CPAP mask smells

I just got my CPAP machine a week ago, after a few weeks of barely sleeping at all, 40 days' worth of Ambien, and a sleep study. Sleeping with a mask on, and a noisy machine in the room is an adjustment, but one I think I can cope with. I have dialed back the Ambien somewhat, and can probably be completely off of it soon.

After a few days I noticed kind of a musty smell when I put the mask on at night. Even after washing the mask and humidifier reservoir with dish soap, there is still an unpleasant odor. Is there anything I could be ding to help? Maybe a specific kind of soap, or swabbing the humidifier reservoir or mask with something?

Thanks

Are you cleaning out the hose in addition to the mask? Water from the humidifier can condense in the hose, so it has the same likelihood as the other parts of getting musty.

Is it a "NEW" machine?
Have you cleaned/washed/replaced the filters?
Are you using DISTILLED water in the humidifier tank?


Den

I'm using distilled water, but not doing anything as far as cleaning the hose.

I'm not sure how I'd do that other than running soapy water through it.

Can I use anything besides regular dish soap?

I wash mask and humidifier tank daily. Wash with Dawn & let sit soapy a few minutes, rinse well, wash with 7th Generation to get rid of Dawn & let sit soapy a few minutes, rinse well, spray with white vinegar & let sit 2-3 minutes to disinfect and loosen and remove all soap residues, rinse very well, let air dry. This is complicated because I have huge allergy-sinus-congestion issues and this system works for me. I wash the hose every other week or so when I wash the headgear...7th Generation only. I have 2 hoses so one is always clean/drying.

I've seen references to a couple of other ways people clean them - vinegar/water mixes, or mouthwash/water mixes. One good idea was to get a hose end to end connector, and hook the hose into one continuous loop - then you can slosh your cleaner all through it without worry of spilling it.

McPoyle wrote:I'm using distilled water, but not doing anything as far as cleaning the hose.

I'm not sure how I'd do that other than running soapy water through it.

Can I use anything besides regular dish soap?

I didn't ask about the hose. I specifically asked about the filters and whether it was a NEW machine.

I've always used Dawn diswashing liquid to clean my mask. I rinse/wash out my (foam) filters every other weekend and have never washed my humidifier tank or hose in over 4 years.

Den

Machine, filters, mask, etc. is all new.

I'll try spraying some vinegar on after cleaning.

Thanks