How to Clean Tubing?

I'm sure this has already been addressed, perhaps someone can point me in the right direction?

Is there are good way to clean tubing?

Thanks!

Welcome to the forum. Here's a helpful link:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46060&p=413007&hili ... se#p413007

FYI, I use put in "how to clean" in the Search Function, and got lots of hits.

Crocodile Dundee usually works after washing.

I have a plastic dishpan that I use only for CPAP equipment cleaning. I put the dishpan in the tub, fill the pan with either soapy water or vinegar/water mix, and repeatedly submerge the coiled hose in the water. I put each end under the water to fill the hose and lift the ends, letting the air escape and the water in, repeating until the hose is maybe halfway full of the solution. If I'm disinfecting with the vinegar I leave it to soak for about 20 minutes. Then I cap each end of the hose with each hand and lift each end up, back and forth, so the solution swishes through the full length of the tube. Repeat the process with clean water to rinse, or run water directly from the faucet through the hose if that's practical.

My DME advised not to use Dawn or Dove dish soap -- something about the formulation not being ideal. They recommended Palmolive green (the original, not the newer scented versions).

~ DreamOn

Every week i I disinfect my hose & mask with the control III Disinfectant

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Contro ... eaner.html

Then in wash both using dish washing liquid.

No Croc Dundee required in Arizona, just a couple of Indiana jones's (whips) and then its dry and as bone after a few hours air drying.

Hey Dreamon -

yours sounds like a plan I can live with. If you don't mind telling me how often to do the dishpan/ Palmolive green / vinegar operation. Also, what about other parts?

Dopey, Sleepy... wrote:Hey Dreamon -

yours sounds like a plan I can live with. If you don't mind telling me how often to do the dishpan/ Palmolive green / vinegar operation. Also, what about other parts?

My DME supplier recommends washing the mask daily in warm, soapy water and disinfecting two to three times a week in vinegar/water solution (daily disinfection if there's any respiratory infection). They recommend weekly disinfection of the tubing with the vinegar solution (daily if using a humidifier), and weekly disinfection of the humidifier tank with vinegar solution.

That seems like overkill to me. I have read of many people here who rarely even clean their equipment! I do wash my mask daily in soapy water, mainly to remove any facial oils. And it just makes me feel better to do that since I'm breathing directly into/from that every night. I disinfect everything with vinegar about every two weeks. I would probably do that daily if I was ever sick (and had the energy). I'm sure as time goes on I'll get more and more lax about cleaning!

I do completely empty my humidifier ever day, and refill it with distilled water right before bedtime. The thought of slime or mold growing in the tank makes me queasy! But others just top off the water each day and empty out once in a while.

~ DreamOn