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I have never washed any of the equipment every day. When I first started, the respiratory therapist I was working with said she washed her equipment once a week, and I cleaned everything on that schedule. Now, I wash ours (my wife got her machine about two years after I got mine) about every two weeks when I wash the masks. I could probably go longer on the water tanks, but not on the masks. Even though I scrub my face just before going to bed, the cushion still gets pretty ugly if I let it go more than two weeks between cleanings. My wife's mask cushion never looks dirty even after two weeks. I have rather oily skin and she has dry skin. I am on my second water tank as the hinge pin broke off of my original tank after about four years.

When I first started cpap (12 years ago) I washed everything as often as they say to and was paranoid about bacteria or mold growing. It was such a huge amount of work and I found that nothing was ever dirty anyway. I use distilled water because that way I never have any scale or sludge to worry about. I just top it off every night. What is the difference between it sitting in the humidifier tank with filtered air blowing on it, or sitting in the bottle I bought it in? Now, I don't have pets and things stay pretty clean in my house, so that might make a difference, but I figure if I wash stuff in the sink, maybe I'm introducing more to it than I'm cleaning off. I do rinse my nasal pillows every day because my nose is on those.

ILoveFlowers wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 01, 2021 4:50 pm

I do rinse my nasal pillows every day because my nose is on those.

i do as well, which leads me to suspect that it lengthens the lifespan of the pillows.

i just use a baby wipe each day.

and even after all these years, i use lanolin on them when i mask up.

I'm lazy I hardly wash anything.

Dog Slobber wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 01, 2021 11:20 am

Glad you're rich... you're pouring good $ down the drain for nothing (unless you do see ? that needs cleaning... pink scum in corners... a vinegar dunked Q tip will clean it).

Oh oh.

Now you've done it. This is sure to summon CPAPtalk's resident, how dare you suggest distilled water can't be used, tapwaterophobe.

He's sure to be along any second now.



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@OP
In case you weren't aware:

• Distilled water isn't medically necessary
• Distilled water is a cleaning convenience. If your water is safe to drink, it can be used in your humidifier
• Many countries do not have convenient, cheap access to distilled water, they use tap water all the time
• ResMed has made the following statement on tap water use:
  • "As stated in our clinical and user guides, optimal humidifier performance requires distilled water. That’s because most or all of its minerals have been removed, preventing mineral buildup in the humidifier tub. That said, tap or bottled water may also be used. It will not harm the device or pose a risk to patients. It will, however, require more rigorous humidifier cleaning to prevent excess mineral buildup in the tub."
  • https://www.resmed.com/en-us/covid-19/
• ResMed's care instructions do not suggest distilled water in markets where it is not conveniently available, many European countries
• ResMed's dishwasher water safe humidifier does not include the Distilled Water Only, as their other tank does.

Choose for yourself, based on your own water quality, comfort level and convenience, whether you want to try other water sources. But don't let fear mongers scare you into thinking you must only use distilled water.

An allusion to an utterance of Jesus' in John 8:7, viz. “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”

Dog Slobber wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 01, 2021 11:20 am

... but your comfort level is important.