RicaLynn wrote:Again, why are you WASHING the inside of your hose?
As I mentioned, I read on multiple sites including Respironics' site and Mayo Clinic that it is recommended to do so. I didn't just make it up on my own.
RicaLynn wrote:The minute amount of moisture blown into the hose from the humidifier will air dry after the cool down period runs on your ResMed machine, or after hanging dry for an hour or two. So long as your humidifier is clean (not necessarily sanitized), the hose stays clean.
There is moisture in there during the entire time that I am using it every night, overnight. Microscopic fungi (mildew, mold) are common to most environments and don't need a great deal of water to grow.
Wulfman... wrote:ShinRyoku wrote:
It also makes intuitive sense to me that a warm, moist environment might lead to mold growth if left alone.
Your nasal passages are warm and moist, too........
How often do you boil or use harsh cleaning products on your nose?
The immune system plays a key role in preventing pathogen growth on the nasal mucosa. My CPAP tubing doesn't have an immune system.
I do realize that a lot of folks here never clean their stuff and do just fine. Some people only brush their teeth once a day, don't floss, and seem to do okay as well.
But most references that I have found recommend cleaning our hoses. I'm no super genius, so I look for recommendations from experts like Respironics and the Mayo Clinic on what best practices are instead of second guessing them and hoping to be lucky.