How to Clean CPAP, Mask & Accessories?

[JackTheSnorer]

[*]Clean your mask/water tank every night (I’m a little obsessive over this) [*]Clean and replace your water in your humidifier daily, try and avoid tap water[/list]

What do you use to clean with?

[fromtheboro]

I use liquid soap and warm water. The antibacterial stuff in the squirty pumps is the best for this, once clean rinse with a little distilled or sterile water and fill up the humidifier. Once in a while i stick it in the dishwasher to cleanse it compleatly and then i rinse to get rid of any cleaning products.

Now with the mask again i use a little liquid soap, dont use very hot water as this can make the rubber brittle.

Be careful of hard water areas if your using tap water as continual use will leave salt deposits within the heated humidifier chamber. Even though i have a water softener in my house i have to clean deposits from the base every month or so, the dishwasher usually gets rid of it. I do have a suspiciion that this is one of the causes of my high blood pressure, hasnt been confirmed by any medical professional, but long term (2/3 yrs) inhilation of high salt/mineral content water my have contributed to this.

As a side note, I have overstocked on sterile water so i'm going to post it in the accessories forum so look out for this if your interested.

[DozyDaisy]

Cleaning

I am a newbie, but my consultant's advice is to use just tepid water and a tiny drop of washing up liquid to clean the hose, filter, mask and head thingy, and to rinse them very thoroughly with tepid tap water. And then once a week - or whenever necessary - soak the metal plate from the humidifier in water and white vinegar (10 parts to 1) until any deposits have gone, then rinse well in warm tap water. Anything else is forbidden - and anti-bacterial agents are especially mentioned as being not allowed.

I use Surcare washing up liquid.

Kind regards

Daisy

[puffin]

My tech team just told me to use either washing up liquid or shampoo weekly with hot water not boiling, followed by daily wipe downs with baby wipes.

[fromtheboro]

Reply to Daisy ..

I had a chat with my wife over your consultants’ advice over the washing up liquid and she said that as a Sister nobody on wards or in the community has ever been advised to use washing up liquid for cleaning equipment. She said that it is too caustic for the cleaning, it’s ok for cutlery and dishes but may corrode any plastics or rubber over time and also the fact that you may not be able to clean all the residue from the equipment. The comment over the anti-bacterial, she advised that any additional help to combat infection or assisting cleansing is a benefit, remember that nurses that handle this type of equipment on a daily basis frequently use antibacterial handwash. The humidifier chamber I use is designed specifically for dishwashers, but the water/vinegar combination works well. Don’t use anything like calgon to remove deposits. Remember at the end of the day you breathe in anything residues that are left in the chamber!

Now saying that, if your happy with your consultants advice then stick with it, my advice is from personal experience and helps me, each persons experience will be different.

My cleaning routine gives me the confidence my machine will work properly and with that at the back of my mind, I sleep better.... It all helps

[DozyDaisy]

Cleaning

Hello fromtheboro,

Sometimes I think we are just part of some big experiment and that there are as many opinions as there are doctors!

I was sufficiently worried about the recommendation from your wife that I re-read the instructions I was given. The relevant bits are:"The mask cushion should be wiped daily with a damp cloth and mild soapy water, using plain washing up liquid (no perfumes or anti-bacterial agents) . And Weekly - "The mask system......Wash in soapy water using plain washing up liquid(no perfumes or antibacterial agents), a clean soft toothbrush can be used to get into crevices " etc. It is recommended that the water in the humidifier is changed everyday, that it be rinsed out, and that once a week - or more if necessary - it is soaked in dilute white vinegar and then washed very well in tepid water.

Maybe the reason for not using antibacterials is part of the general worry about over-use of antibiotics, anti-nit preparations etc. ie resistance can be developed by the bugs - whether viral, bacterial, or insectal (is that a word?). I am not a health professional, so I have no medical knowledge to back this up.

Sleep well

Daisy

[fromtheboro]

Daisy,

Don’t let this concern you too much, my advice is from personal experience and what my wife has told me to do. If you are happy with what you are doing carry on doing the same.

As I said the CPAP experience is different from person to person. That’s the whole point of forums like this, you read the posting, decide what your relevant or not, useful or not and make up your own mind.

I’m glad we can all have discussions like this as it gives very different viewpoints for others to understand too.

[SteveP]

I don't want to set fire again, but...

I think there is a big difference between the cleaning needs for medical equipement in hospital environments and the that of CPAP kits that we use. For starters the range of bugs (bacteria and viruses) found in an hospital goes from not-so-nasty to very-deadly.

My bedroom (and that of most decent CPAP users) is pretty clean, maybe dusty at times... But after wiping the top of my bedside table, I wouldn't be afraid of touching it with my tongue sort-of-speak. I feel that using very gentle cleaning products for my CPAP kit is sufficient. I don't see the need for anti-bacterial stuff, etc. It's a bit like my toothbrush: I don't feel I need to disinfect it every now and then. As long as the cleaning product doesn't cause damages to the CPAP kit, all should be OK. The "anti-bacterial handwash" surely contains some sort of alcohol that is unsafe for rubber and plastics.

I would love to hear from long-term CPAP users who would have caught nasty stuff from using their CPAP kit. The air that we breath everyday in cities and office environments is much more dangerous to us than the air coming out of our CPAP mask I think. I have a friend who cycles 4 miles to work everyday. He wears a sort of tissue mask over his nose and his mouth. The change in the colour of the mask after a single journey speaks for itself...

Again long-term users can probably tell us what they use for cleaning and what to avoid from their experience.

Can we mention specific brand names, etc. in this forum?

All the best,

SteveP

[fromtheboro]

For the past 4 years I have cleaned the hoses, mask and filters with Carex handwash (anti-bacterial)

[Joe McManus]

I don't want to set fire again, but...

Very sound reasoning. Hospitals have a responsibility to keep the environment squeaky clean because they are liable. You can live in a pig's nest if you feel comfortable in it, you only have a responsibility towards yourself (and wife and kids).

Again long-term users can probably tell us what they use for cleaning and what to avoid from their experience.

Aloe vera and tea trea are also effect, non-corrosive disinfectants.

Can we mention specific brand names, etc. in this forum?

Yes, by all means. Names, links etc. this is as uncensored as it gets. Information should be free, both in the meaning of 'free beer' and 'freedom'. That's what sharing user info is all about.

I'll probably break this cleaning talk into a new thread as it's very valuable.

[puffin]

Thats probably a good idea Joe as there is at least two treads running that the moment.

[DozyDaisy]

I don't want to set fire again, but...

after wiping the top of my bedside table, I wouldn't be afraid of touching it with my tongue sort-of-speak.

I have nothing sensible to add to this thread (except to say I will continue to follow my consultant's advice). But the image conjured up of someone in full-mask and machine mode licking their bedside table was too much for me! Thanks for the giggle SteveP!!

Happy Christmas

Daisy

[SteveP]

...the image conjured up of someone in full-mask and machine mode licking their bedside table was too much for me! Thanks for the giggle SteveP!!
Daisy

If you ask nicely, I will read the other posts about how to attach photos to my message and post a photo in this forum!


Happy Xmas all !

SteveP
P.S. Joe, it looks like DozyDaisy has just started a 3rd thread

[Joe McManus]

What do you use to clean with?

I quickly snapped up this Citrus II CPAP cleaner in the hope it would settle the debate once and for all. Took delivery yesterday so had a chance to use it pre and post mask usage as well giving the machine and hose a good cleanse.

In this type of setting it's hard for me to tell whether it indeed killed all the e.coli, MRSA, cholera, HIV, rabies and hepatitis bugs I have flying around the house but I can tell you this. It beats the smell of white vinegar and Fairy washing up liquid. It also seems to work out cheaper (and I assume more effective) than Ecover. You can tell it's made for equipment that will sit near your nose instead of for the table top or plates. It's not a strong scent, which is good, but refreshing nontheless.

Time will tell what effect it has on mask plastic etc. but it can't be worse than synthetical stuff. Wipes are easy to use and I used the spray to clean the hose. Sprayed it straight in + diluted some in water in the bath, then filled the hose with the water and gave it a good shake before rinsing it off with fresh water. Leave it to dry and off you go.

Not sure yet how long the spray will last. I'll try and keep tabs on it for a 'cost per night' type of idea.

[puffin]

I looked at the cleaning products, had second thoughts as cost seems a bit high to me, then I'm a skin flint. I will wait for the report Joe.