CPAP Equipment Cleaning Question

[ringo728]

I developed acute bronchitis, sinusitis and pharyngitis over the weekend . I don't smoke nor does my wife. I do have spring allergies that could have contributed to it or could have picked it up at the grocery store touching the cart handle . I just don't know. I was told by my home equipment RT (upon receiving the equipment) to clean my mask or nasal pillows (I use both) daily in warm water with 2 drops of Johnson's baby shampoo and rinse completely. I do the same 2 times a week for my heated hose and let air dry per his instructions. I also wash my humidier tray in the dishwasher 2 times per week as instructed. I change my distilled water in the humidifier tank daily. Is it best to wash everything everyday? Including the hose and humidifer tray? Is there another disinfecting agent available designed just for CPAP equipment? I was finally put on Bactrim (an antibiotic) yesterday because of the congestion in my chest and chronic cough and phlegm. I'm also on Zyrtec for my allergies. I'm really doing well on CPAP and haven't missed a night. Sleeping very well for 7 to 8 hours . Am I doing my due diligence in reference to housekeeping? Just curious. All answers appreciated.

[LSAT]

Your cleaning regimen sounds fine..better than most of us.

[chunkyfrog]

Quite a bit more than many of us, in fact.
Your techniques and materials are quite commonly recommended, though I am not as diligent as I once was.
For most of us, the intensity and frequency of our cleaning regimen depends entirely on our ambition versus our "gross-out" factor.
If you have compromised immunity, then more aggressive cleaning may be appropriate.

[Wulfman...]

I developed acute bronchitis, sinusitis and pharyngitis over the weekend . I don't smoke nor does my wife. I do have spring allergies that could have contributed to it or could have picked it up at the grocery store touching the cart handle . I just don't know. I was told by my home equipment RT (upon receiving the equipment) to clean my mask or nasal pillows (I use both) daily in warm water with 2 drops of Johnson's baby shampoo and rinse completely. I do the same 2 times a week for my heated hose and let air dry per his instructions. I also wash my humidier tray in the dishwasher 2 times per week as instructed. I change my distilled water in the humidifier tank daily. Is it best to wash everything everyday? Including the hose and humidifer tray? Is there another disinfecting agent available designed just for CPAP equipment? I was finally put on Bactrim (an antibiotic) yesterday because of the congestion in my chest and chronic cough and phlegm. I'm also on Zyrtec for my allergies. I'm really doing well on CPAP and haven't missed a night. Sleeping very well for 7 to 8 hours . Am I doing my due diligence in reference to housekeeping? Just curious. All answers appreciated.

Do what YOU feel comfortable with. There are no right or wrong answers. Everybody here has their own regimen and they cover the spectrum from one end to the other.
This is a subject that has been discussed ad nauseum and if you wish to read up on it, go up to the Search line and put in "cleaning" and start reading. "Rested Gal" has collected many of the discussion links, so if you find her posts, look in her profile for the links.

Den

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