Cleaning your CPAP mask.

Interesting... maybe I'm over filling the tank. I don't seem to see the water level go down by very much... maybe my humidity setting is too low - guess I'll decrease the amount I'm putting in so I don't waste so much!

Thanks!!

Hi Friends! I only fill my tank partially also and it still has water in the morning. I have the heated hose at 4 and the humidifier at 3. It doesn't seem to use a lot of water. I was told to empty it every morning and leave the machine open. I like the idea of running the CPAP for several minutes before I get in bed. I wash everything every morning and that is a good way to dry out anything that is left slightly damp if at all. I wash my main hose twice a week w/water and vinegar.

I have been submerging my heated hose in water when I clean it and was never told not to. After reading these posts, I called the respiratory therapist and the supply source to ask if this was wrong. They said it was fine to submerge it when cleaning, as long as it was totally dry when I attached it to the CPAP at night. So far, so good.

Everyone have a great sleep... 🙂

CeCe55

I use vinegar and water solution to clean the different parts like tubing, mask and water tank. I also change the filter every week and clean the charcoal filter by flushing with water

Hello @janisfree, welcome to Connect. Thanks for sharing. I use a SoClean 2 machine to clean the mask, tubing and humidifier tank. I just like the convenience. I think you are spot on with changing the filters on a regular basis. I have two in my Dreamstation CPAP machine. I change the main filter once a month and the one that clips on to it, once a week.

I rinse my nose piece and upper tube every day and hang it to dry. I also only fill the tank part way and dump what's left in the morning. Once a week I wash everything using baby shampoo and hot water. I keep the end of the heated tube out of the water and make sure that any water that's gotten off of it is dried. Then I hang them to dry. I do mine one day, and my husband's the next. Easy stuff.

@jjspokane61- You might want to check your humidity setting, but I find that if I fill my water reservoir about 1/4" below the Max line and get a good 8 hr. sleep that their is barely a drop or two left. Give it a try. Jim @thankful

I have been using a CPAP machine since 2005. After the first night of feeling like I was about to drown, I decided NOT to use the water feature. I wear a "nose pillow mask" and simply remove the mask from the main hose and wash it under hot water and soap. Has not been an issue at all.
Regarding your husband laughing at how you look, I was mortified that my wife was going to think "how goofy and unromantic!". So I shared my fears and she said "Honey... this is NOT a problem. I will simply refer to you as "My Snuffleupagus!" She added "And knowing you are breathing all night long without any snoring is Heaven!"
"Good luck!" getting him on boards and "Sweet Dreams!"

@kentyunker, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. What a great post...your wife has a good sense of humor. I've only been using a CPAP since last Summer and now I can hear her snore instead of the other way around. Biggest problem I have is the cat biting at my mask and hose. Happy Zzzz's!

That’s funny 😁! Thank you for the smiles. You are right though, I keep a small pillow over my ears now because of my husband snoring!

Thank you ☺️, but if it’s up too much it will cause hot flashes!!