Quality of sleep - how often do you clean?

Hogsrul wrote:Does anyone notice that not cleaning the machine for a few days to a week makes a difference in their sleep? Maybe it's my imagination, but it seems like I'm more groggy I'd I don't clean my machine at least once every three days or so.

Thoughts?

Your imagination seems to be more extreme than mine ...

If I let the water dry up, it gets stinky and that disturbs my sleep. Sometimes a refill works, sometimes I have to wash the tank. Sometimes, it seems there's a stink in the hose or mask.

If the hose/mask is stinky, hooking the hose to the kitchen faucet and giving it a quick flush with hot water helps.

I clean thoughly once a week.

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Hogsrul wrote:Does anyone notice that not cleaning the machine for a few days to a week makes a difference in their sleep? Maybe it's my imagination, but it seems like I'm more groggy I'd I don't clean my machine at least once every three days or so.

Thoughts?

Humidifiers can become NASTY if regular water is used or if not cleaned regularly. Also, I use nasal pillows and find that I lose seal quality if I go more than a week without thoroughly cleaning the pillows. Actually, seal quality degrades gradually between weekly cleaning sessions. From what I read while researching cleaning guidelines, this is apparently due to facial oils accumulating on the pillow material and making it less pliable or conforming. I've been on VPAP therapy for 8+ years and have a minimally demanding cleaning routine I am happy with. Here is what I do:

Daily (3 minutes max):

• Dump remaining water in humidifier chamber, then rinse under warm water. Air dry.
  Rinse nasal pillows and mask (not headgear) under warm water. I don't disassemble the mask. Gently rub pillows while rinsing. Air dry.

Weekly (15-20 "busy" minutes max):

• Clean mask assembly and headgear by soaking in warm water with a little baby shampoo for about 5 minutes. I don't disassemble the mask. I only remove the nasal pillows and gently rub for a few seconds before soaking to better clean them as they are the key interface for me. I then rinse thoroughly and set aside to air dry.
  Clean the 2m hose by soaking in warm water with a little baby shampoo for about 5 minutes. I hook the hose to the faucet for a quick and thorough rinse with warm water.
  Clean the humidifier chamber with warm water and a little baby shampoo. My chamber comes with a cap to plug it so I can swish the soapy water around. After a quick rinse, I then disinfect and dissolve nascent mineral buildup in the water chamber by filling it with a solution of 1/4 white vinegar, 3/4 COLD water for a minimum of 60 minutes (can soak all day if you wish). I do this just before breakfast so the chamber soaks while I have my morning meal and read the Saturday paper. The cold water apparently improves solubility of the minerals.

Every 3-6 months:

• Change the filter (6 months if I use the CPAP at home but 3 months if I travel/camp/fish/hunt in the interval)

Yearly:

• Replace mask assembly and 2m hose with new units.

By following this simple and quick regimen, my mask fits and stays comfortable for the full year and I have yet to replace a humidifier chamber within the 5 year machine replacement cycle. My father has the exact same PAP equipment but being over 80, frequently skips cleaning. His humidifier chamber is often cloudy and shows both white and pink build up (not good) despite the fact he uses demineralized water. I regularly go to his place to give his equipment a thorough cleaning and disinfection but he still needs to replace his humidifier chamber every few years and his masks are tattered by the time they reach the twelfth month and are replaced.

Sgt Wilko

[quote="SgtWilko
Yearly:

• Replace mask assembly and 2m hose with new units.

[/quote]

I find it amazing that you can go a whole year on one hose and mask... good for you. The longest I've gone on a hose is 6 months, and lately... about 3 months. Same with the mask... 3 months tops... I have a different mask altogether... probably the reason.

Sheriff

I find it amazing that you can go a whole year on one hose and mask... good for you. The longest I've gone on a hose is 6 months, and lately... about 3 months. Same with the mask... 3 months tops... I have a different mask altogether... probably the reason.

Sheriff[/quote]

Sheriff....My Quattro frame and head gear and going on 15 months. I do, however, change my cushion every 4-6 months. Your mask does not have replaceable cushions. Most masks do not wear out...only the cushions do. (how does your hose wear out in 3 months?)

I wipe the cushion everyday with a moist wipe & replace the mask cushion every 3-4 months - that's it.
I washed the hose the 1st week and haven't washed it since then.
H5i humidity tank gets washed about every 2 weeks.
Resmed S9 machine filter gets changed the 1st of every month
Headgear lasts me about 4 months or until the velcro wears out unless I do something stupid like wash it with towels or in hot water

I've logged just over 9 months of use of my slimline hose & Quattro mask.

ave

[quote="LSAT (how does your hose wear out in 3 months?)[/quote]

The term "wear out" is probably not a correct term. Probably "leaking" is a better term. Once, the hose leak was so bad, it woke the wife... who woke me.... I noticed my leaks went thru the roof that night (not lookin' at Pugsy... ). I have also gotten leaks around the hose where it meets the rubber end. I've gotten lazy and haven't wrapped the ends with duct tape, so that may be the cause. Also... the hose "rips" may be because I'm a rough sleeper (don't nobody say nuthin' ).

Sheriff

Denial Dave wrote:I wipe the cushion everyday with a moist wipe & replace the mask cushion every 3-4 months - that's it.
I washed the hose the 1st week and haven't washed it since then.
H5i humidity tank gets washed about every 2 weeks.
Resmed S9 machine filter gets changed the 1st of every month
Headgear lasts me about 4 months or until the velcro wears out unless I do something stupid like wash it with towels or in hot water

I've logged just over 9 months of use of my slimline hose & Quattro mask.

ave

Hmmmm. My headgear is almost 15 months old. I have not changed the adjustment(velcro)more than 2-3 times in that period
of time. Mine may never wear out. I have only washed my head gear twice in those 15 months.

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I didn't read all of the replies but I was told by my DME that I should clean the humidifier tank, hose and mask once a week in mild detergent. It doesn't have anything to do with your sleep quality but more to do with sanitary conditions. I let those elements sit for about 15 minutes in super hot water and Dove detergent and then wipe them with a clean cloth then let them air dry. The filter is something that I'll rinse about every 2 weeks, pat dry and let air dry. Once again, I don't think it has anything to do with sleep quality, more for sanitation. If you think about it, you breathe unsanitized air every day without issue so I think that the whole sleep quality thing has to do with psychology.

dlanbro wrote:I didn't read all of the replies but I was told by my DME that I should clean the humidifier tank, hose and mask once a week in mild detergent. It doesn't have anything to do with your sleep quality but more to do with sanitary conditions. I let those elements sit for about 15 minutes in super hot water and Dove detergent and then wipe them with a clean cloth then let them air dry. The filter is something that I'll rinse about every 2 weeks, pat dry and let air dry. Once again, I don't think it has anything to do with sleep quality, more for sanitation. If you think about it, you breathe unsanitized air every day without issue so I think that the whole sleep quality thing has to do with psychology.

I completely agree about the sanitation driver for cleaning but it is a fact that the seals on masks will seal better if you clean them regularly to rid them of facial oils which interact with the seal material and makes it more rigid. A clean mask will also be more comfortable as keeping the cushion material clean, soft, and pliable will prevent you from over tightening your mask to get a good seal.

Also, if you research cleaning guidelines, you will find that it is not recommended to use "super hot" water or to soak silicone parts for too long. Something to do with degradation of the silicone parts which are hydrophilic. Furthermore, minerals in water are more soluble in COLD water. The consensus recommendation seems to be warm water (about 30°C/86°F) and mild detergent for cleaning, cold water and vinegar for disinfecting/demineralizing water chambers.

Sgt Wilko

Of course the manufacturers do not recommend super hot water!
I have gotten MONTHS more use out of nasal pillows by boiling them.
As for the tank, mine is dishwasher safe (160 degrees F)
Note: YMMV!

For some strange reason, I've had major curling problems develop in a few sets of headgear that prompted me to replace them early. MY hunch is that it was due to my using "generic brand" headgear.

Dave

LSAT wrote:

Denial Dave wrote:I wipe the cushion everyday with a moist wipe & replace the mask cushion every 3-4 months - that's it.
I washed the hose the 1st week and haven't washed it since then.
H5i humidity tank gets washed about every 2 weeks.
Resmed S9 machine filter gets changed the 1st of every month
Headgear lasts me about 4 months or until the velcro wears out unless I do something stupid like wash it with towels or in hot water

I've logged just over 9 months of use of my slimline hose & Quattro mask.

ave

Hmmmm. My headgear is almost 15 months old. I have not changed the adjustment(velcro)more than 2-3 times in that period
of time. Mine may never wear out. I have only washed my head gear twice in those 15 months.