Okay, so tell the truth...

I've been cleaning my mask with hot water and a wee bit of normal (not anti-bacterial) hand soap. I like the baby wipe idea, though, because my silicone liner seems to be retaining a little soap residue even though i rinse it until it feels tacky again. I haven't cleaned anything else, except the mask and that little tab where the hose attaches, in the week I've owned it.

I don't do all that much cleaning, but pillows and seals I've found that an ultrasonic cleaner works
great. Fill it with water, add a drop or two of unscented dishwashing liquid (not dishwasher!) and
it vibrates everything squeaky clean.

As for drying neoprene in a pinch, a hair dryer is a better choice than an iron.

I wash the tank a couple times a month, in the sink with Dawn.
The elan cushions need a wash after each wearing--warm tap water and a dab of All Free&Clear.
FX pillows: unscented baby wipes daily, with a soda and water boil when they get "tired".
Hose: I don't remember; must be time.

I don't clean anything very often except the filters. I was everything with baby wash rinse thoroughly then throw it in my steamer and give it a good steam. I don't even take the cover off my hose. Maybe I am lazy but everything seems to last longer that way. I feel confident that after a good steam it is sanitary too.

Someone melted their hose and water chamber doing this. Do not try this.

Wipe off the mask every night (mainly the nasal pillows), less leaks that way for me. Wash the tank, hose, and mask assembly (minus the headgear) every week in warm water and Palmolive Original. And rinse very well with warm water. Then dry it all in a cpap dryer. I used to rinse the tank every day, and dry it, but haven't been doing that for some time, and things seem okay.

I use a full face mask. I sleep better if I clean it regularly in the sink with a little dawn. Usually every few days. I do have cpap mask wipes in my cabinet with the machine for times when I am in a hurry, forgot to clean, etc. They work well, but not quite as well as the dawn. I think I start losing the seal a little due to facial oil on the seal.

As for the hose and water chamber, I have only deep cleaned them once. And that was because I was having some allergy issues and did not know the cause. I started cpap last Aoril 30, and the allergy issues started the first week of June. They went away in 2 weeks and then returned again in July. I think I did the deep cleaning in July just in case that was the cause, but this time the allergy problem (major cough) went for 6 weeks. It wasn't until October that I determined it was due to a chemical leak in the van, and each incidence was after a weekend trip in the can with increased exposure to a chemical that I could no longer smell.

I change the filters as needed. They usually last me a couple months and only have a minor graying to them. My mom uses the same machine, and hers are noticeably dirty in less than a month. Way darker than mine have ever gotten.

when I started this journey 6-7 months ago, I was washing my cushion & pad-a-cheek liner every 4 days and washing the entire mask once a week & the hose was washed twice a month.

After 2 months, my mask cushion needed replacing due to major leak issues.

Lately, all I do a daily wipe of the mask and cushion and rotate pad-a-cheek liners every 4 days. My current mask cushion has lasted 3 months now with no sign of wearing out.

Can't remember the last time I washed the hose

I rotate my H5i humidity tanks every 7 -10 days. 1 tank is the dishwasher safe version and the other is cleaned by hand.

I wipe my mask down every morning using Pampers Thick Wipes for Sensitive Skin. You can also use the generic brand. Be sure the baby wipes have no alcohol or aloe. Alcohol will damage the mask plastic and aloe will leave a film. There is a Walgreens close to my work that carries cpap supplies. I get cpap wipes there when they have them. I also wash my mask every weekend with a toothbrush and baby shampoo. I then soak the mask in a plastic tub or a few hours in baby shampoo and water solution. I then rinse the mask very well. If I don’t the baby scent will upset my tummy. Look on the mask manufacturer’s website about vinegar. Some recommend you don’t use it, but I suspect a little won’t hurt.

Since I don't use my humidifer, I don't mess with the hose...

Sheriff

I wipe my machine over every week with a damp cloth.
Wash my mask and hose monthly (unless I'm sick, which I haven't been for many years). The hoses take forever to dry, so I have back ups, use a new one after washing and hang the washed one on a hook behind the door in a spare bedroom. Made the mistake of hanging it in the kitchen once, and could smell bacon in it for days! Also, IMHO the bathroom is the WORST place to hang your XPAP equipment - humid, damp and full o' germs.
Wipe my nasal pillows every day, wash them once a week.

I use Dr. Bronner liquid soaps (love the peppermint and lavender), Ivory liquid dishsoap (smells wonderful) and Method orange dishsoap. None of these will damage the silicone of your mask.

Cheers,
xena

FFM daily in the sink with Seventh Generation Natural Dish Soap (DME recomended this brand as it is oil free - - found it in the supermarket). Hose, and humidifier container I wash weekly with a mixture of water and Control III disinfectant (gallon of water to one ounce of Controll III). Check disposable filter twice a month and replace about every month depending on it's condition. Last thing I want is some dred lung infection from breathing dirty equipment.

TangledHose wrote: Last thing I want is some dred lung infection from breathing dirty equipment.

That type of statement usually start wars 'round these parts.

This is what Resmed has to say about cleaning the mask.
http://www.resmed.com/us/service_and_su ... c=patients

cosmo wrote:

TangledHose wrote: Last thing I want is some dred lung infection from breathing dirty equipment.

That type of statement usually start wars 'round these parts.

This is what Resmed has to say about cleaning the mask.
http://www.resmed.com/us/service_and_su ... c=patients

Don't want no wars !!!

Oh......and I am reporting all you lazy cleaners to the CPAP cops !

I used Re$med's directions for cleaning cushions for about 4 months (cushions had to be replaced MONTHLY);
then I tried unscented baby wipes on vacation, cushion was NOT degrading, I kept using the wipes.
My opinion: Re$med's directions may be better for their bottom line than for my cushions.
(end of rant)

I wipe my cushion every morning with baby wipes too. Empty the resevoir every morning and let it dry out, I only use distilled water in it. I wash my resevoir, full mask and hose in Ivory dish sowp and let it sit for at least 15 minutes in it before taking a clean dish rag to wipe it all off and then air dry. Just rinsed out my filter after a month and let it air dry. This was all per the instructions of my equipment supplier and the info that came with the machine. My wife is amazed that I take the time to do it all. Lol. TangledHose, if you're going to report the bad kids to the CPAP police, do I get a gold star for my good behavior?