How often do I really need to clean tube and water chamber?

How often do I really need to bother cleaning my CPAP tube/hose and the water chamber for the humidifier? I only use distilled water and replace the filter in the CPAP machine about once a month. I replace the air filter in my HVAC system regularly so there isn't a lot of dust buildup in the house.

It seems like a waste of time and soap and water to clean the tube/hose and water chamber every single week.

Opinions will vary on this. I used to do it all once a week as well, but it became such a hassle. Now, we do it once every 4-6 weeks.

Madalot wrote:Opinions will vary on this. I used to do it all once a week as well, but it became such a hassle. Now, we do it once every 4-6 weeks.

Okay, yeah that seems a lot more manageable.

Madalot wrote:Opinions will vary on this. I used to do it all once a week as well, but it became such a hassle. Now, we do it once every 4-6 weeks.

Will vary greatly. I also use distilled water and replace my filter monthly (I live on an unpaved road and do not have central air). I maybe clean my hose once a year, and my water chamber once a month or so. I've been told on other forums that I'm leaving myself vulnerable to all manner of pathogens, blah blah blah, but in fact I've had FEWER colds and illnesses since starting CPAP. I clean my mask every other day, when it feels greasy, but the rest is on an as needed basis.

On Apnea Board (the other forum) we have a resident Microbiologist. He has told us that the risk of actual pathogens getting into the system is almost non-existant. His frequency of cleaning is actually much less frequent than mentioned here and if anyone would know there is something to worry about...he would.

Exactly, Marillion. And yet the uneducated and germ-phobic will STILL insist the sky is falling if you skip a day...

I wash my mask once a week. Long hose- never . Humidifier tub- about 4 X a year.

I try to remember to do our masks once a week. I normally clean the water reservoir once a month and check the filter at that time. If they look dirty, I will change them at that time. The only time I ever wash a hose is after I have a bronchitis attack which happens about once a year. At that time, I sterilize my equipment using a diluted vinegar solution.

Marillion wrote:On Apnea Board (the other forum) we have a resident Microbiologist. He has told us that the risk of actual pathogens getting into the system is almost non-existant. His frequency of cleaning is actually much less frequent than mentioned here and if anyone would know there is something to worry about...he would.

Good to know that I'm on schedule with mine.. (I've not cleaned the hose I'm using since I got it... four or five years ago. looks good as the day I got it.

I clean my nasal pillow itself twice a week, not because of fear of germs, but to remove oil. I clean my tank every week or two, and simply add water through the week.

I'm sure this will change as time goes by. I'm still a newb at this point.

PaulKTF wrote:How often do I really need to bother cleaning my CPAP tube/hose and the water chamber for the humidifier? I only use distilled water and replace the filter in the CPAP machine about once a month. I replace the air filter in my HVAC system regularly so there isn't a lot of dust buildup in the house.

It seems like a waste of time and soap and water to clean the tube/hose and water chamber every single week.

Use some common sense and do what you feel comfortable with.
The more you disconnect and/or clean the hose and chamber, the more probability you're allowing "impurities" into them.
You're breathing unfiltered air during the rest of the day when you're not hooked to your XPAP, so keep your intake air filters cleaned or changed on a regular basis so that they keep the impurities out of the machine's air circuit. The water issue is a "Your Mileage May Vary" (according to where you live or your dwelling environment).

I got some unscented cpap wipes from Amazon and I am finding that my pillows seem to stay put better if I wipe them off every day. I empty my humidifier chamber almost every day and let it dry out. I never clean the big hose.

AMK wrote:I got some unscented cpap wipes from Amazon and I am finding that my pillows seem to stay put better if I wipe them off every day. I empty my humidifier chamber almost every day and let it dry out. I never clean the big hose.

One way or another, cleaning facial oils off the silicone is a good thing to do nightly. I usually use a squirt of plain hand sanitizer and a kleenex cleans it nicely, and cheaply

palerider wrote:

AMK wrote:I got some unscented cpap wipes from Amazon and I am finding that my pillows seem to stay put better if I wipe them off every day. I empty my humidifier chamber almost every day and let it dry out. I never clean the big hose.

One way or another, cleaning facial oils off the silicone is a good thing to do nightly. I usually use a squirt of plain hand sanitizer and a kleenex cleans it nicely, and cheaply

I dunno, is the alcohol in hand sanitizer ok for silicone? The wipe solution is glycerin based.

AMK wrote:

palerider wrote:

AMK wrote:I got some unscented cpap wipes from Amazon and I am finding that my pillows seem to stay put better if I wipe them off every day. I empty my humidifier chamber almost every day and let it dry out. I never clean the big hose.

One way or another, cleaning facial oils off the silicone is a good thing to do nightly. I usually use a squirt of plain hand sanitizer and a kleenex cleans it nicely, and cheaply

I dunno, is the alcohol in hand sanitizer ok for silicone? The wipe solution is glycerin based.

That was my first thought, but the pillows/cushions are the most frequently and cheaply replaced piece, so even if it does degrade them, they probably won't fail before a replacement is available