soap and warm water... is it enough?

[Izabela]

I know manufacturers recommend to clean CPAP equipment with just soap and warm water. It seems like many folks have resorted to using other methods like germicides and even straight up alcohol.

I know there are lots of ways of getting the job done. But what are your feelings about the recommended simple soap and water method? Do you use that method, and do you personally feel it's effective enough?

Mostly just looking for opinions.

[Barely Awake]

My routine for seven years has been a daily mask wash with warm water and washing up liquid rinsed with cold water, the hose now gets the same daily (where I used to do this weekly), and the mask headgear gets washed similarly once a week. This is all left hanging in the airing cupboard to dry.
Also weekly the machine gets a dusting with a 2 inch paintbrush and the chunky filter gets a reverse finger flicking (do it in sunlight and see what comes out of it - yuk!).

Have also decided to change hoses every two years now.

[symmit]

I was for a while quite obsessed with cleaning my rig, but now the sleepweaver mask gets a clean every couple of days, the Quattro FX after every use (it's very sensitive to grease). The hose and water reservoir get cleaned every month ish, I use Milton (baby equipment sterilising tablets) - makes them smell a bit the next time you use them but it makes me feel like I'm doing something more than just soapy water. Seems to get the limescale off the humidifier easily too.

Filter gets cleaned whenever it reminds me and changed when it stops looking clean after cleaning (if you get what I mean)

[Fredxx]

My mask and headgear get a wash every couple of weeks, but the bits in contact with my face get a wipe with a Tesco Sensitive wipe most nights. I've been doing it that way for years and not had a problem.

For those thinking it seems a long time between washing the headgear or the bulk of the mask, ask yourself a question... how often do you wash your pillow or bedding? similar sort of contact and exposure!

[Grumpy]

Daily wipes and a good clean now and then

Same as FredXXX; Tesco Sensitive Wipes every day; more thorough cleaning when I get round to it using soap water and a weak sterilising solution.
Supermarket own brand sterilising liquid is just as good as Milton and about half the price.

[Izabela]

thanks all, for your replies

[Fredxx]

One further thing to consider is the nature of the material that makes up the hovercraft cushion seal; this can be damaged with solvents. I don't know what damage Alcohol or Milton sterilization solution will have on that; probably worth some more research if you want to go down that route.

[Alan R]

I've only received my mask last week and the consultant, when asked, said that it's unwise to use Milton fluid as it can accelerate the hardening of the mask (cushion seal). She recommended mild soap and warm water only.

[Astralquest]

I wash my mask with blue carex antibacterial handwash every day or two. I don't use the sensitive versions as i recon the extra additives will probably damage the mask. I know they say don't use anti bacterial soap but I am not sold on some of the stuff on the market. There are those citrus wipes that probably contain citrus oils and a few other products that contain essential oils like that Dr bronners soap. As far as I am aware citrus oil and any essential oil can have a detrimental effect on soft plastics. So far I have never had a mask go hard using the soap I use. If anyone knows of a soap that can clean my mask just as well and is super safe I would love to know. The manufacturer usually recommends warm soapy water to clean the equipment but never specifies what brands are safe to use.

I am such a lazy bugger when it comes to washing the headgear and hoses. Getting the motivation alone is a chore so I usually just take them in the shower with me once every week or so. I wash them with shower gel, rinse thoroughly and hang them over the shower rail to dry. I guess any soap is better than no soap, right? I plan on getting myself one of those tube brushes soon so I can do a better job.

[Tigers Fan]

Think of soap as a generic name for a compound for cleaning. As soon as you start thinking brand names, you are into additives and would get 'soap plus stuff''.

Another way is to think of "pure soap" - but go into a store and ask for that, you'll be greeted with blank looks!

What then, is a gentle soap, least likely to damage sensitive mask materials? I settled for baby products - but they can be chock-a-block with additives, too!

Resmed recommend washing-up liquid, but not citrus.

So I reckon it comes down to the strength of the solution you use - enough 'soap' to clean but not so much as to chemically attack the mask.

Everyone has their own method and 99% of them work without detriment.

TF

[Astralquest]

Still, it would be nice for the manufacturer to state which additives are to be avoided. Warm soapy water is a little vague when even the so called gentlest products could contain additives that attack soft plastics.

[martin]

All the following info is subject to change depending on mood but humidifier chamber once a week with milton fluid or something similar, all other parts except head straps about twice a week, unless garlic has been eaten, headgear hung to air out but not washed, sleepweaver mask once a week. Soap used, all those shampoos taken from hotels in the last 20 years that i never knew what the heck to do with are finally coming in useful so i get hints of assorted fruits combined with a dab of olbas near the intake air vent. Always well diluted, my breathing is never as bad as my feet so i dont want to muck up the plastic bits and so far so good.

[acebass]

I have been using fairy liquid (the normal dark green one) for 7 years without incident. Just a few of drops under running water, then fill to about half a bathroom sink full of water gets the grease off the mask and doesn't damage the cushion.

I wash the mask daily and leave to dry naturally.
I wash the headgear and hose weekly and leave to dry naturally (and have spare headgear in case it does not dry in time.
I check the machine filter monthly.

If I do not have time for washing the mask or I am away from home, then Alcohol free wipes are good(I use green packet "Simple"). Alternatively the Citrus wipes from Intus are very good too.

As for olbas, the Sleep Nurses at the SATADay Conference recommend that it is only used when you have a cold, and then only a drop or two on a tissue or cotton pad near then machine. It is very strong and can damage the lining in the nasal passages. Nothing except for water should ever go in the humidifer.