I am now in my second week using the Resmed AirSense 10 C-PAP machine, and after a bit of a rocky start, am now beginning to settle in nicely. My question for you other C-PAP users is, how do you clean your equipment? How often, and by which means? I realized immediately after the first use that the need for daily manual cleaning of the mask, hoses and humidifier chamber were going to be a real pain the the tush, and quite likely result in subverting my desire to remain compliant. So I quickly purchased a not inexpensive machine designed to easily disinfect C-PAP equipment using super- oxygenated air (ozone, from what I understand). It’s called SoClean2, and I’ve read a lot of good reviews, but also read some rather dubious ones. I recently found out that it’s not supposed to eliminate the need for manual cleanings with soap and water, but rather to “supplement” such cleanings. Now, I’m not sure how often I should do a soap and water cleaning. Do any of you have such a machine, or one like it? If so, how’s it working for you? If you only clean with soap and water, what’s your routine?
I harbor a bit of paranoia about all the germs, mold spores, etc. that can build up inside C-PAP equipment and result in serious respiratory illnesses from not cleaning often enough, or thoroughly enough. Has anyone gotten sick from their C-PAP?
I’d give a a call to the company who supplied your cpap machine. They’re supposed to be providing you with instructions and support. That’s all part of the monthly fee associated with the cpap.
This is not meant to be advice on how you should care for your cpap, poetsheart, but it may provide some reassurance. Dh has used a cpap for well over a decade. He hasn’t had a monthly fee since the first year, once we discovered it was cheaper for us to buy a cpap online vs. rent one from a medical supply company (including factoring in ins. benefits.) Our ins. will cover a new machine every two years and I remind him to replace on that schedule.
I bought dh the SoClean machine but he frequently forgets to use it. He has some cotton mask wipes that he now uses daily, but he only cleans the hose when I bug him about it, so maybe once a week at best. His travel cpap gets cleaned when he thinks of it, which isn’t very often. He does not have a humidifier on his cpap because it’s rare for the RH in our home to fall so low that he feels a need. For a few weeks in the winter, or when he travels in winter, he just drinks more water at night. Those humidifiers seem to be the source of most mold problems in the equipment.
I’ve always been more concerned about cleaning than dh, and became fanatic about it when one of our kid’s immune systems became severely compromised. Mold holds a particular horror for me and we live in a humid climate. When we moved into our current home, I had AccuClean media filter systems and UV lights installed on our HVACs. During the shoulder seasons when the temp is too low for our A/C to run enough to dehumidify to 40 - 45%, I run portable dehumidifiers. The reason I’m explaining all that is the possibility it might contribute to dh’s ability to get away with his very lax cleaning of his cpap equipment. Dh gets a cold or other respiratory illness about once every 3 years, and that’s usually after flying on a plane with other sick people.
As far as we know, dh has never become sick from his infrequently cleaned cpap. That machine saved his life, my sanity and our marriage. Seriously. Before his sleep study, I felt close to sleep deprivation psychosis and he dozed off driving home from work one evening, despite taking a nap after lunch each day. The sound of the equipment bugs me a little, but playing soft music for an hour at bedtime while we fall asleep takes care of that issue.
You may want to check out cpapman.com and cpaptalk.com for more information and support. Good luck!
What silpat wrote could have been written about my DH and family, including the saving our marriage part.
DH cleans his mask too infrequently for me, his wife, the microbiologist. Yet seems to suffer no ill effects.
He does not use a humidifier function, not sure if that helps prevent the mold spore thing.
He runs his mask and hoses through the dishwasher maybe once every two weeks, top shelf.
I’d be more diligent if it were me using a cpap but I choose not to be in charge of his stuff as much as possible!
Happydad (the PhD Biochemist) hangs the tube up to drip dry every day, and washes the mask and tubing occasionally. I don’t even know if he’s doing that every week. He even tips the remaining water from the humidifier chamber back into the container of distilled water in the morning, and then re-uses the water later.
I’m sure the training team would be shocked, but it is what it is. He’s had no problems with the machine yet.
I wash my stuff when I think of it which means rarely. I have a dish pan used only for that purpose and use mild dish washing detergent (ivory) or pure soap. Do not use alcohol or antibacterial soaps as it can effect the silicon. I soak it while I am in the shower and then rinse well. I hang the hose to dry.
I do not put the distiller water back in the jug - I just top off the tank
I got a free container of mask wipes a year ago when I ordered mask parts online for my husband. The container is still almost full.
I was told to use either a mild dish detergent such as Ivory Liquid or a baby shampoo. The idea is to not use harsh cleaners on the silicone and other plastic. Once per week I was to soak everything in a vinegar solution (1 part to 3 parts water) for an hour. Also- definitely rinse off the soap. Daily cleaning of the nasal mask- it contacts all of your germs.
The reality. Physician here. When I lived up north I used water (distilled of course- no minerals to dry on parts) in the humidifier and emptied and cleaned both the nasal part and the water container every day. Took things apart to dry as well. I cleaned the cloth that I used around the face parts less often and the rest of the headgear as well. Current routine is to not put water in the humidifier (but I keep it attached to my Res Med because it seems to work better for me). I put a little Ivory liquid on a hand, foam it with my hands and clean the nose part then rinse. Every so often I clean the rest of the headgear with the Ivory liquid. Rarely use vinegar (good for soap scum- one reason likely recommended). I also more often ignore the change filter message because we have a very dust free house.
Never even considered renting the machine. Check with the respiratory therapist who would have been the person to set you up initially. Important considerations are cleaning to avoid germs that cause infection and to do so in a manner that prolongs the equipment life. Water supports various infectious agents such as bacteria and fungi/molds… Hence the need to drain humidifiers and let them dry out daily. Since I do not add water to my system anymore (in enough humidity here in Florida and haven’t suffered on vacations I don’t suffer from dried out airways- you could be different) I think about the fact that the pressure flows away from the system and is not getting my nose germs past the nasal piece. Practicality. Spending too much time with this makes it more of a burden added to daily routines.
Dh has had one for years…He uses distilled water. He cleans his every morning. He even takes a little bottle of soap with him to clean it when he travels over night for work. I know that after he cleans the hose part he whips it around in the air to get water out of it before he hangs it up to dry. I don’t think he knows he could put the mask and hose in the dishwasher… I have looked at that SoClean and have considered purchasing it for him.
I’ve had my machine for almost 6 years. I receive new tubing and masks every 6 months. I use either hot tap water in my humidifier (I love warm air) or filtered water from the refrigerator. I haven’t used distilled water in about 6 years. I use a heated hose, so it is completely dry after use. Unless I have a cold, which is once every 2 years, I don’t clean my mask. I am really bad about that. To be honest, I may clean it once within the 6 months. I would love to clean it more, but just haven’t found any ill effects from not cleaning daily.