best method for cleaning/sterilizing CPAP masks

threebrothers · Post by **threebrothers** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:51 pm

Some people sell their masks to other users. As there is a potential of cross infection through the use of somebody's else CPAP mask, I need to know your experience with the best methods for cleaning and sterilizing CPAP masks. Because the full-face mask has a membrane valve, does cleaning/sterilization of the full-face mask require a method different from that of the nose mask?

Thanks

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap mask, CPAP

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:19 pm

This is a situation that may or not be of concern.
I would think simple soap and water would be ok.

I do not seem to have the concern at new years eve parties kissing everyone there or being sure a date was sterilized before exchanging saliva or other body fluids.

I would think most pathogens would be long gone in the several days between uses by different patients.

Even body lice will not survive more than a day or so

Bamalady · Post by **Bamalady** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:32 pm

This is from the CDC for Infection Control:

Use a chlorine product to make :

1:10 solution
For disinfecting:

* Excreta
* Cadavers
* Spills

1:100 solution
For disinfecting:

* Gloved hands
* Bare hands and skin
* Floors
* Clothing
* Equipment
* Bedding

Household bleach 5% active chlorine
1 litre bleach per 10 litres of water
100 ml per 10 litres of water or 1 litre 1:10 bleach solution per 9 litres of water

If you are concerned, I would think a 1:10 solution would be good for most germs, and I really don't believe that one cleaning, or dunk, in either strength would be really harmful to a mask.

pedroski · Post by **pedroski** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:22 pm

If you're really worried about it and get on well with your DME, you could ask them to sterilise it using their machine. I assume they all have them, mine does.

Peter

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 4:31 am

I am very interested in knowing what type machine your DME uses to sterilize a PAP.

Please find out and post back on this.

How does it work?
Heat? fumigant? Chemical?

tomjax

dudley_doright · Post by **dudley_doright** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:53 am

I put the whole mask assembly in steamer and boiled water with alcohol. This seems to work well for me.

littlebaddow · Post by **littlebaddow** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:45 pm

Long time since my kids were babies, but we used to sterilise their bottles in a solution of Milton sterilising tablets.

Anyone tried tried that for masks

pedroski · Post by **pedroski** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 5:32 pm

Hi Tomjax,

I rang my DME and he said it's a thermal unit, and he can control how hot it runs and how long he leaves the masks etc in the steriliser.

He has to have it because of the loaner masks.

Peter

sleepyWI · Post by **sleepyWI** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:07 pm

Clean your mask?.........really?

Jere · Post by **Jere** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:44 pm

Pure soap and hot water. Works for me!

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 5:47 pm

IMHO, 3 to 1 solution white vinegar and warm water is the only way. All this soap is going to make the runbber dry up and wear out faster as well as have chemical reactions. It also sterilizes.

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:51 pm

You don't need to "sterilize" it-just disinfect it.

Some masks can go into a dishwasher (Hans Rudolph)

Heat can destroy some mask materials-bleach odor can be difficult to get rid of.

I use Control II a disinfectant used for respiratory equipment-you can get it online or at a DME. There are probably others-this one happens to be the one I've used for a child's trach tube care. I only use it after having an infection of some kind to prevent reinfecting myself-if I give away a mask I have tried on-or get a mask from someone else. Clean the mask thorougly with soap and warm water-rinse well-then soak in the disinfectant solution following label directions.

wayner · Post by **wayner** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:03 pm

I read some were and it stuck in my mind...not much does lol
That you can clean, deodorize and sterilize a mask by placing it in a bowel big enough to cover it with warm water and two false teeth cleaning tablets....let sit over night.
Have never tried this my self but it seems to make sense????

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:23 am

top tray of the dishwasher (headgear removed).

This is actual instructions that come with the Soyala masks, remove headgear place in top shelf of dishwasher.

Never done it myself, that is too much work. I just remove headgear, run hot water in bathroom sink, squirt some Dawn antibacterial citrus flavored essential oil liquid hand soap and give it the ole bar beer glass treatment, rinse and wear.

tangents · Post by **tangents** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:14 pm

Snoredog, you rinse your mask in beer? What a great idea!

best method for cleaning/sterilizing CPAP masks

best method for cleaning/sterilizing CPAP masks

sterilizing

sterilizing

I steamed the hose, mask assembly prior to using the loaner.

sterilizing masks

Machine	Mask

Mask