Suggestions for a Hose/Mask Quick-Dry Method?

Saw another recent thread about SoClean. I understand the SoClean device is more of a placebo than an actual cleaner, but it reminded me to ask about something I've been pondering.

I'm looking for a way to dry out a hose/mask *FAST* (15 min +/-). When I travel, I hate packing a wet or even damp hose/mask that may be in the trunk for an all-day drive. Example, I get bad rainout when in a hotel with cold A/C and I want to at least rinse out the hose/mask. I let it drip-dry as long as I could, but it still had quite a bit of moisture clinging to the inside of the hose/mask when I had to stow it and hit the road.

I saw the "Hurricane" dryer, but I got the impression it's a bit bulky for travel and $150-ish seems a bit pricey. I'm considering getting a travel/folding hair dryer ($15+/-) with a "low" setting and fabri-cobbling an adapter to connect it to the hose. I could clamp some filter material over the hair-dryer intake to keep it from blowing any ambient dust/junk into the hose. I would only use it for drying the hose/mask.

I've also thought about something similar to running a patch through a gun barrel - take a hose brush and wrap it in a "patch" made from a t-shirt.

Has anyone else tried this (hair-dryer) or maybe suggest another rapid way to dry a hose/mask after cleaning that's also "packable" in a suitcase?

Thanks!
-JD

Hold the hose in the middle and swing one end around rapidly, then switch sides.

You could do a pull through patch. You just need some line that is stiff enough to thread through the tube (or a weight that would allow you to drop a more flexible line down the tube) tied to a pom-pom. But then you have a wet pom-pom... :-/

But, first I'd ask if you are using a heated hose. If not, using a heated hose could help you reduce rain out, which, combined with the cool down mode of the A10, should leave your tube drier.

rcobourn wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 26, 2018 11:11 am

Hold the hose in the middle and swing one end around rapidly, then switch sides.

I've tried that and it does "sling" out the majority of the water, though there is still a lot of moisture left in the tube. I'm a bit hesitant to really sling it too much as the hose seems durable enough for normal use, but I'm not sure how forceful I should be slinging it around...

Thanks,
-JD

Almost no one bothers with hoses at all, no need to as nothing but air gets in (and dries out any possible moisture remaining). Waste of time unless you KNOW something's in there that never belonged. And use baby wipes for the mask, maybe mild soap & water monthly if that.

Stom wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 26, 2018 11:18 am

You could do a pull through patch. You just need some line that is stiff enough to thread through the tube (or a weight that would allow you to drop a more flexible line down the tube) tied to a pom-pom. But then you have a wet pom-pom... :-/

But, first I'd ask if you are using a heated hose. If not, using a heated hose could help you reduce rain out, which, combined with the cool down mode of the A10, should leave your tube drier.

I've got one of those (6-foot long, I think?) hose brushes that I could use to pull a patch through. I was thinking of patches made from a paper-towel or an old clean t-shirt. Not real concerned about those getting wet as I would consider them disposable. That takes care of the hose. I think I can get something inside all the mask parts (Dreamwear Nasal-Cushion), though the silicon frame may be a challenge. I just don't want to be manually fiddling with the small bits for too long. I was thinking the hair-dryer could be drying the hose/mask unattended while I was doing everything else to get ready to leave.

And I do have the heated hose - I think I last set it to 72 or 70. The other thing I could do is not set the hotel A/C so low, but it does feel good to crank it down when there's no extra electric bill to pay. I could also just wake up way earlier so I have time to let it air dry. But despite the better sleep I'm getting with APAP, I like to get as much as my lower-back will let me get.

Another thought was that despite the hose being "heated", it is rather low heat in comparison to a hair-dryer. I wonder if a hair-dryer, even on it's "low" setting, would be too hot for any of the components and soften them enough to distort them. I'm pretty sure the silicone parts would be ok, not sure what the other parts are made of.

Thanks,
-JD

twirling around and drip drying are the best choices. with the design of the hose, you will not get every drop or most drops out in any short period. everybody faces this and it is not life threatening. just get out what you can and let it go. if you can't live with a damp hose in the car, bring several hoses and throw away as you use. IMHO.

greatunclebill wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 26, 2018 12:04 pm

twirling around and drip drying are the best choices. with the design of the hose, you will not get every drop or most drops out in any short period. everybody faces this and it is not life threatening. just get out what you can and let it go. if you can't live with a damp hose in the car, bring several hoses and throw away as you use. IMHO.

He's using a heated hose. Not quite disposable at at least $30 each, discounted.

You make a good point, though, about the design of the hoses. The heated hose is not a smooth bore hose, so it will be a challenge to get dry with a pull through patch.

To the OP:

Why do you prefer manual instead of auto for the hose temp?

Unscented baby wipes are my go-to when traveling.
IF I were to wash my stuff, I would bring the smallest hair dryer I could find,
but I would only use it on LOW.

I wash my hose, sometimes. I soak in a Dawn dish soap / water solution for a few minutes and rinse thoroughly. I hang it over my towel rack but it is never completely dry by bedtime - so I attach it to the CPAP machine and turn it on - with no mask, just the hose. It will dry completely within 5 - 10 minutes. I also have a heated hose, never had an issue with drying it this way.

Buy 2 hoses and alternate while on is drying?

I never soak my cpap stuff.
Our tap water is so full of minerals that I would have to de-lime the silicone.
I have seen it happen.

chunkyfrog wrote:I never soak my cpap stuff.
Our tap water is so full of minerals that I would have to de-lime the silicone.
I have seen it happen.

Soak in in half tap water, half vinegar. Rinse well. Really well!

I prefer the water pic in the shower.
Vinegar is for pickles.

As Julie stated, why are you folks washing your hoses?? Really? It's a waste of time.

Sheriff