T/F Poll: Handwashing headgear helps maintain elasticity

Howdy,

I'm interested to see if CPAP.com CSR, CPAPtalk.com and Manufacturer opinions align on this aspect of CPAP maintenance.

Johnny

Washing headgear stretches it, but not washing it is just plain gross. If you mean hand vs machine washing, then hand washing has got to be better than beating it to death in a washing machine

johnnygoodman wrote:Howdy,

I'm interested to see if CPAP.com CSR, CPAPtalk.com and Manufacturer opinions align on this aspect of CPAP maintenance.

Johnny

I'm not sure what you're asking, but I've always hand-washed my headgear the same way (and at the same time) I've washed my UMFF mask. I got almost four years out of my original (OEM) headgear (about one month short), before I decided it was about to the end of it's useful life.....and swapped it for a new one.
I've always used Dawn dishwashing liquid and hang it to air-dry. This has seemed to restore the elasticity.

So, my answer was "True".


Den

Johnny,

You must be ready for the weekend. You should know this group never answered a question "Yes or No" or "True or False".

I wear a Buff, http://www.planetbuff.com/index.html , underneath the headgear and have PadACheeks on the straps. So the headgear does not touch my skin or hair. There is rarely ever a need to wash it.

But if you are comparing handwashing to machine washing, my wife has one of those $1200 low-water frontload washers that hardly damages clothes. I would think the difference would be indescernible between hand and that machine.

TGIF,

You guys are a riot and I love each and every one of you.

I'm suppose to wash my headgear

I just say NO to neoprene.

I use a full headgear PapcapII.

The original headgear that came my masks will probably
last a long time and will never need washing.
I did not vote. I have no experience w/this.

Hope this helps.

Uncle_Bob wrote:I'm suppose to wash my headgear

I let my cats lick it clean, just like the dishes.

Seriously, I find that hand washing my headgear every week or two does indeed restore some stretchiness. Never tried washing it in the washer, though I suppose I could put it in a hosiery bag & wash it on gentle cycle. That seems more trouble than it's worth -- by the time I've done all that, it's already been hand washed and hung to dry.

BTW, Carbonman, I thought the PapCap headgear thing would be a good option for me. But ... I'm only 5' tall and thus have a small head and face. Even though I managed to snug up the PapCap, it was not comfortable or stable for me. Too bad, because it was nicely made with lovely fabric.

Hand-wash and line-dry -- I don't know about it "restoring" elasticity, but I do know that it appears to maintain it. Same as with knitted trousers and other elastics: hand wash them, and for me, they last. Machine wash them, and they don't.

High heat in a dryer can also do in elastics.

rooster wrote:Johnny,

You must be ready for the weekend. You should know this group never answered a question "Yes or No" or "True or False".

I wear a Buff, http://www.planetbuff.com/index.html , underneath the headgear and have PadACheeks on the straps. So the headgear does not touch my skin or hair. There is rarely ever a need to wash it.

But if you are comparing handwashing to machine washing, my wife has one of those $1200 low-water frontload washers that hardly damages clothes. I would think the difference would be indescernible between hand and that machine.

TGIF,

Front load washers are great, but what damages the elastic more is the heat: hot water, hot dryer. The bacteria that comes off your skin is even more detrimental to elastic; thus, washing is imperative to a long lasting headgear.

The question is certainly very amiguous, but I can say that having both hand washed and machine washed the F&P headgear for my masks at various periods, I didn't perceive that the method of washing made any difference at all to elasticity!

Cheers,

Bill

Bill, how do you find the 432 seals with your beard? I have one and can't get the thing to not leak. Well over 100lpm most of the night.

pagebypage wrote:

rooster wrote:.........Front load washers are great, but what damages the elastic more is the heat: .........

Good point. I would never put a valued headgear in hot water or in the dryer.

Hand wash with shampoo and line dry (once a week)

johnnygoodman wrote:I love each and every one of you

I love you too ! Have a lovely weekend.

I question if handwashing headgear is a part of stress of use on headgear. A delicate cycle in the washing machine may compete with handwashing by some consumers. The choice to use abrasive detergents, hot water, freezing water (in the winter where I live) fabric softeners may pose a threat to the headgear material during machine or handwashing. The choice not to wash at all might be a hygiene displeasure to user or those sharing sleep space/location....but questionably adds to the longevity of the material. My vote is

elg5cats