ComfortGel mask chemical odor - it stinks!

Hi everyone,

I just got my ComfortGel mask and it stinks! I washed it with soap and water and that didn't help. Just the mask in the same room causes my eyes to burn. I do have a sensitive sniffer, can't tolerate perfume and such. But this! There's no way I can use it unless I can get the stink out!

I'm airing it out now in front of a small fan. Anyone have any other ideas? Has anyone else had this problem? It's a chemical-like smell.

Ugh!

Ed

I'd call whoever sold it to you - it might have been stored near a xerox machine - or it might have been in a box next to something smelly in shipment.

I've smelled those masks - once a long time ago when someone was trying to get me to shift away from my tried and true Respironics slicone skirt mask and they did not smell that way to me. YMMV. I don't like perfume much either - except when combined with my ex wife.

If this is one of the boil-to-shape ones (check instructions) maybe boiling will help it. I thought - hmmm - boil it with something that smells good? A pinch of herbs? Then I thought that it would be a dumb idea.

I would probably avoid things like a little steam from a tea kettle since there is too much chance of melting the plastic.

You may try washing it in baking soda and water. I used to clean a house for a lady who could not handle odors of any kind and was chemical sensitive and this is what I cleaned her house with. The baking soda should draw out any thing that would make the mask smell. Hope this helps.

2 replies in less than 30 minutes! Wow!

I like the beard, brasshopper.

Thanks for the ideas. I can combine the 2 and boil it in a baking soda solution.. Well, if it doesn't air out in front of the fan then I'll go at it with one of these plans.

Thanks!
Ed

ever tried vinegar and water?

Well, after several hours sitting about a foot away from a fan, the odor dissipated. That's not the whole story.

First, I removed the piece that smelled, that is, I snapped the mask apart. I now had the translucent outer part and the blue gel part separated, and I positioned them so they got a full stream on air going through and around them. After a few hours, I smelled them. The blue part wasn't where the odor was coming from. It was the translucent part and the odor was now slight but still irritating to my eyes.

I gotta say that I think I got the wrong mask. I'm kinda sorry I didn't try the nasal pillow/cushion first. This thing it gonna drive me crazy.

So I decided to snap it back on and connect everything up. Then I decided to try it on. So in bed and got this thing on trying to put up with it caused me stress which causes me physical pain. (Part of the disability I endure) Eventually I got tired. (My response to too much stress and pain.) And I just dropped off to sleep. Awakened by the telephone I realized that I had success! Just one hour sleeping with the thing on!

I'm not saying that I feel so good I'm going to jump up and sing halleluiah but I am happy that I could actually sleep with this on. Of course, I guess if I had it on and someone kluncked me on the head with a hammer I'd sleep.

So again I'm looking forward to my first night with this. THe odor is still there and it still bothers me but it isn't so pungent so as to burn my eyes.

Later.