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I wash and disinfect my hose and mask generally every 3 months or if I have a cold/flu etc.
I do occasionally wipe the nasal pillow to maintain a grippy feel. I also use an electronic jewelry cleaner device that vibrates and you can see the crud come off the pillows that are in a water vinegar solution.

I wonder how often the OP changes his machines filters

Changing filters brings up a good point. Airflow needs to remain within normal range to avoid stress on the blower motor.
Mine get changed when enough gray accumulates so the difference can be seen between old and new filters, usually 3 weeks.
Probably enough for my allergies, as I only sneeze in the daytime.

I usually do the filters every 3 to 4 weeks. Depends a lot on if the propane furnace or A/C has been running very much.
I live in a 70 year old, not so well made, farmhouse out in the country. It's dusty out here and with old duct work, etc...things just get dirty faster.

Filters are probably the most attended to part of my equipment.
Which reminds me...probably time to check on how it looks...been a little while but the furnace hasn't been on all that much as the weather has been really mild. It's 61 degrees right now and they are saying another 10 degrees this afternoon.

If we don't get some really cold weather the ticks and chiggers are going to be really bad this summer.
This winter has been unusually mild so far.

That hose brush! I put a Contour clean wipe folded over several times, put it on the brush end and push it through now and then, I have the Hypernight (?) heated hose and would rather not pour water into it.

Our furnace was putting out so little heat/airflow that we called service.
They said there was nothing wrong, but we "might" need to clean it.(apparently they don't DO that)
Hubby found silt all the way through the fins--from when we had our basement flooded!
After a LOT of cleaning, it works just fine. (((Thanks to a darling bullfrog)))

chunkyfrog wrote:Alternate uses for a tube brush:
---Snag dust bunnies from under the fridge.
---Pull lint out of the dryer innards (unplugged, of course)
---dust quarters without removing them from sofa crevices

Rotating nasally to remove nose hair dandruff.

chunkyfrog wrote:Alternate uses for a tube brush:

---Pull lint out of the dryer innards (unplugged, of course)

I got sent a free tube brush and actually did that

dvejr wrote:but I use the same hose for 2 or 3 years and never clean it.
I rinse my nasal pillows once a month or so.
Never even tried to wash the headgear/straps/bands of whatever device I was wearing.
I clean my humidifier tank every 60 days or so, when I notice it getting slimy.
I think I am a negative role model....

It's very reassuring to read this thread and I feel that I too can now join the confessional without feeling embarrassed!

When I first started treatment 2.5 years ago, my sleep tech told me not to worry too much about cleaning, "it's your own flora and fauna" he told me. So I was happy to stick to this advice, just cleaning when things started to look a bit grubby.

I was starting to think maybe I was alone in being 'disgusting' so I'm very happy to be in good company!

Hannibal 2 wrote:When I first started treatment 2.5 years ago, my sleep tech told me not to worry too much about cleaning, "it's your own flora and fauna" he told me.

now, THAT is wise advice.

palerider wrote:

Hannibal 2 wrote:When I first started treatment 2.5 years ago, my sleep tech told me not to worry too much about cleaning, "it's your own flora and fauna" he told me.

now, THAT is wise advice.

Very wise in hindsight, but I HAD started to doubt it.

Hannibal 2 wrote:

palerider wrote:

Hannibal 2 wrote:When I first started treatment 2.5 years ago, my sleep tech told me not to worry too much about cleaning, "it's your own flora and fauna" he told me.

now, THAT is wise advice.

Very wise in hindsight, but I HAD started to doubt it.

yah... think about it, if your own germs (in their right places, of course) could make you sick, you'd be dead by now.

germs in your respiratory system are already there! if they were going to make you sick, you'd be sick!

now, of course, getting germs out of place... like those that belong in your alimentary canal, getting those internally, that's bad.

palerider wrote:

Hannibal 2 wrote:

palerider wrote:

Hannibal 2 wrote:When I first started treatment 2.5 years ago, my sleep tech told me not to worry too much about cleaning, "it's your own flora and fauna" he told me.

now, THAT is wise advice.

Very wise in hindsight, but I HAD started to doubt it.

yah... think about it, if your own germs (in their right places, of course) could make you sick, you'd be dead by now.

germs in your respiratory system are already there! if they were going to make you sick, you'd be sick!

now, of course, getting germs out of place... like those that belong in your alimentary canal, getting those internally, that's bad.

Elimentary my dear Palerider!

You guys probably have strong immune systems.

Not recommended, because you've got bacteria growing in there.

DavidCarolina wrote:You guys probably have strong immune systems.

Not recommended, because you've got bacteria growing in there.

you've got bacteria growing in your "brain"

Most of us start with "normal" immunity, but we can damage it by avoiding ALL microbes,
because the harmless ones help train our immune sytem, teaching it what to do when nasty stuff happens along.