How often do you replace nasal pillows on your mask?

Robespierre wrote:

proboscis wrote:Have you tried boiling the pillows? I have the Swift FX and they start to leak every 2-3 weeks. I found out about boiling them on this forum. Just boil a pot of water, dump in some baking soda, and drop the pillows in for around 30 minutes. Then rinse off with cold water. They seal like new after that.

When you put the pillows in, do you turn off the heat or keep it on a low boil for 30 minutes? If you turn the heat off, do you cover the pot?

And, why the baking soda?

yep, I leave it on a low boil, and use a large metal straining spoon to hold the pillows under (otherwise they'll keep floating). I didn't even know what the baking soda was for, just that the people doing it had good results. But greg-g had a great explanation.

I have toyed with the idea of putting them in the countertop steamer.
Auto shut-off, too--just to save my forgetful self from disaster.

Hiya!

Thanks for the tip! Nothing worse than feeling that little air leak, not to mention the stupid whistling sound when I get rainout with the Swift - keep flicking the thing with my finger to clear the water - but thank God for cpaps! I can't complain...

BTW, how much baking soda should I add when I boil the pillows? (figure I'd use a small pan like you'd boil hot dogs in...)

Thanks!

-Greg

Wrathwielder wrote:Hiya!

BTW, how much baking soda should I add when I boil the pillows? (figure I'd use a small pan like you'd boil hot dogs in...)

1 teaspoon seems to be ample in a small saucepan

i've just ordered a swift LT to try out so this pillow question is relevant to me:
do you boll the pillows when new or before using them? or do you wait til they seem to be leaking?
thanks a lot. I have not yet received my pillows etc so this info is very helpful

Boiling pillows is a way to resurrect pillows that don't work as well as they used to and would otherwise be discarded.
I'm a cheapskate and in Australia they aren't covered buy insurance.