Cleaning your CPAP mask.

@franle- I've used a C-pap for well over 18 years and my personal opinion is all that cleaning stuff is a bit over rated. I've asked my sleep dr. about just cleaning my equipement long before that new machine became available and he recommended wiping the cushion off at least every other day and once a week taking the cushion apart and cleaning the entire mask and water resevoir in warm soapy water. I use the Fisher Pakyal Zest nasal mask and usually have several clean cushions on hand as well as a few new ones. I rotate a new one in once a month and use a clean one once a week.
As for the hose, I've been told not to submerge it and so I just clean the end every week. My old hose with a different machine did not have a heat element running through it and I always washed it and let it air dry before using it that night. I believe through my plan I can get a new hose every quarter, but generally only get 2 a year. People are in general not that willing to take the time to wash or care for their machine (kinda like maintaining a home today vs. 30 yrs. ago). Fear sells a lot of things these days! Happy Zzzz's to you & hubbie. Jim @thankful

@thankful I am thankful for your response! I must admit I never thought using a CPAP would stick for me but I can’t imagine not using it even 1 nights sleep now. I don’t care how silly I look....I can breathe! I’ve had my machine just 5 months now. Thanks again!

@franle- I thought the same many years ago and now I agree I would not go a night w/o it. When one looks into the health benefits alone of nearly eliminating apnea from our sleep cycle it could be the single best thing we can do to promote good health for ourselves. Happy Zzzz's Jim@thankful

Hi @franle, I was worried about cleaning the mask and CPAP tubing and heating reservoir also. They told me daily also and weekly for the hose and reservoir. After a week of messing around with the mask I bought a SoClean machine and it really makes it easy - just drop the mask in and close the lid. Then you can let it start automatically at a preset time or start it yourself. Now I clean the hose and reservoir monthly and I'm careful not to fully submerge the heated hose end with the connector into the soapy water. I put the other end into the sink and gather enough to half fill the hose and then lift each end up and go back and forth with the water to clean the length of the hose. When rinsing I stick the non connector end of the hose under the faucet and force water through the hose and out the connector end. Then I hang it over the shower door and let it dry out the rest of the day. I also use non-alcohol CPAP wipes and wipe off the edge of the mask before putting it into the SoClean machine.

@thankful has been a blessing for a lot of us in the Sleep Medicine group with his knowledge, encouragement and help.

I've been using the CPAP machine for about a year and a half. It has become essential for a good night's sleep. I was told I can clean the tubing every other day using distilled vinegar and water (3 cups water to 1 cup distilled vinegar). I just put it in a plastic bucket filled with the vinegar solution, pour the solution through the all plastic hose, and rinse with plain water. I clean the nasal cushion every day. I am religious about cleaning the tubing and it has become part of my morning routine. No big deal. I clean the other head gear about once a week and the distilled water holder about every two weeks. I change the water every other day and let it dry.

@beatricefay wow you don’t dump out the water everyday? I was told to empty and clean that everyday. I hate dumping the distilled water daily. Yesterday, I thought well maybe I can feed my house plants with the left over water. I love hearing what others do. I must admit I have gotten lazy about cleaning the components daily as I was instructed by the first person at Regional Home Care. I keep thinking I need to go on the actual company of the machine to see what they say.

I was originally told I could empty the water every 2-3 days, but I like to clean my hose on the same day I empty the water. It's easier to keep track of. It seems like there is a lot of varying information out there on how to keep the apparatus clean. I prefer the distilled vinegar because otherwise I'd have to wash the hose daily with soap and water. When I travel and can't get the vinegar, I clean every day. I'm willing to put up with the cleaning if I can get a good night's sleep. I wish there was some good scientific information on the best way to clean and on frequency. Anybody have such information?

Hello CPAP Friends,
Cleaning every day, all of the components seems like the best practice to me... so far it's about a 5 minute morning task. I guess I'd rather side with OVER cleaning than not cleaning enough. I don't have a heated hose, so I submerge my whole hose in the sink daily... with soapy water... then rinse and hang. I take everything apart (remove straps, and pads), remove the mask from the frame, remove the swivel from the top of the mask) - wash all those parts with soapy water, rinse and set to dry.

I do agree that changing the distilled water container daily seems like over kill... but when I let it sit in the machine, I see condensation in the machine - I don't like that! Moist areas are a breeding ground for bacteria - so every day the distilled water is changed and the tank cleaned. I leave the machine open so it can dry out during the day. One other trick I've been using is that in the evening when I connect everything back up I let it run for a few minutes before putting it on my face. My idea was that any left over moisture in the tube, frame or mask would be evaporated. So far so good!

JJ

I agree that it is better to do more than not enough. As for the distilled water in the tank being wasted, I have learned that filling the tank to the halfway mark on it results in the water all being used near the end of my sleep. Thus no wasted water and no leftover water to breed germs.

@johnhans- I do the same with the water height as well! Works for me!