What's the best way to clean the hose?

Some people wash and sterilize their equipment every day...

Some people wash and sterilize every few days...

Some people wash and sterilize weekly...

Some people blah blah blah blah...

and, it looks like we are all doing it right because we are all still alive.

I swish hot soapy water back & forth through the hose for a while, then I give it a good rinsing by holding one end right up to the spigot & letting hot water flush it all out. In between those 'major' cleanings, I keep it fresh by hooking it up to my SoClean cpap cleaner. This shoots activated oxygen through my hose (as well as my mask & reservoir), which keeps it sanitized on a daily basis.

If you use a humidifier, the hose will always be damp unless you dry it for days. If you use distilled water the hose should stay clear of mildew.

Warning: the tubing brushes they sell are for the LARGER diameter hoses.
Slimline and Climateline hoses will only (barely) fit if you FORCE it.
(not something I want to do, due to the possibility of damage.)

I was told I could cover my hose- I did. I used a mild unsented soap, rinsed it out and hung it up to dry daily. One year later I got an infection in both lungs and almost bled to death before I got to the hospital. I was in three different hospital intensive care units for 8 days. I had three Bronscopies which were negative for cancer. After geting home I took the cover off of my hose and there were 4 small spots of bacteria growing which proved to be the culprit. Now I follow the same cleaning procedure and add 1/2 cup white-distilled vinegar to the water. I do not use the cover any longer. The bacteria was picked up from my bathroom faucet.
Please was your hose carefully.

I was told I could cover my hose- I did. I used a mild unsented soap, rinsed it out and hung it up to dry daily. One year later I got an infection in both lungs and almost bled to death before I got to the hospital. I was in three different hospital intensive care units for 8 days. I had three Bronscopies which were negative for cancer. After geting home I took the cover off of my hose and there were 4 small spots of bacteria growing which proved to be the culprit. Now I follow the same cleaning procedure and add 1/2 cup white-distilled vinegar to the water. I do not use the cover any longer. The bacteria was picked up from my bathroom faucet.
Please was your hose carefully.

I always have at least two hoses. I clean everything weekly.

I hook the hose up to my kitchen faucet and run the hottest water I can get through it for a while. I run hot water over the outside.

I take the just cleaned hose, and hook it to an old CPAP for about 30 minutes to dry it out. Then I let it sit unused and dry for about a week before using it.

I buy replacement hoses every year or so. I use simple hoses, not "slimline" or heated hoses.

After 8 years, I've never seen any hose problems.

I think the weekly drying out cycle probably helps.