Smelly headgear

snoozalot · Post by **snoozalot** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 12:54 pm

Sorry folks, I know this is gross, but I had to ask....

I shampoo my hair every day, but my Aura headgear (about a month old) is beginning to smell like dirty hair. I've scrubbed it with shampoo and a brush several times, but I can't seem to get the odor to go away. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Bob

yardbird · Post by **yardbird** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 1:29 pm

Try handwashing them in Woolite. That should be kind to the material and the elastic. And it shouldn't leave an overpowering perfumey smell.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 1:33 pm

You might also try mixing some baking soda in water, and soaking it in that. Baking soda removes most odors. (I don't see any reason it would hurt the headgear, but use your own judgement).

I use the deconstructed Aura, so don't deal with the headgear.

Ric · Post by **Ric** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:59 pm

I am still sort of new in the CPAP universe, (only about 500 hrs on the machine). But I have developed my own ritual for cleaning masks, which reflects some of the advice I've learned here, and some things I learned working in a lab for (too) many years. I still consider this experimental in the sense that I never do it the same way twice (sort of like cooking). I would only do this maybe once a month or when I retire a mask, or if somebody offered me a used one. Certainly not daily. As follows:

1. I obtained a 2-gallon bucket with a water-tight snap-on lid from the paint department at home depot, for the purpose of soaking masks, and for not making the whole room smell like "soaking masks".

2. DELICATE CYCLE: I have tried soaking the mask and headgear in a dilute solution of vinegar and water, (since that seems to be the brew of choice on this forum), say at least several hrs, followed by a rinse and a scrub with ordinary dish soap, and another rinse under running water. The downside is that no matter how much I rinse I cannot get the strange "vinegary" smell out of it, nor the strange "dish soap" smell. The other downside is that too much soaking in vinegar can change the chemical properties of the plastics and other materials in the mask/headgear. This probably shortens the usable lifetime of a mask.

3. HEAVY DUTY: In the lab, bleach (sodium hypochlorite), aka: "ordinary laundry bleach" is the germ-killer of choice. I haven't seen it recommended on any of the manufacturers technical documentations, (and I haven't read them all either). It is the main ingredient of some of the CPAP mask cleaners I have seen advertised on some of the online CPAP stores. Very expensive, or cheap, depending on if you buy it online or at a grocery store. I wouldn't soak a mask for more than 5-10 minutes in that since it is a powerful oxidant, but it does a good job of killing germs, colors, odors, cotton straps, fabric, and maybe some plastics. I would consider using bleach if somebody were exchanging a used mask, or for an especially soiled one. (1/4 cup in a gallon of water, 10 minutes MAX, rinse thoroughly). Followed by...

4. WASH CYCLE: I use a TBS of TSP, (that is, a Tablespoon of TSP, tri-sodium phosphate) in about a gallon of water. Again, TSP from the paint department at home depot. This is a chelating agent that binds to all sorts of chemicals and acts as a detergent, which it is. Laundry detergent would probably do as well, I'm not sure about all the other stuff they put in laundry detergent, probably stinks up the mask. I prefer my TSP "pure". Again, soak at least 4 hrs, followed by a vigorous rinse under running water, and...

5. RINSE CYCLE... Very Important. I use plain water with a tablespoon of baking soda, which tends to mop up any residual "stuff" from the previous cycles. Same 2 gal bucket, 4 hrs, followed by a rinse under running water, air dry. (for the guys, shop air, 300 psi, 5 seconds).

~~~~~

I've only done this whole thing about 3 times, and it only take a few minutes of MY time. Sorry for the mask having to sit around all day in that stuff with nothing to do. I sure wouldn't do this every day or even every week. maybe monthly.

For the daily ritual, I like the one suggested by someone here (was it "sleeping with the enemy"?), take the mask and hose in the shower in the morning, rinse it out and then let it air dry on the towel rack. That is pretty efficient. Doesn't work with the heated hose, but the mask is fine with it.

Snoozalot: if that doesn't cure the mask odor, I would be mildly surprised.

(Oh, and NO, I don't work for home depot).

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snoozalot · Post by **snoozalot** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:37 pm

Thanks for all your suggestions! I'll give them a try.

Bob