Lung irritation - detergent odor

I never said it's an exaggeration. But some folks become obsessive about cleaning.

Look at the issue of cleaning from the manufacturer's point of view. They don't want to be accused of being cavalier about cleanliness, and they are not in a position to know what the health status is of the users of their products. So they recommend a stringent cleaning regimen out of an abundance of caution. My point was that for a healthy individual it's not absolutely necessary to be as strict in your cleaning practices, as you should be if you were taking chemotherapy or anti-rejection drugs. Using dishwashing liquid, which wasn't intended to be used for cleaning medical equipment, probably isn't a good practice for the reasons described in the initial post. There are cleaners available at CPAP.com that are more appropriate for the task.

Slartybartfast wrote:I never said it's an exaggeration. But some folks become obsessive about cleaning

Hi Slartybartfast,

You have a very good point of view. However, I never at all did attribute the exaggeration comment to you. on the contrary, I was attributing it to the manufacturer's recommendation as to the way he CPAP mask should be cleaned. I would like to that some folks here are creative in the way they address the issue of cpap clearness even if it differs significantly from the manufacture's recommendation.

Hmmm, cleaning the cpap. Ten years ago I used to clean everything weekly if not daily, now not so much. In fact I not think I've ever cleaned the tank in my primary machine as I use distilled water and there is nothing to clean. My travel machine tank does have to soak periodically in a vinegar water mix as I end up using g it with bottles or tap water and it ends up with a calcium buildup.

To the original poster, now that the docs have ruled out the bad stuff, sometimes it can be something as simple as a cold, particularly at this time of year.

Chris

We are all different. We probably all know of at least one "clean freak",
whose OCD about cleaning is a source of friction, distress, or amusement.
But OCD of any form is a genuine disorder.

Yep. I think it could be said that one gains experience with xPAP therapy sort of like raising children.

There's a Chinese saying that translates something to the effect: "The first child you raise like a prince(ss). The second, you raise like a pig."

However, bacteria can grow even in ultrapure water systems that are never exposed to the atmosphere. So simply using distilled water doesn't mean you never have to clean out your reservoir. I give it the touch test. If the bottom of the reservoir feels slimy when touched, or if I can detect any odor at all, it's time to wash it out.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC123900/

Same here. First the sniff, then the visual test (floaters, etc), then I feel for slime.
My home distilled water takes quite a bit longer to get icky than the OTC jugs, but it still happens.

We use Joy and wash 1 to 2 times a week, mostly depending on how rushed we are in the AM. Mostly just swish the masks and tanks thru the sudsy water, then rinse thoroughly. As for the odor, I would suggest either a vinegar soak or a baking soda soak. If symptoms persist, once the odor is gone OR if they get worse regardless of the odor issue, push those doctors some more.