Daily cleaning of Heated Humidifier container.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat May 06, 2006 5:14 am

I am changing my mind about the need to wash the container daily. The reason is that unless we wash it with distilled water, we are introducing minerals via washing and rinsing. Why is it not sufficient to remove the tube from the container so that it 'airs out', and wash it less frequently.
Just asking and curious. I don't want to buy distilled water for cleaning the unit, just to dump it down the drain. Or is that another of the "prices we must pay?" Offerocker/Kathleen - registered user, unable to logon.

Brent Hutto · Post by **Brent Hutto** » Sat May 06, 2006 5:20 am

Kathleen,

I compromise on that issue. My complete cleanings (with detergent and everything) are every four days. I do the cleaning with warm tap water and just a drop or two of unscented dish detergent. Then I rinse thoroughly with plenty of plain tap water. As a final step, after getting all the tap water out of the humidifier, I put about a tablespoon of distilled water in, swish it around and dump it out. I figure that's plenty to eliminate any potentially mineral-containing tap water that might leave a deposit (although our city water is very mineral-free as those things go).

I don't mind "wasting" a tablespoon or so of distilled but like you I'll be darned if I'm going to use half a gallon to do the whole cleaning. BTW, in between the every-four-days cleaning my practice is to fill the tank with distilled, use it for two nights, dump it and fill it again and use it for two more nights. So I actually waste a fair bit by dumping it out since two nights for me is only about 1/4 tank (I don't fill it but about half full each time but there's still some waste).

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Sat May 06, 2006 5:58 am

Rather than washing my humidifier, I "blow dry" it every morning along with the hose and mask. I first empty the humidifier when I get up, then after reattaching the humidifier I simply turn the unit on, and while I'm getting ready for the day the machine dries out the humidifier, hose and mask. With over four months of doing this, the humidifier chamber still looks as clean as brand new. This is a lot less wear and tear on the humidifier chamber than cleaning it would be.

When I first started xPAP I decided I didn't want to clean all the stuff daily, but I didn't want to deal with mold and mildew either, so I reasoned that if I simply kept everything dry when it wasn't in use that there wouldn't be a problem.

As for wearing out the machine, I doubt the extra "blow dry" time matters. I figure I'll probably want a new machine with more capability before this one wears out anyway.

Regards,
Bill

Amigo · Post by **Amigo** » Sat May 06, 2006 8:03 am

Anonymous wrote:I am changing my mind about the need to wash the container daily. The reason is that unless we wash it with distilled water, we are introducing minerals via washing and rinsing. Why is it not sufficient to remove the tube from the container so that it 'airs out', and wash it less frequently.
Just asking and curious. I don't want to buy distilled water for cleaning the unit, just to dump it down the drain. Or is that another of the "prices we must pay?" Offerocker/Kathleen - registered user, unable to logon.

Kathleen, OK, I suppose this may create some protests, but I really think too many here are obsessive-compulsive about cleanliness, and overly concerned about so-called health issues.

I do not believe that my immune system is any stronger than the rest of you, and I have had no problems of any kind using the following humidifier maintenance routine for 2 1/2 + years:

1. Shake and empty humidifier daily; refill with distilled water.

2. Reconnect hose to tank (I do not hang the hose to dry or turn on the CPAP to dry it out).

3. Every two weeks or so, I disassemble the humidifier, and wash both parts thoroughly in hot, soapy water, rinsing well.

4. Before refilling, I rinse a few times with a few ounces of distilled water.

The 'every two weeks or so' routine is also followed for any of the other washable CPAP parts.

Nothing has been replaced in all that time...original hose, nasal pillows, humidifier, etc.

So, anyway, it works for me, but, of course, everyone has to follow their own comfort level of cleanliness.

sir_cumference · Post by **sir_cumference** » Sat May 06, 2006 8:23 am

I do even less than Amigo! I just empty the chamber out, wash it with soapy water and rinse it around once a week and leave it to dry out during the day. Then I refill it and use it for another week! Each day all I do is remove the chamber from the unit and leave it on the side and hang the hose up to keep it out the way as much as anything else ...

I wash all my gear once a week and have had no ill affect from following this procedure for a reasonably long time.

I started off by daily washing, using distilled water etc etc. but after a while I thought 'this is taking up too much of my time and I simply can't see any reason why I need to do all this cleaning.'

I have not regretted changing to once a week wash-outs and using tap water - its easier, quicker and cheaper and works very well indeed. Oh, and I ought to add that I wash my gear in mild dish- washing liquid (none of this expensive CPAP special washing stuff for me!)

sir_c

RickSt · Post by **RickSt** » Sat May 06, 2006 12:51 pm

Being a truck driver it just isn't practical to clean my machine or mask more once a week when I'm at home. I do carry a container of distilled water with me to add some to the humidifier when needed. I do wipe the mask and my face every night before bed with an alcohol free baby wipe with aloe. The aloe doesn't affect my mask at all and I still get a good seal.

Rick

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Sat May 06, 2006 1:56 pm

The cleaning/washing of the humidifier question comes up about once a week.

The premise is that it needs to be cleaned and the answers vary.

There is no need to clean it any more than there is a need to wash your car.
The only reason is that a person likes things to be clean.

There are many postings telling why there is NO RISK of problems from the water in the container, whether it is distilled or from the toilet bowl.

Tune in Monday for a new posting on how to clean the humidifier.

The answer is the same-
No reason to clean it for health reasons, just for wanting things clean.
And how does the inside get dirty?

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Sat May 06, 2006 2:37 pm

Of course it's a matter of personal preference.

Anybody seen a fish tank lately? All things considered - moisture and heat is a breeding ground for all the goodies mold, mildew, whatever... How long before critical mass? Don't really know but I do the warm water/soap rinse every day with tap water and air dry.
Adding distilled water to the humidifier daily to save 5 cents is not for me - haveing a fresh clean unit and a clean smell is reassuring when you strap your nose to a turb charger.

There is no right or wrong - personal preference and if you're not getting colds or walking pneumonia - you're probably ok.

After working for the Gov in water pollution I tend to be conservative. I've seen our water up close and personal.

I go for the disinfected route. That water can be real nasty.

_________________

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Brent Hutto · Post by **Brent Hutto** » Sat May 06, 2006 2:39 pm

tomjax,

Do you by chance live in a cool and/or dry part of the world? Around here, anything that is left with water in it or on it for more than a few days will grow fungus. I'm allergic to many types of fungus therefore I don't really want to leave anything sitting around wet.

Would it kill me if my humidifier got moldy? Probably not. Would it get moldy if I skipped a couple days emptying and rinsing it? Nope. Do I still keep fresh water in it every second or third day? Even if it costs two bucks a month worth of water and three minutes of my time several times a week? You bet I do!

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Sat May 06, 2006 2:39 pm

Actually, Tom, I believe there is a very good reason to keep the humidifier, hose, and mask clean. It's because of mold and mildew. All these areas are exposed to high humidity and warm temperatures for long periods of time.

Have you ever been inside a house that's stood in water for a while? Such houses are frequently just torn down because they are health hazards. People cannot live in them because the health degrading consequences of mold and mildew exposure are substantial. And, this is not just a concern of environmental wacko's. It is very real.

I would think that if this stuff were allowed to grow in either the tank or hose, the consequences to the individual could be devastating.

Maybe somebody can point out how this reasoning is faulty though. I am interested in learning.

Regards,
Bill

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Sat May 06, 2006 2:41 pm

Cool Three postings inside of two minutes. Evidently none of us knew about the others. .

Regards,
Bill

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat May 06, 2006 3:14 pm

My experience is that after 3 1/2 years of simply topping off the water in my humidifier with distilled water every night, the tank still remains spotless and odorless. I dump the water out completely about once every month. I have never taken it apart and never used soap or detergent in it.

Everybody has their own procedure depending on their personal experience. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Sat May 06, 2006 3:23 pm

Night Hawkeye,
You are talking apples and oranges. The 2 cases are not remotely similar.
The mold and mildew depend on nutrients to grow.
This is not the case with a humidifier tank.
Even if a pathogen by chance gets into the tank, there are no nutrients to sustain it and the heat is not very helpful either.

Even if some were there, check the posting on another thread for fisher and paykel.
Pathogens are far too large to hitch a ride on water vapor.

iNTUITIVE, YES, FACTUAL NO.

HappyHoser · Post by **HappyHoser** » Sat May 06, 2006 5:46 pm

This has kind of turned in to a poll so I'll add my two cents. I have washed my tank maybe two times in about a year and not quite a half. I have always used distilled water and like many posts above, the tank is crystal clear and my health seems to be as normal as it ever is. Many days I dump the tank to pack for business travel, wrap it in a clean towel that I reserve for it and toss it in my suitcase. So far, no problems whatsoever. I wipe down the seal and pads on my Activa and when I'm home occasionally wash it in the shower with some Ivory dishsoap then hang it out to dry. I don't think I have ever washed the hoses that I use, just can't see why they would need it. Obviously, if something is visibly soiled or smells bad, clean it otherwise it's just too easy to over obsess about all this stuff. Cpap is just another part of life like paying bills and mowing the lawn.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat May 06, 2006 6:04 pm

[quote="tomjax"]Night Hawkeye,
.
The mold and mildew depend on nutrients to grow.

...Or Goldfish, ha ha

I'm going to continue to remove the hose in the morning let the tank 'air out', and add more distilled water to container as needed, and clean when I think it needs it. Or at least until I read Monday's article on "cleaning".
I've probably cleaned the hose more often. (what good is it to clean the humidifier and NOT the hose? There's more 'room for error' in the hose due to volume) I've rinsed the hose using the mint listerine, which does some disinfecting and also smells clean and fresh. Again, why clean the tank and not the hose?? To me, that's like eating from a clean plate but using a dirty fork. Thanks again for your good sense, Tomjax.

Daily cleaning of Heated Humidifier container.

Daily cleaning of Heated Humidifier container.

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