Hi all, new to the board, though I've been on CPAP for about a year. I was told to clean my hoses twice a week. I have a couple hoses with elbows which I alternate. I hang the "off" hose over a door and it's dry when I swap it out after 3-4 days. I was told to use dishwashing detergent for cleaning and I just buy whichever one is on sale (it isn't like I'm using it to clean dishes!) I usually squeeze some into the hose and fill my bathroom sink with soapy water. I then run water through the hose and let it soak for a few hours or perhaps overnight. It's a chore but, like others earlier in the thread, I'm a rule follower and figured I'd catch all sorts of nasty viruses if I didn't.
I found this board because I was considering purchasing one of those ultrasonic cleaners and was looking for reviews. But it sounds like most of you don't bother with this, so ultrasonic cleaners are unnecessary? Maybe I'll stick with cleaning as I always have but reduce the frequency to "when I feel like it."
I'd appreciate advice around the mask and headgear:
1) I was told to use a baby wipe on the cushion, which I do daily, but I still sometimes notice a smell. I become nose blind to it after a minute or so but I'm a bit concerned that if there's an odor there's some nasty bugs in there. What are your best practices?
2) How do you (or DO you) effectively clean the headgear? Mine tends to get nasty if I sweat at night, etc. My insurance replaces it every six months IIRC, so I assume there's some care there that nobody mentioned to me.
3) How frequently do you replace the cushion? Insurance assumes once per month but I tend to find fit problems before then. I live with it but, again, wondering what others do.
Thanks in advance for any advice!