Economical Ways of Cleaning CPAP Masks

jimbud wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 11:30 am

I use Dawn every week or two. Mask and tank. I wash hose when it occurs to me.
If Dawn is good enough to wash little baby oil soaked wild ducks with, that is good enough for me.
JPB

Not only that they are still putting them back into the wild, they haven't grown in 20 years, you think Dawn stops the aging process, or maybe it's a result of the crude oil. Jim

Ad's on T.V, are just as true as what a DME tells you.

Saintnick wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 8:06 am

I'm here for my wife who uses the Dreamstation with humidifier. She's been using it for 3 months now and does do some cleaning, but I'm worried about whether it's often and through enough.

Reading this thread was good and I'm fairly confident about the regular/daily cleaning she does, but I'd like to know how to do a thorough cleaning once in a while.

Why?

Saintnick wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 8:06 am

Regarding boiling, which parts can be boiled?

Silicone cushions can be boiled, with some baking soda, in distilled water, to make them *look* shiny and new...
viewtopic/t74686/Boiling-Stuff-Part-2.html
Don't boil anything else.

Saintnick wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 8:06 am

All parts (except the station itself)? The humidifier bucket and tube and mask also?
And, if so, which additives if any could I add to improve the cleaning? A few of spoons of bleach for instance (obviously with much rinsing afterwards)?

One other idea I had, was to use the tablets with which our professional coffee+milk machine at work is cleaned daily according to a strict manufacturer's procedure. Obviously those tablets must be efficient and safe.

Why do you think you need to do any of these things? (you *don't*.)

CelesteMcC wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 9:15 am

Last time I got a new mask the DME guy told me that Dawn was too harsh for silicones used in masks like the Dreamwear line and Resmed Airfit N30 line, and can shorten their usable life. He said baby shampoo or a milder dish soap is best, so I've been using Method dish soap to cleanse every other day (I use the Airfit). Just a squirt in the sink with hot-but-not-scalding tap water, soak for a few minutes, done. I just soak my humidifier tank in water with vinegar every week or so (but we have soft water, not much mineral buildup).

Your DME guy is, as usual, full of crap. One should always quadruple check anything a DME tells them.

I've used Dawn for *years* on mask silicone.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 10:04 am

CelesteMcC wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 9:15 am

Last time I got a new mask the DME guy told me that Dawn was too harsh for silicones used in masks

Would you wash your mask, which will be tight on your skin and nostrils, with this chemical soup?

Cocamidopropyl Betaine*, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate*, Lauryl Glucoside*, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Glycerin*, Citric Acid*, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate*, Fragrance [Benzyl Acetate, Ionone Beta, Methyl Ionones, Peach Pure, Phenyl Ethyl Alcohol, Tropional], Polyquaternium-10, Disodium EDTA

One has to wonder what "Peach Pure" is...

palerider wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 1:21 pm

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 10:04 am

Would you wash your mask, which will be tight on your skin and nostrils, with this chemical soup?

Cocamidopropyl Betaine*, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate*, Lauryl Glucoside*, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Glycerin*, Citric Acid*, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate*, Fragrance [Benzyl Acetate, Ionone Beta, Methyl Ionones, Peach Pure, Phenyl Ethyl Alcohol, Tropional], Polyquaternium-10, Disodium EDTA

One has to wonder what "Peach Pure" is...

Reminds me of Silentium.

CelesteMcC wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 10:38 am

Hey, what can I say? It's what the DME guy told me. We use what works for us... I don't think he was holding stock in a detergent company!

DME employees are very very often talking nonsense... people who've been dealt with them for very long learn to ignore their lies and ignorance.

CelesteMcC wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 10:38 am

What kind of ingredient is "Peach Pure"??

good question.

jimbud wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 11:30 am

I use Dawn every week or two. Mask and tank. I wash hose when it occurs to me.
If Dawn is good enough to wash little baby oil soaked wild ducks with, that is good enough for me.
JPB

Ya know... Dawn is *excellent* at removing oils...

Oils are bad for silicone...

Maybe *THAT* is why the DME says not to use Dawn on silicone... because they'd rather the facial oils degrade the silicone, so you'll buy more replacements.

palerider wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 1:28 pm

jimbud wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 11:30 am

I use Dawn every week or two. Mask and tank. I wash hose when it occurs to me.
If Dawn is good enough to wash little baby oil soaked wild ducks with, that is good enough for me.
JPB

Ya know... Dawn is *excellent* at removing oils...

Oils are bad for silicone...

Maybe *THAT* is why the DME says not to use Dawn on silicone... because they'd rather the facial oils degrade the silicone, so you'll buy more replacements.

yer such a cynical so-n-so.

CelesteMcC wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 10:38 am

What kind of ingredient is "Peach Pure"??

It's the pits.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 2:26 pm

CelesteMcC wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 10:38 am

What kind of ingredient is "Peach Pure"??

It's the pits.

Daily wipe cushion and nearby plastic mask parts with a baby wipe (Costco brand--cheapest I could find). Rinse humidifier tank daily; use vinegar if I've had to use hard water and deposits have built up on the tank (sometimes happens when traveling). Wash with warm water and Dawn maybe once a month (or less).

Goofproof wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 1:05 pm

jimbud wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 28, 2019 11:30 am

I use Dawn every week or two. Mask and tank. I wash hose when it occurs to me.
If Dawn is good enough to wash little baby oil soaked wild ducks with, that is good enough for me.
JPB

Not only that they are still putting them back into the wild, they haven't grown in 20 years, you think Dawn stops the aging process, or maybe it's a result of the crude oil. Jim

Ad's on T.V, are just as true as what a DME tells you.

DME told me it would grow my hair back.
Do not remember if he said dawn or oil.
I believe him so I will try both.
Will post pictures.
JPB

I use a free and clear dish soap to wash. The vinegar for sanitizing ...when I remember too.

Daily, I wash silicone parts with Dawn & water, rinse, spray with plain ole white vinegar, let sit a min or 2 to get rid of soap residues, rinse very well, and let air dry. Wash hard plastic shell every other day or so using same routine. Been doing this since 2009, no negative effects. After an upper respiratory or sinus infection, I let vinegar sit for 5+ mins to disinfect.

When I start getting leaks, I wash headgear in the washer and dry on low to tighten the straps. Eventually, I have to replace anywhere from 10-18 months when leaks won't go away.

When there is filmy haze on the silicone parts, I boil in distilled water with a teaspoon or 2 of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) until clear again -- this restores them and their slight tackiness. I get up to 24 months on these parts.

I wash hoses after an upper respiratory or sinus infection using the same method as silicone parts. I just bought replacements for my 2 original hoses purchased in 2007.

DME employees are very very often talking nonsense... people who've been dealt with them for very long learn to ignore their lies and ignorance.

Well, I certainly do agree when it comes to any help or knowledge regarding the use of my masks; they were next to useless as I was starting therapy.

It's the pits

Uh oh, cyanide??