it and hang it on a cabinet door to dry.

The oils on the head gear and mask will cause problem in time but that is more of a skin irritation issue.

The bacteria that can cause problems like water and die when dried out. If you have spares, cycle through them and give things time to dry out and you shouldn't have problems.

locust78 · Post by **locust78** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:12 am

Two factors make regular CPAP cleaning essential: One, when you're using a humidifier, you're creating a favorable environment in your CPAP for microbial contamination. Two, you're introducing this environment into your sinuses and lungs when you strap on your mask every night. Although some of the unseen growth is likely harmless, that's not always the case. For those prone to sinus infections, or with compromised immune systems, regular thorough cleaning is a must.

123.Shawn T.W. · Post by **123.Shawn T.W.** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 8:01 am

First of all you need to figure out is, are you getting use to the musty smell, or is it truly going away?

Next is, even if it does go away, is it good for you while it is there?

Lots of stuff floats through the air ... Is the filter a certified HEPA filter?

Check out sourdough starter ... Depends on crud in the air ...

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:53 am

I am with Rested Gal on this one.
I have done it both ways...started out as a newbie with a strict cleaning schedule and I slept fine.
Then got lazy and started slacking off on the cleaning schedule...slept fine, no illness, no smell, no nothing.
Now I am really lazy and maybe wash the nasal pillows once a week or so and still sleep fine, no illness, no smell, no nothing growing in or on my equipment. Hose never gets washed and tank rarely gets washed (use distilled water only).

My point is that when I say I sleep fine I mean that I am not worried about it one way or the other.
If someone else doesn't sleep fine knowing it has been a week since something has been washed or cleaned...then by all means do whatever cleaning schedule allows you to "sleep fine" and not worry about things.
I sleep fine and don't worry about germs or bugs or crud but that doesn't mean that everyone else will sleep fine with my lax schedule. It works for me and that is all that really matters. I have no other health issues that are or would be compromised by my lax cleaning regiment.

Everyone else....do whatever needs to be done so that you "sleep fine".

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