cleaning with what vinegar dilution?

two Quick questions

I have read in various posts that the vinegar solution for cleaning hose and humidifier container should be 1:10, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:8.

What that says to me is that the exact dilution is not critical.

I am wondering if there are things to know about the two ends of those choices -1:10 and 1:2?

Also have read to leave it for 30 minutes, an hr, a 1/2 day. Any optimum time? Does time relate to dilution?

Thanks

Betty303

It's not critical, also if you use distilled water, it's not necessary, unless you have a thing for vinegar smell. The vinegar is there to eat lime deposits, as it's a acid, if you use distilled there is not deposits. Vinegar smell does mask other smells, but there shouldn't be other smells anyway. Jim

I use 2 parts H2O to 1 part distilled vinegar and soak for 30 minutes

My DME provider's RT told me to do a soak of 30 minutes after washing everything and rinsing it. The dilution was 1:10=vinegar:water. I was told to use only distilled water in my humidifier.

I believe that the pH of the vinegar added to the water would help to discourage the growth of any bacteria by disruption of their preferred environment.

If anyone has a definitive answer, I'd like to know what that might be.

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I heard a talk by a Fisher and Paykel rep who said that the only reason to use the vinegar solution is if you don't use distilled water. Then you only use it in the humidifier tank and then only when you get mineral deposits. The mineral deposits are not harmful, BTW, they just look bad. It is not necessary for regular cleaning.

He would not come right out and say that manufacturers go overboard in cleaning recommendations, hoping patients will do half of what they recommend, but that was the strong sub-text. He emphasized that in theory, you would probably suffer no ill effects if you never cleaned your machine, although he did not recommend that. It has been proven, however, that bacteria and viruses cannot come up a CPAP hose from a heated humidfier, period. His message seemed to be that you don't need to get obsessive about cleaning.

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Hi MandoJohnny,

Thanks for that info, it is reassuring for someone new to the forum to read

do you remember if this protocol you outlined changes if you are using a bypass humidifier?

Thanks,

Joey