Mask Cleaning by the Book!

[QuietMan]

Wish I had the time to do all this cleaning that seems to be required but the truth is I wash the mask and tube once a week in good old fairy liquid, rinse in warm water and air dry. Seems to work fine.

As yet I don't have problems with spots, rashes or anything else and the hospital have informed me that I will get two masks a year.

I was told in Sleep Clinic to wash the gear once a week so I'm going to do so Saturday mornings.

CAn I use: Fairy liquid to was hose and mask components?
Steri wipes to wipe mask every morning (alcohol based I think)?
Should I get Boots antiseptic wipes or baby wipes?

Thanks for your help. This site is great. Quietman

[Tigers Fan]

Hi quietman

Most important is to wash oils and greases from your face before donning your mask each night.

Wash the headgear in a mild detergent (wash-up) solution to prevent oil build-up and wash the mask and cushion in something very soft - I use baby shampoo - so you don't damage the materials. I use the same baby shampoo solution to wash my hose inside and out. That's a Sunday morning job for me.

TF

[Sparticus]

Hi quietman

Most important is to wash oils and greases from your face before donning your mask each night.

Wash the headgear in a mild detergent (wash-up) solution to prevent oil build-up and wash the mask and cushion in something very soft - I use baby shampoo - so you don't damage the materials. I use the same baby shampoo solution to wash my hose inside and out. That's a Sunday morning job for me.

TF

What kind of baby shampoo? is it no tears solution? Also is it just the cushion that should be done and the rest in anything? Also what about steralizing? Is the tablets still the best way to go or did you find that machine you was looking for, cheers

Spart.

Ps. Can we use a sterilizing unit that mums use for bottles or will this damage the mask and cushon? thanks again!

[Guest]

I was told in Sleep Clinic to wash the gear once a week so I'm going to do so Saturday mornings.

CAn I use: Fairy liquid to was hose and mask components?
Steri wipes to wipe mask every morning (alcohol based I think)?
Should I get Boots antiseptic wipes or baby wipes?

Thanks for your help. This site is great. Quietman

Hi quietman and sparticus, I've been using CPAP for 2 years now so I know my regime works but everyone is different and what works for one may not work for another. Every morning I wipe down my mask liner (which is the part that sits next to your face) with Cittrus CPAP mask wipes then I leave it to air dry. This removes any oil residue from the previous nights use and leaves the mask liner fresh for the night ahead. Once a week I fill my sink with hand hot water and a squirt of fairy liquid (I use the antibacterial one) and place everything in to soak for around 5 mins. This includes the plastic mask (all bits), mask liner and hose (making sure the hose is filled with the water from the sink). After soaking for 5 mins I then squirt a little fairy liquid onto the mask liner and rub over the liner using my fingers then soaking it in the water again for a minute or so, this will remove any further residue on the mask. I then remove everything, empty the sink and refill with hand hot water again and soak for another minute or so. I remove the hose and hang it over my shower head, everything else is left on a towel to air dry making sure the mask liner is ridge side down ie the part that touches your face is facing up the way. I wash the headgear separately again in fairy liquid and rinse well then place over a towel rail.

TF is right when he says that you need to ensure any oils and/or cream are removed from your face before putting your mask on as this helps your mask seal to your face and helps stop air leaking out. I use a facial wash which is non oily.

The tub of Cittrus CPAP mask wipes cost around £10 and you get approximately 62 wipes per tub so it should last you two months. I buy mine from Hope2sleep.co.uk and they also have a really good forum (hope2sleepguide.co.uk) which is worth a look for advice and information.

Hope this helps.

Armageddon....

[QuietMan]

Thanks all for the help. I bought a plastic box on Saturday, Baby Shanpoo and disinfectant wipes and a baby bottle brush. Cleaned the mask and hose in baby shampoo and left mask bits soaking in Steradent for 20 minutes. All seems ok but - the rubber (silicon) part of the mask seems looser since I washed it Sunday. Feels loose around the bridge of the nose but not actually leaking. I just get a cool breeze towards the eyes each side but not into the actual corner of the eye. I am afraid to fiddle with the mask but anyway but all seems ok once I settle down.

QM

PS: Is the "Add to Reputation" the same as a "Thank You" button on here?

[Fredxx]

the "looser" bit is probably just that the silicon is clean and dry, rather than having natural body oils on it like you get used to. It always feels a little different after a thorough clean, especially if it has been a while!

[Sparticus]

Thank You!

That sounds about right for me, got my stuff as well and seems a lot less mucking around that what I normally go through, thanks all for your help!

Spart.

[QuietMan]

the "looser" bit is probably just that the silicon is clean and dry, rather than having natural body oils on it like you get used to. It always feels a little different after a thorough clean, especially if it has been a while!

Well, I only had it 10 days when I washed it. Now it seems as though the outer edge of the silicon mask inflates like a hovercraft skirt without actuall leaking. Is that normal? Thanks all for the replies.

Poor night last night. I seem to have a cold and found it harder to breathe. De-masked sometime in the early morning. Only noticed at 7.15. slept on to 8 without it.

[Fredxx]

a hovercraft skirt without the leak is a pretty good description of the mask seal!

Yes, 10 days is plenty to be able to feel a difference, especially when it is the first time wash for a new mask. The important two questions are:
Is it leaking? - check whether you have re-seated the seal correctly onto the mask frame.
Is it comfortable? not too tight or sitting wrong.

The other thing to be aware of is that when you clean the headgear you have to readjust the straps looser again afterwards, and then tighten them again as they stretch.

[Fredxx]

...I seem to have a cold and found it harder to breathe...

The delights of the first cold on CPAP! not much fun. I am just getting through a stinker, and a chest infection to go with it.

For the runny nose - Otravine is great, but beware of the "bounce". because of the way it works, when it wears off it is usually worse than it was before you used it. Having said that, at the moment I use it 15 mins before I put the mask on, and is keeps the passages un-bunged for about 8-9 hours; enough for a nights sleep. I then don't use it again until it is time to go to bed again.

If it goes onto your chest, the extra effort of breathing against the CPAP doesn't help, especially if you are new to this when you muscles are just getting used to working harder anyway. The cure for that one...other than time, no idea! I was up with coughing fits about 4-5 times last night, but that is better than the last few days, so the end is in sight.

[Tigers Fan]

If you invest in a SinuPulse Elite and use it 'regularly' you can pretty much guarantee an end to colds and flu.

If used in conjunction with an annual flu jab the rating goes up to 'very much guarantee' an end to colds and flu.

However, how to deal with the one you have right now .........

TF

[goose64]

I'm awful at remembering to wash my mask - what will happen if I don't do if for while?

[Fredxx]

It gets mucky and smelly!
tends to leak more too

[QuietMan]

I seem to have a cold and found it harder to breathe..

In relation to washing the mask, I wash the gear every week. First fit after drying is always a trial and error but I have found that over the weeks I have relaxed a lot and can adjust away at the straps while in bed, even during the night.

On the cold issue, it seems to me that I am a lot more nasal and blocked up since starting the mask. I bought a nasal inhaler and, more recently, oil of Marjoram for the humidifier(it was toss up between eucalyptus and it). Anyway, was visiting the sis and bro in law last weekend and he noticed I was nasally/blocked up and had a bit of a nose bleed. On inquiry I explained that I thought it had something to do with CPAP gear. Then 'came out' as a CPAP'er as I had been thinking of doing anyway to them. He explained that when he scuba dives, the air pressure can cause nasal/sinus bleeding and temporary unpleasant 'runny nose' type symptoms. We then speculated that the air pressure of the CPAP could be causing a similar minor effect. I seem to continually have a blocked nose so it can't be a virus... QM

[Fredxx]

the "nasal inhaler" - if it is a steroid based one like Otravine, be careful with using it more than a few days at a time. It is great for dealing with a cold, but can cause a "steroid bounce" of worse symptoms when you stop, and if you don't stop it can cause damage.

the Sinupulse is a good alternative if you can afford it