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The bathroon is the scariest place to dry your cpap accessories.
Every flush puts fecal coliform into the air.
Swab any surface--do the lab thing--use microscope--be grossed out, big time.

mesenteria wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 12, 2018 4:43 pm

There is a persistent problem with mold growth in lungs (Cryptococcus Gattii) on Vancouver Island where I live, and its attributable to all the decaying wood in the region coupled with the high relative humidity. Hence my tempering my comment with the mentioning of humidity where I live.

Do you even need a humidifier? Our homes are in much drier climate than yours, and neither Gramps nor I use humidifiers.

when you turn the machine off in the morning, stick your fingers by the hose end. the machine keeps running for a period of time with low pressure to push any leftover moisture out of the tube. so if it's working you shouldn't have anything growing.

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 13, 2018 6:30 pm

The bathroon is the scariest place to dry your cpap accessories.
Every flush puts fecal coliform into the air.
Swab any surface--do the lab thing--use microscope--be grossed out, big time.

Fecal coliform isn't going to reproduce or kill you once it gets on a cold surface. Mold spores are like a carrot seed; tiny and oh-so fertile. They just need a tiny bit of water to germinate.

Apart from that, I learned to close the lid of the toilet prior to flushing.

I'll close wondering why my equipment provider advised me to flush out the hose every few days and showed me how to prevent water from contacting the metal tab contacts. She also advised me to clean my mask every two or three days and to ensure it dries, and the manufacturer of the machine warns me to let the reservoir dry between uses as well. Very odd.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 13, 2018 7:07 pm

mesenteria wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 12, 2018 4:43 pm

There is a persistent problem with mold growth in lungs (Cryptococcus Gattii) on Vancouver Island where I live, and its attributable to all the decaying wood in the region coupled with the high relative humidity. Hence my tempering my comment with the mentioning of humidity where I live.

Do you even need a humidifier? Our homes are in much drier climate than yours, and neither Gramps nor I use humidifiers.

Apparently so. Perhaps its an adaptation locally. I used to live at 14k feet in the Andes where it's bone dry. Did quite well, too. But, we had heaters with tanks of water that had to be filled once a day atop them. Life was hell without that aid.

I did dial down my humidity recently to the lowest level, probably a reflection of the higher humidity locall during our 'rainy' season'.

mesenteria wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2018 1:19 pm

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 13, 2018 6:30 pm

The bathroon is the scariest place to dry your cpap accessories.
Every flush puts fecal coliform into the air.
Swab any surface--do the lab thing--use microscope--be grossed out, big time.

I'll close wondering why my equipment provider advised me to flush out the hose every few days and showed me how to prevent water from contacting the metal tab contacts. She also advised me to clean my mask every two or three days and to ensure it dries, and the manufacturer of the machine warns me to let the reservoir dry between uses as well. Very odd.

if you ask 100 people you'll get 200 answer because some will repeat themselves. everybody, including your equipment provider has their own personal standards for cleaning the equipment. just use common sense and do what you're comfortable with. you'll be fine.

The current litigious climate puts providers in the position of covering their "seats".
To be overly cautious is the safest course of action.
Many people start with a more rigorous schedule than they will use later.

mesenteria wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2018 1:22 pm

Apparently so.

You'll never know until you disengage it.

CGanny.... I gots to ask: How do you keep such youthful good looks??

scruffies wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 15, 2018 11:24 am

CGanny.... I gots to ask: How do you keep such youthful good looks??

Use CPAP every night!

And use a 50-year old profile picture.

I have it on "good authority" that ChicagoGranny looked something like this prior to CPAP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71_TkM1VIsE

Her after picture is an inspiration to all of us to work through any problems that present themselves with the hope that our transformation will be similar...

mesenteria wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 12, 2018 2:03 pm

...
One last comment: I do this because in the PNW where I live, it is humid most of the year, especially during the winter months. Things don't dry out well, even indoors unless using electrical or pyro means. So, hoses don't dry out during the day. I feel it helpful to use the mbs to cut my risks.

Reminds me of an old thread - given your local conditions, and if you play the bagpipes, you should probably steer clear of the synthetic bag materials:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=113283&p=1092712&hi ... e#p1092659

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 06, 2016 10:32 am

shirleymcain wrote:What is the best way to clean a heated hose? Can it be soaked in vinager water?

Why does it need cleaning?

I realize this thread is old, but I have to say I am quite shocked that you and a few other people here don't clean your hoses. The manufacturers Philips Respironcs and ResMed say that is part of routine maintenace for your device. Morevover, I did not clean my hose for 8 months, and it developed a modly smell, likes clothes washed but not dried completely. After I soaked the hose and rinsed it out, it smelled fine. Now I clean the hose regularly, every month.

Not cleaning your hose is like not dooing oil changes for your car or not washing your clothes regularly. It must be done.

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 13, 2018 6:30 pm

The bathroon is the scariest place to dry your cpap accessories.
Every flush puts fecal coliform into the air.
Swab any surface--do the lab thing--use microscope--be grossed out, big time.

I am not sure it makes any difference since the fecal coliform is everywhere in the house. There are germs also by the kichen sink.

They actually recommend you wash your mask in ythe shower and also dry your hose hung over the shower curtain rod.