Cleaning CPAP

Good evening everyone!
Would someone please tell me the recommended cleaning routine for CPAP devices (the hose; the filter; how often to change the water in the humidifier?)
I cleaned my hose not too long ago--and it made a cackling noise for the first 1/2 hour I used it--and haven't cleaned it since.
Also, do I use warm water; soap; etc?
I tried to find this information in the CPAPtalk archives but I couldn't.
Thank you.

Don't know which CPAP machine that you have, but the manual that came with mine has instructions on how to wash the various parts, how frequently to wash them, even what soap to use. If you don't have the manual for your machine, you can usually download it. I'm sure that others will offer to tell you how they clean their parts, too *smile*...

There's usually information with your gear about how to clean it.. but this is what I do:

1) wash out the humidifier once per week or two (IF you use distilled water only - other wise, more often)

2) wash plastic mask parts once or twice per month (I use nasal pillows), for masks you may want once or twice per week.


I don't really think your hose has to be washed if you replace it every 6 months or so. If you have condensation in it, you may want to wash it.

I wash all of them in a sink with warm water and baby shampoo for 15 minutes or so. You can use other things besides baby shampoo, but you don't want anything really strong. All you're trying to do is get off the oils and clean and disinfect them a bit.

I then rinse off the soap and shake the excess water off of them to let them air dry for the rest of the day. If I wash hoses I just hang them somewhere.

Filters are replaced on schedule, usually every 2-3 weeks or so depending on the machine.

sleepyinmississippi wrote:I cleaned my hose not too long ago--and it made a cackling noise for the first 1/2 hour I used it--and haven't cleaned it since.

Likely there was some residual water left in the hose and that caused the noise. It's amazing but a tiny bit of water in the hose can make an awful racket.

Cleaning schedules will vary between people and how comfortable they are with cleaning or letting things go for a while.
You will get about as many different ideas and regiments as there are members here.
This should give you some reading for a while.

viewtopic.php?p=567264#p567264

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=80586&p=739982&hili ... nt#p739982

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=81275&p=739359&hili ... nt#p739359

It's good to have a spare hose, because it takes a long time to dry after you've cleaned it.
Left over water was probably what caused the disturbing noise you mentioned.
Silicone mask parts can be cleaned as often as daily up to monthly or thereabouts.
If you find you are waiting longer; think-
---if you are depressed, you may need to treat yourself to some cleanliness.
Clinging skin oils can interfere with seal and even encourage skin infections.
Weird smells can make you feel cranky and out of sorts.

Now that dinner's over, I have some time to write *smile*...I wash the humidifier tank every day, and dry it. And thoroughly wipe the nasal pillows every day at the same time.

Once a week, I get the dishpan out and use warm soapy water for the hoses, nasal pillows and humidifier tank. To wash the hoses, I just put them in the dishpan and let them soak for a while. Then slosh the warm soapy water through the hoses a couple of times, emptying in between. Then rinse them out thoroughly...I run warm water through the hoses a couple of times, again emptying in between. And wash and rinse the humidifier tank and the nasal pillows thoroughly. Then dry it all out.

Probably more than I need to do, but it follows the recommended schedule, and I am breathing through that stuff for at least a third of every day (I hope *smile*, more if I can manage it).

I am guilty of not washing (or replacing items) nearly as often as most folks on here (and no I don't get sick from it lol). I alternate between three different masks and machines, with one at home and one at each of my two workplaces (24 hrs on duty and get to sleep at night). I usually just wipe the oil off the seal/cushion on the leg of my boxers about every night, wash just the cushion maybe once every two or three weeks, and wash the whole mask (broken down) about as often as most folks replace their mask (got three years out of my first one).

As far as washing the humidifier tank or hose (which lasts me a long time too, use snuggie covers), I have not seen anyone else mention it in this thread, but I know almost exactly how much water I will use in my normal-6-hour sleep time and put just a little less than that. That way I get humidity almost all night, and the tank and hose are "blown dry" toward the end of the night (so they never have to sit damp or wet during the day. Not ideal somemight say, but it works like a charm for me.

EDIT - Almost forgot, but denture tablets work great for the humidifier tank, hoses, and non-silicone mask parts! Toss one or two in and warm water, easy as pie. I bought a hose coupler and make the hose into a loop to let it soak. NOTE - make sure the coupler and the two ends of the hose on the coupler are kept completely dry as you put them together or you will likely get a leak.

What equipment do you have? Have you read the manuals or looked for them on the manufacturer's websites?

It's all in the manuals.

My PR One says wash standard tubing inside and out in the sink in warm soapy water with mild detergent daily, rinse and hang to dry. Masks = same thing. Heated tubing wash the same way but weekly. Resmed's instructions are pretty much the same. Humidifier chamber on the PR One = hand wash in warm soapy water, rinse, dry daily, and run in the dishwasher once a week. (ResMed has a standard sealed humidifier chamber that requires somewhet different cleaning methods). Other machines = definitely read the manuals.

Daily cleaning only takes about five minutes. Faster than cleaning contact lenses. The first time you have seen someone's skanky, worn out, old mask yellowed with facial oils, ughhhhh you will clean your gear religiously. I have and it's gross. Why cut corners on somethins so simple?

Or hey, buy a Hans Rudolph V2 mask and you can just throw it in the dishwasher each day on the sanitizing cycle.....

Filters = PR One = wash-rinse-dry the gray filter once every 1-2 weeks and the white fine filter replace monthly.

Many insurance companies pay for replacement mask cushions monthly. Hoses and entire masks every 90 days. Filters every few weeks. So take advantage of it if you can.

Good luck!

sleepyinmississippi wrote:Good evening everyone!
Would someone please tell me the recommended cleaning routine for CPAP devices (the hose; the filter; how often to change the water in the humidifier?)
I cleaned my hose not too long ago--and it made a cackling noise for the first 1/2 hour I used it--and haven't cleaned it since.
Also, do I use warm water; soap; etc?
I tried to find this information in the CPAPtalk archives but I couldn't.
Thank you.

Please fill in your equipment on your profile. Look at the link in my signature line.

The correct answer depends somewhat on your particular equipment.

I agree with Chunky on having and extra hose. They are rather inexpensive, compared to the other equipment we all have. Yesterday, my dog was up on my bed chewing on my cpap hose, and when I came in the room, she had that sheepishly grin on her face A. Thus... new hose.

Sheriff

sleepyinmississippi wrote:Good evening everyone!
Would someone please tell me the recommended cleaning routine for CPAP devices (the hose; the filter; how often to change the water in the humidifier?)
I cleaned my hose not too long ago--and it made a cackling noise for the first 1/2 hour I used it--and haven't cleaned it since.
Also, do I use warm water; soap; etc?
I tried to find this information in the CPAPtalk archives but I couldn't.
Thank you.

I think it's every day. No wait, it's every week. No, wait again, it's every month. No, no, no, you only need to do it every 6 months. No, wrong again, it's however often keeps you feeling safe and secure. Like all things CPAP, for every one question there's at least five answers, all correct!!

ok, stupid question, maybe my Clinician didn't get it. He told me how to clean my equipment to help prevent bacteria, etc. How to clean hoses, masks etc using detergent, warm water. I said an as an added precaution, I'll add a teaspoon or tablespoon of Clorox to disinfect everything, he laughed and said oh no no, I dropped the subject. Is there something I'm not seeing

Clorox does wonders on everything else, use it on my dentures every few months, cleans the coffee stains from coffee cups, makes crystal sparkle.

Bleach is not recommended.
It can cause degrading of the silicone and equipment and if not well rinsed from the equipment I don't think the fumes are desirable for inhaling into the lungs.

Besides..it simply is not needed. Hot soapy water is sufficient in most cases for adequate cleaning.
If you feel the need to disinfect there are commercial disinfectants for cpap equipment that can be use that won't harm the equipment.
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-comfort-clean ... eaning.php

Now I know some people use a little bleach and say they don't seem to have a problem breathing or with odor or with life of their equipment....so everyone seems to have a little different idea what they want to establish as a cleaning regiment.
Some people are really rigid...some people are really lax.
Probably about as many different cleaning routines as there are forum members here.
It's sort of up to you to establish a routine that you are comfortable with.
I don't normally say much about what someone wants to do (or not do) but bleach would scare me.

Even a tiny trace of chlorine bleach is very unpleasant to eyes and nasal passages.
(less is more--none is best, especially up your nose, and in your eyes)
Clorox is sold everywhere, and sometimes with all-English directions.
Bless their hearts, people try to be very clean, putting a lot of trust in Clorox--loads of it.!
If they can't read English, they can easily miss the directions to DILUTE it.
Some places require a respirator and goggles, they are so "clean".