How often should I replace my nasal mask?

Doublev wrote:This is my first year being on cpap therapy. I have replaced my dreamwear nasal mask two (so on my third). I have replaced approx. every 6 weeks. I will not change this regime because it feels correct to me. I might clean the mask 3-4 times during the 6 week period (dawn dish soap) and i wipe it down daily. The masks look pretty beat up after 6 weeks of wear and tear.. particularly the elastic part.

yes, I guess you can use the yellowed masks. Like I said, it is personal preference. Some people buy underwear and keep it until it has holes and is torn up.. and still they will keep wearing it. I buy 50 pairs a year when they are on sale and toss them a year later (so i guess i get 7 uses out of each one). I do the same for socks. My socks are not worn out and do not have holes. Neither approach is better or correct. So like I said it is personal preference. But using a mask every day for a year and keep using it? Why? To me that is like wearing the same two pairs of underwear and washing daily. Yeah, you could.. but why...

Obviously good insurance...he replaces it because he can. Why not, the insurance is paying all or most. It's because of thinking like this that our health care system in where it's at. How long have you had the same spouse?

Doublev wrote:

palerider wrote: If your mask is still good after a year, why spend the money on a new one?

Replace parts of the mask *as they wear out*.

I dont think a mask that is properly and regularly cleaned is designed to last a hear.

and, how many years of *experience* do you have? Or are you just making *guesses*?

Doublev wrote:Put your mask in the sun for a few days and see what happens.

Put it in the sun, run over it with a car, let the dogs chew on it, throw it in the washing machine.
hmm, none of the things I've ever done. Could you come up something else dumb?

[quote="Doublev" If you actually do have a mask that is a year old I think you will enjoy the experience of a brand new fresh mask.[/quote]
You'd think wrong. I'm currently using a p10 pillow that's over two years old. It works *fine*, I've got spares, as I mentioned, and I have occasionally swapped in *new* parts, just to see if it made a difference in how I slept, or what my numbers looked like. It didn't, so, I went back to the original, because I'm curious how long it'll last.

My previous mask cushion lasted *four years* with weekly cleaning and nightly wipe downs.

There's nothing "fresh" about a mask compared to a cleaned mask. ... well,sometimes there is a 'new mask smell', but that usually goes away quickly, fortunately.

Doublev wrote:. I buy 50 pairs a year when they are on sale and toss them a year later (so i guess i get 7 uses out of each one). I do the same for socks. My socks are not worn out and do not have holes.

Some people are just working hard at filling up the landfills.
It's great that you've got plenty of money to throw away,

NEWSFLASH, not everybody does.

RicaLynn wrote:but I see no need in replacing them any time soon since they're still fully functional, very comfortable, and only require a little cleaning now and then. THAT is my personal preference.

That's because you're *SMART*.

Pugsy wrote:

Doublev wrote: But using a mask every day for a year and keep using it? Why? To me that is like wearing the same two pairs of underwear and washing daily. Yeah, you could.. but why...

Why....because there's nothing wrong with it.

Not everyone has unlimited pocketbooks and can afford to throw something away just because it has some age to it..

I wonder if whatsisnuts buys a new car every year and sends the old dirty one to the junkyard...

Must get expensive buying new appliances, or hell, just buy a new house every year, why clean the old one?

palerider wrote:hell, just buy a new house every year, why clean the old one?

TBH if I had the scratch I probably would. I loathe housework.

palerider wrote:Must get expensive buying new appliances, or hell, just buy a new house every year, why clean the old one?

Now that idea I like...I hate cleaning house.

I guess I know one person who wouldn't want a used mask to try just to see if it works or not.
and has the pockets deep enough to just buy new.

He's new to therapy...maybe with time he will figure out that he doesn't have to be so strict with his regiment.
If not...it's his money to spend however he sees fit.
Though maybe he would be kind enough to offer up his cast offs for free to someone in need so that they won't be wasted and/or fill up the land fill.

Doublev wrote: But using a mask every day for a year and keep using it? Why?

Because it's kinder to the environment--less stuff going in the landfill; less fuel being used to ship or collect the product; less product needing to be made, so less energy/materials needed for manufacturing.
Because if it's not broken, there's no need to replace it.
Because I was brought up by a parent who's mantra was "Use it up; Wear it out; Make it do (i.e., mend it); Or do without." (Anyone who lived through the Great Depression in the 1930's didn't spend money frivolously.)
Therefore, because it's easier on my finances.

RicaLynn wrote:

palerider wrote:hell, just buy a new house every year, why clean the old one?

TBH if I had the scratch I probably would. I loathe housework.

I'm with you on that!

Pugsy wrote:He's new to therapy...maybe with time he will figure out that he doesn't have to be so strict with his regiment.
If not...it's his money to spend however he sees fit.
Though maybe he would be kind enough to offer up his cast offs for free to someone in need so that they won't be wasted and/or fill up the land fill.

I doubt it, what with the new clothes fetish and all.

palerider wrote:

Pugsy wrote:He's new to therapy...maybe with time he will figure out that he doesn't have to be so strict with his regiment.
If not...it's his money to spend however he sees fit.
Though maybe he would be kind enough to offer up his cast offs for free to someone in need so that they won't be wasted and/or fill up the land fill.

I doubt it, what with the new clothes fetish and all.

You know alphabet boy may be right — some of you come across as alt-left self righteous libtards. Sorry I bust my ass and make a good living that I can replace used $100 masks and $50 hoses. Geesh. If you want to die with your money go for it. If you are broke I have no issue with you, that, or engaging in conversation here but dont make your dislike of hard working successful people my problem.

I stated opinions and never made statements of fact. I am pretty sure the cpap industry recommendation is not to keep a mask for a year. Ill keep my machine until a new and better one comes and yes if there are better features then Ill plunk down the money and buy it.

If someone wants all of my used masks and hoses i will gladly send them.

Doublev wrote:If someone wants all of my used masks and hoses i will gladly send them.

Save them and watch the forum for people in need or just list them to give away or send them to me...private message me if you don't want the clutter in your house and I will send you my address.
There are people who can use your gently used masks for any number of reasons.
No insurance and totally self pay or really crappy insurance or they want to just see, test and try a different type to see if they like it or it will work for them and their DME has a crappy return policy even if they do have insurance.
Even if the cushion is a bit tired it can still be used to experiment with size. If it works out well then often the person can then go find a replacement cushion to go with the headgear and frame which really can last quite a while with common sense care.

I used to get donations from a sleep lab but no longer so my donations box is made up only of products unwanted for whatever reason by forum members. So the donations box is a bit slim right now in terms of masks and decent hoses.
I will gladly take your excess unwanted items and put them to good use.

Used masks is how I funded all my mask experiments back 8 years ago when I was a newbie.
My insurance allows 2 masks a year..1 per 6 months...that's it. No way could I afford to keep buying new masks on my own at $100 to $150 a pop just to try. We used to have a little auction here which made for a nice cheap way to try new stuff and people do buy them quickly. But the auction had to close up shop so no way for people to get a different mask or try something new just to be trying it.

I never sell donated items...they are all given out free. If someone can reimburse postage then I gladly will accept because shipping does add up and I am on a fixed income...but if they can't either I will cover the shipping or some other forum members have stepped up to help me out.

We have a saying around here that you have probably seen....one man's trash is another man's treasure....and this applies to gently used cpap equipment as well.

Doublev wrote:You know alphabet boy may be right — some of you come across as alt-left self righteous libtards. Sorry I bust my ass and make a good living that I can waste used $100 masks and $50 hoses. Geesh. If you want to die with your money go for it. If you are broke I have no issue with you, that, or engaging in conversation here but dont make your dislike of hard working wasteful people my problem.

ftfy.

What are people suggesting to use to wipe out the nasal mask on a daily or frequent basis?

Nothing, unless someone breaks in and uses your mask, soap and water, baby wipes! Jim

They are your germs, what do you use to wash them out of your body!