Cleaning water tank

seernst · Post by **seernst** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:21 am

What does everyone use to clean their water tank? I use bottled water but still get some mineral buildup so I can clean it with water and vinegar. Just curious what others are doing...

ClayL · Post by **ClayL** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:52 am

[quote="seernst"]What does everyone use to clean their water tank? I use bottled water but still get some mineral buildup so I can clean it with water and vinegar. Just curious what others are doing...

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:24 am

ClayL wrote:I use distilled water. At 68 cents a gallon it's cheaper than most (all?) bottled water and there are no minerals in it to cause deposits.

How very true.

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:24 am

Oh, my--not ANOTHER cleaning post!

My cpap training recommended washing all equipment with fragrance-free dishwashing detergent (no other additives like aloe or lemon). This is followed by a good rinse with hot tap water, and air dry. Once a week for ALL washable equipment (save headgear), add a soak for 1/2 hour in a solution of 1:10, vinegar to water. Then, rinse again thoroughly in hot water and allow to air dry.

If I am sick, it was recommended that I clean the equipment daily and use a vinegar to water solution of 1:4 for the final soak.

My additions: I use a water-tight container that is large enough for all of the equipment. I:

1. wash the equipment with dish detergent and rinse, then put into some soapy water in the container;

2. then shake the container well, drain off the soapy water and rinse.;

3. fill the container with hot water again, and shake the container with equipment inside;

4. then put in the one part vinegar and ten parts of hot water, and shake the container--leave the container intact and soak for 30 minutes.

5. rinse well with hot water, SHAKE the water off the parts (shaking water off leaves much smaller water droplets) and allow to air dry.

NOTE: I NEVER smell vinegar on my equipment, and the container and shaking seem to help with getting into every nook and cranny.

There have been numerous posts on cleaning, so please feel free to look for other methods via a Google advanced search where you put cpaptalk.com into the domain space.

Karen,
Who tries to avoid moldy equipment

jimbassett · Post by **jimbassett** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:25 am

I have been using my M Series HH for nearly two years and I have never cleaned it as it is still clear as crystal. I use only distilled water and keep my filters changed regularly. I use the white air filter and the grey foam. We are in a very low humidity area. Not sure if this has anything to do with it. Good luck with yours. jim

OutaSync · Post by **OutaSync** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:50 am

I have had my APAP since November of last year. I have never cleaned my humidifier or hose. I just top off every night with new distilled water and go. I hold it up to the light every night and inspect with a flashlight on weekends. Never had anything growing in my water. No deposits, no mold. Just clean and sparkly like new.

It's very hot and humid in VA and I'm allergic to all kinds of things, but have never had a problem with the humidifier. I also have never take it apart.

Now, if only I could find a mask that didn't leak, or hurt my face......

seernst · Post by **seernst** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:11 pm

Thanks for the replies. I'll start using distilled water.

Interestingly enough, I got my new machine yesterday, S8 Compact with the HumidAire 3i humidifier...

Needsdecaf · Post by **Needsdecaf** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:15 am

[quote="seernst"]Thanks for the replies. I'll start using distilled water.

Interestingly enough, I got my new machine yesterday, S8 Compact with the HumidAire 3i humidifier...

canuck88 · Post by **canuck88** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:38 pm

I've had mine for 1.5 years and I've probably cleaned it 6 times (so about every 3 months). When I do I just use tap water and hand soap. I do use distilled water in it, however.

No problems whatsoever - crystal clear.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:12 pm

I've had mine for over three years and have NEVER "cleaned" it......always use distilled water, no heat (pass-over), just add water ever 3 or 4 nights, dump the remains out after several months and rinse with hot tap water and shake out before refilling. Usually keep my distilled water in the refrigerator in smaller plastic bottles. The plastic chamber is still crystal clear.

Den

seernst · Post by **seernst** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 3:23 pm

[quote="Needsdecaf"]
Oh Crap, the DME got the best of your insurance company with that machine...

ffarmer · Post by **ffarmer** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:53 pm

The agent who sold me my machine told me I had to change the water in my humidifier every day. Is this not the case?

(She also told me I didn't ever have to clean my mask; I learned differently on this forum!)

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:59 pm

ffarmer wrote:The agent who sold me my machine told me I had to change the water in my humidifier every day. Is this not the case?

(She also told me I didn't ever have to clean my mask; I learned differently on this forum!)

It's kind of like everything else on the forum(s).......you sort through the "information" and do whatever you feel comfortable with.

Maybe she got the instructions reversed.

Den

yorkiemum01 · Post by **yorkiemum01** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:55 pm

Ut ohhhhhhhhh...after reading this think I screwed up.
I have 2 tanks for my humidifier, and been using a teaspoon
of bleach once a month, with a good rinse......is that taboo???

tashabear · Post by **tashabear** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:22 pm

yorkiemum01 wrote:Ut ohhhhhhhhh...after reading this think I screwed up.
I have 2 tanks for my humidifier, and been using a teaspoon
of bleach once a month, with a good rinse......is that taboo???

I wouldn't use bleach; I'd be afraid it would etch the plastic. White vinegar is a GREAT cleaner for all sorts of applications, and a gallon of it is wicked cheap. Rinse well, and you'll smell nothing.

Cleaning water tank

Cleaning water tank

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Re: Cleaning water tank