how do you clean your cpap machines?

[andrewjs18]

I don't clean my tank as often as I should and I do plan on changing that...with that being said..how often and with what do you clean your water tanks?

when I do clean mine, I currently just use warm with with soap and scrub the tank.

I've been reading up about using distilled water versus tap water in the machines..I've been using tap water for over a year now..I think it's time to give distilled water a try.

here's the machine I use:
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/respi ... chine.html

[nanwilson]

Morning
You need to read all the talk on cleaning, everyone is different. I have only used distilled water in my humidifier and I just refill every night then on Sunday, I empty it and soak in 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. I also wash my headgear and everything else on Sundays.
N

[stevesgrl98]

Once a week, I use white distilled vingear and water. I fill the tank 1/4 of the way with vingear and the rest with hot tap water, let it sit for 2 hours and rinse throughly with tap water and then with distilled. Let air dry.

[andrewjs18]

thanks all. I'll have to pick up some vinegar and give it a try maybe this weekend.

I'm also going to pick up a gallon of distilled water to see if there's any differences between using tap water and distilled.

[Hawthorne]

I have always used distilled water in my humidifier water chamber. I just top it off about twice a week.

I'm not very diligent about cleaning it. About every 2 weeks, I empty it and wash it in warm water and Classic Ivory Liquid Dishwashing soap. I use the same method for cleaning my mask once a week (Pillows - every other day with the Ivory and warm water and Citrus 11 wipes in between). I wash my main hose the same way but maybe about once a month - when I think about it actually. I've never had any problems.

When I first started cpap, I washed everything every day with the Ivory but, over the years I have found that not to be necessary, for me.

If I have a cold or am sick, I do wash everything much more often but still only use the Ivory and warm water.

8 years and no problems.

[andrewjs18]

how does you wash your hose? that's something I've never cleaned before.

[xenablue]

Being a complete newbie and trying to get a grip on all of this, I spoke with an RS when I changed my mask out last week about cleaning all the parts. Regarding the humidifier tank, he said if you use distilled water, then there are no minerals/impurities in the water, so no need to use vinegar - unless you want to. Warm soapy water is fine - however, I said but if you use tap water, then you're putting the impurities into your tank.
So, I concluded that I'll rinse mine in warm soapy tap water, soak in vinegar, then rinse in distilled water once a month.
I have been topping it up every night, then cleaning and refilling with fresh distilled water once a week.
The silicon mask parts should be washed in warm soapy water every day and air dried.
Mask and hose should be washed at least once a week in warm soapy water and/or soaked in vinegar.
Headgear should be washed in laundry detergent when needed.
I do hang my hose and mask/headgear over a towel hook every morning to dry out.
I asked the RS about all the different cleaning suggestions and he just shrugged and said people do whatever works for them and that's OK LOL.

Cheers,
Xena

[nanwilson]

Xena
Do you hang your hose and stuff on a towel rack in the bathroom? Do you realize how many air born particles are in there? euwwwww. I have a system with a coat hanger over my closet door...away from my bathroom...
I just put a towel on the floor to catch any drips so the carpet doesn't get wet.
N

[xenablue]

Zena
Do you hang your hose and stuff on a towel rack in the bathroom? Do you realize how many air born particles are in there? euwwwww. I have a system with a coat hanger over my closet door...away from my bathroom...
I just put a towel on the floor to catch any drips so the carpet doesn't get wet.
N

Ewwwwww... LOL no nan, I'm a bit of a germaphobe. I hang it on a dedicated coat hook in my large airy kitchen, where I clean and air dry my mask stuff, and I move all my CPAP stuff if I'm going to cook.

Hugs,
Xena

[ThatMaskedMan]

Xena, you refer several times to your "RS". What is that?

[xenablue]

Xena, you refer several times to your "RS". What is that?

Respiratory Specialist - sorry, ThatMaskedMan - saw this referred to as an RS and used it so as not to sound like TOO much of a newbie

[Emilia]

Many on here will tell you they have never washed their hose or only do it once in a blue moon. I am just starting my third month and have yet to wash my hose....but I am going to do it this week. My nasal pillows are washed thoroughly with Dr. Bronner's pure castile liquid soap (lavender scented) every other day. I only use my humidifier in pass-over mode so I wash and refill once a week or week and a half. If it gets cool enough to need heat this winter, I suppose I will actually turn on the humidifier at that time...then it will get cleaned more often. I use distilled water in it, and I wash it out using Dr. Bronner's soap and very warm water.

[The Texan]

I was told by my DME to clean the tank every 6 months with H2O2, which is what I have done. Pour a small amount in the tank, swish it around, let it set for an hour, then empty and fill with distilled water for use. Works fine and never had any type of infection.

[TheTwinsMom1]

I clean my tank once a week with mild soap and hot water. I have the tank that has to be replaced every six months. I use only distilled water in the tank.

I honestly don't clean the hose that much.

[adksleepygal]

well, I am quite new at this so do not have long term experience to report but this is what I have been doing:
I wash my nasal cradle mask every AM with baby shampoo and rinse and then hang to air dry
I have been washing the hose once a week as instructed by the RT
Also topping off the humidifier every other day and draining and washing completely with hot water and liquid antibacterial soap once a week
Once a month the headgear in good hot liquid detergent water, rinse, pat dry with clean towel and hang to air-dry.
So far so good but always looking for new suggestions.