Cleaning everything

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
User avatar
DottyG
Posts: 181
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:20 am
Location: Texas

Cleaning everything

Post by DottyG » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:57 pm

Ok, make sure I have the schedule right on this. I've gotten conflicting advice somewhere along the way.

Mask - wipe nasal thingies (that's the technical term! ) every day; wash completely once a week in warm, soapy water

Humidifier tray - wash in warm, soapy water every day and refill with fresh distilled water

Tubing - soak in warm, soapy water once a week for 20 minutes and hang up to dry

Filter - take off spongy one and rinse in warm water once a month; replace paper one every 2 months

Is all that right?
Certe, Toto, sentio nos in Kansate non iam adesse.

"Every time you are compliant in using your machine, you take that first step to better health"- DJ_Boxer

User avatar
rested gal
Posts: 12881
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
Location: Tennessee

Re: Cleaning everything

Post by rested gal » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:17 pm

The reason you get conflicting opinions about it, is because.... everyone has a different take on what kind of routine (or lack of routine) works for them.

Just topping off distilled water and being very casual (read that as "hardly ever clean it" ) about the equipment works for me.

Cleaning CPAP Equipment
topic started by forumadmin - April 2005
viewtopic.php?p=18245#p18245

More-Sterile/Easier-Cleaning Process?
topic started by bozmon - February 2005
viewtopic.php?p=7811#p7811

Cleaned my mask now it leaks
topic started by gerrys - June 2007
viewtopic.php?p=184829#p184829

Cleaning water tank
topic started by seernst - June 2008
viewtopic.php?p=275976#p275976

Weekly Mask Cleaning---OverKill ???
topic started by DannyP - August 2008
viewtopic.php?p=293520#p293520

THE HOSE - TO DISINFECT OR NOT TO DISINFECT ?
topic started by Marietjie - March 2009
viewtopic.php?p=352004#p352004

How often do you clean your hose?
topic started by Juliebove - April 2009
viewtopic.php?p=361594#p361594

Poll: How Often Do You Clean Your Tank?
poll started by NeedSomeAir - September 2009
viewtopic.php?p=405431#p405431
ResMed S9 VPAP Auto (ASV)
Humidifier: Integrated + Climate Control hose
Mask: Aeiomed Headrest (deconstructed, with homemade straps
3M painters tape over mouth
ALL LINKS by rested gal:
viewtopic.php?t=17435

User avatar
bearded_two
Posts: 459
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:01 pm

Re: Cleaning everything

Post by bearded_two » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:28 pm

Mask -- It is more than adequate to wash your mask in warm soap and water once a week

Humidifier tray -- Top off with distilled water daily, wash weekly; soak with 50-50 solution of white vinegar and water whenever you see a buildup.

Tubing -- When the outside of the hose gets dirty; wash in warm, soapy water, rinse. and hang up to drain if the

Filter - take off sponge filter and rinse in warm soapy water once a month, rinse thoroughly, and squeeze dry in a towel; check white filter when you wash the foam filter, and change it when it is no longer white.

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 65121
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: Cleaning everything

Post by Pugsy » Thu Oct 22, 2009 6:37 pm

I remove the nasal pillows and wash them in some mild soapy water every 3 - 4 days if I have been using some Lanonish or leaks seem to be picking up. Headgear.... washed maybe once a month. Hey, I am lazy.

I top off the humidifier and maybe rinse it out once on rare occasion if I have used up most of the water that night.
So hardly ever on it...

Hose from machine to mask? Don't do anything with it.

Filters- wash the gray one maybe once a month and change the fine white filter when it starts turning gray which seems to be about 4-6 weeks where I live. Those users who live in dustier places, may need to change more often but many people don't even mess with the fine white filters.

It all boils down to what you feel like needs to be done so that you are satisfied.

If I had been ill (ie cold or flu) then that would be a different story. I would get off my lazy butt and do more thorough cleaning to minimize picking up any germs again but I don't obsess over things. I don't have small children in my household and I don't work with the public anymore so I don't get sick very often. I have been lucky, not so much as a minor cold in over 3 years now.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.