I've been using for two weeks now with very few problems, thank goodness. I am curious, however about how faithful you must be about cleaning this gear.  After washing my nose pillows once, I didn't seem to get the same fit which was very discouraging. I also have not cleaned my humidifier jar, nor the tubing. How does one clean that long hose? I don't seem to have a condensation problem and do hang the tubing up every day just in case. I'd be interested in knowing real-life cleaning routines of vets on this forum. Thanks for the tips.

I've been using CPAP for over a year and I may have cleaned the mask or humidifier twice in that time. I use purified water in the humidifier and just let it dry out once a week or so but never actually wash it (I did wash it last week and I'm pretty sure that was the first time). The mask/pillows are replaced under insurance every three or four months along with the hose. I think it just depends on your comfort level and/or environment. I hang my mask and hose up in the closet each morning and just don't feel it's necessary to constantly clean this stuff, it's bad enough I have to wear it every night. Other people though, will tell you they clean everything everyday.

I was told by the medical supply place that I got my full mask and equipment to use distilled water - empty daily - and then use white vinegar to clean the humidifier tank and hose. I use the vinegar then I rinse, rinse, rinse with hot water. I also use a little bit of vinegar on the hard plastic part of my mask then they told me to use baby shampoo to clean the soft pliable parts of my mask. After washing the host I hang it over the shower stall and leave the rest out. I try to do it in the morning so there's no vinegar smell left... just in case and so they can dry. So far it works very well - vinegar is cheap and baby shampoo lasts forever.

kgoose wrote:

I've been using for two weeks now with very few problems, thank goodness. I am curious, however about how faithful you must be about cleaning this gear.  After washing my nose pillows once, I didn't seem to get the same fit which was very discouraging. I also have not cleaned my humidifier jar, nor the tubing. How does one clean that long hose? I don't seem to have a condensation problem and do hang the tubing up every day just in case. I'd be interested in knowing real-life cleaning routines of vets on this forum. Thanks for the tips.

Ooooh I'm so glad to see this question.  I will be on CPAP for two weeks tomorrow.  I have yet to do a cleaning.  My humidifier has gone dry twice with the heat on.  The person from the DME said the cleaning of the humidifier was needed to get any bacteria growing....well I figure I fried it.  LOL  and it is so dry here I have it set on 5 the highest setting and I barely get condensation in the chamber let alone the hose.  As for the mask, it is clear (fullface) so I would see anything gross.  I do plan on giving the filters a rinse soon because we have terrific winds here and this is a leaky old house.  I figure lots of dust could be in those filters.  I can't wait to hear some long time users input.


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Hoax~Slayer Forums

Mask cushion- the part that comes in contact with your skin- needs cleaning more often to keep a better seal. The oils from our skin wreck havoc on the silicone cushions...besides, who wants to put a dirty mask on their face? Cushion should be cleaned several times a week, if not nightly, depending on your skin type & mask type. You don't have to remove the cushion from the mask in most cases- just a quick wash & rinse or even a wipe with a disposable wipe that's compatible with silicone (no alcohol, oils, antibacterial or fragrances). The rest of the mask usually gets washed every few weeks, taking apart as little as possible (some of those masks have way too many little parts to figure out where they go, especially at bedtime). Headgear depends on which mask I'm using and how much contact it has with my face- if there are straps that touch my face, I wash it more often.

My hoses get washed every couple months. Humidifier always gets distilled water, unless I'm traveling, then it may get available bottled water, but always gets a good cleaning when I get home. I use to have an F&P one piece humidifier container, but now I have a ResMed one that opens up...but I'm cautious about taking it apart to clean too often, so I've just rinsed it with vinegar water a couple times.

All of my stuff gets a good cleaning before I use it the first time- 'new car' smell is one thing, 'new mask' & 'new hose' aren't quite as enjoyable.

JeanInMontana wrote:

My humidifier has gone dry twice with the heat on.  ...  and it is so dry here I have it set on 5 the highest setting and I barely get condensation in the chamber let alone the hose.  

Jean- Which HH are you using? Are you filling it to the full line every night? Unless you're sleeping 10-12+ hours, it almost sounds like you are having mask leaks that causing you to go through so much water some nights.

christine wrote:

Mask cushion- the part that comes in contact with your skin- needs cleaning more often to keep a better seal. The oils from our skin wreck havoc on the silicone cushions...besides, who wants to put a dirty mask on their face? Cushion should be cleaned several times a week, if not nightly, depending on your skin type & mask type. You don't have to remove the cushion from the mask in most cases- just a quick wash & rinse or even a wipe with a disposable wipe that's compatible with silicone (no alcohol, oils, antibacterial or fragrances).

It's a good thing to wash anything that comes in contact with one's face regularly.  Otherwise you can end up with break outs or clogged pores...

My two cents

Trish

PS: Where do you get wipes that are compatible with silicone?

JeanInMontana wrote:

kgoose wrote:

I've been using for two weeks now with very few problems, thank goodness. I am curious, however about how faithful you must be about cleaning this gear.  After washing my nose pillows once, I didn't seem to get the same fit which was very discouraging. I also have not cleaned my humidifier jar, nor the tubing. How does one clean that long hose? I don't seem to have a condensation problem and do hang the tubing up every day just in case. I'd be interested in knowing real-life cleaning routines of vets on this forum. Thanks for the tips.

Ooooh I'm so glad to see this question.  I will be on CPAP for two weeks tomorrow.  I have yet to do a cleaning.  My humidifier has gone dry twice with the heat on.  The person from the DME said the cleaning of the humidifier was needed to get any bacteria growing....well I figure I fried it.  LOL  and it is so dry here I have it set on 5 the highest setting and I barely get condensation in the chamber let alone the hose.  As for the mask, it is clear (fullface) so I would see anything gross.  I do plan on giving the filters a rinse soon because we have terrific winds here and this is a leaky old house.  I figure lots of dust could be in those filters.  I can't wait to hear some long time users input.

Hi JeanInMontana,
I'm in Northwestern Wyoming.. same thing. Very dry. We may be in Billings shortly but I'm sure I won't need new settings... only 90 miles away. I've run mine dry too but it was fine. Some days I get condensation but all other times there's none. I thought my filters would be terrible because we live in the country and always have dust but they weren't bad so I don't clean them as often. *joy*.

christine wrote:

JeanInMontana wrote:

My humidifier has gone dry twice with the heat on.  ...  and it is so dry here I have it set on 5 the highest setting and I barely get condensation in the chamber let alone the hose.  

Jean- Which HH are you using? Are you filling it to the full line every night? Unless you're sleeping 10-12+ hours, it almost sounds like you are having mask leaks that causing you to go through so much water some nights.

Yes I fill it full every night even a little over the line, it is a RemStar Pro2 machine.  I have had some leaks but I think it is just that dry here.  I haven't had any nights more than 10 hrs.  

LyndsyJ wrote:

Hi JeanInMontana,
I'm in Northwestern Wyoming.. same thing. Very dry. We may be in Billings shortly but I'm sure I won't need new settings... only 90 miles away. I've run mine dry too but it was fine. Some days I get condensation but all other times there's none. I thought my filters would be terrible because we live in the country and always have dust but they weren't bad so I don't clean them as often. *joy*.

Lyndsy, you must be in Powell or Cody....LOL  I grew up outside Red Lodge on a ranch and live in Livingston now.  Billings isn't any more humid this time of year.  In summer you might have to turn down some it gets muggy.


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Hoax~Slayer Forums

I get a lot of leaks unless I was the soft pliable part of the mask every day with Neutrogena liquid.


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ResMed S8 Escape System with ResMed HumidAire 3i with EPR
ResMed Ultra Mirage full face mask
Pressure: 15

Thanks all of you for your responses - I'm checking my equipment tonight to make sure all is well. In Chicago, where we've had juicy weather for weeks now, my water is lasting a long time. I also have rosacea so was concerned about whether this mask would bother my skin, so far no problems.  Appreciate all the responses from out west - isn't this fun??

I wash my hose and the hard parts of the mask each week. Just soak them in warm water and maybe a half cup of vinegar. I let it soak for a bit, then rinse it out and hang to dry. I have to wipe my cushion daily and aI have to make sure that my face is cleaned before usising it, It does make a better seal. I change the filters maybe about once a month. I check them on  a weekly basis. I usually know when to change them because my throat starts getting sore.

We can't see the bacteria but it grows in warm moist places and I don't want to take chances on getting a sinus infection.

I do rinse my oral mask every day. I empty out my humidifier every morning. Once a week I soak all of my equipment in Johnsons baby wash. After soaking for about 30 minutes I then soak my equipment  in 1 part distilled vinegar and 2 parts water for 30 minutes. I slosh the same mixture in my hose once a month.Been doing this for little over a year and euipment seems to be in very good shape!


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EVERY SILVER LINING HAS A TOUCH OF GREY
-Grateful Dead

I've had the CPAP for about 2 months now and the cleaning is getting less and less frequent. I probably should give it a good cleaning this weekend.

Jean-

I haven't used a RemStar integrated HH personally, but it should be able to make it through the night at 5/highest setting without running dry, unless there are some major leaks. You may not even be aware of the leaks- most people aren't unless they wake up with an extremely dry mouth or they have a bed partner who complains. I used an F&P 150 HH with my Synchrony BiPAP ST for 3 years and I could tell nights I had leak problems by how much water I used- if it was almost all gone, then something was wrong. An F&P will put out a lot more moisture, as it heats up more then any of the integrated HH do and it doesn't have that big of a water chamber either. I can't think of more then once or twice in 3 years use that it went totally dry; if it went really low it was because I forgot to fill it or I was sleeping way too long (normal night was around 10 hrs, long night might be 12+ hrs).

Now with the integrated ResMed HH with my VPAP Adapt, I use it at 4-6 out of 6, depending on mask used, but still doesn't run out of water. It does end up using most of whatever water is left in humidifier chamber during the day, since the machine blows a small stream of air constantly as long as it has power plugged in. There isn't any heat from the humidifier during the day, but the constant air flow going across the water is enough to cause it to evaporate, much like many household humidifiers that have wicks & fans do- if I take the humidifier chamber off my VPAP, I don't lose any water. Your HH doesn't care what the humidity is in the air, so the difference in room humidity wouldn't affect water use that much; temperature can affect humidity levels, but there shouldn't that drastic of difference from night to night. As for humidity, most years I put off setting up my household humidifier as long as possible after the weather turns cold, which is stupid with forced air heat. This year our humidity level was below 20% when I finally got around to it and neither of us noticed a change in how much water our HH use, nor did it change when we finally got the humidity level over 35-40% (which is much more comfortable, btw).