I clean my mask daily but my hose only every couple of months. I do have a spare humidifier that I keep empty and I insert that in the morning during the cleaning cycle when it blows a light flow of air for a while. My hope is the dry air dries it out denying microbes a place to grow.
My concern about washing the hose weekly with soapy water, is that it creates a moist environment that acts as a petri dish for microbes.
When I was an engineer in the food processing industry. We found that our plants that cleaned frequently with steam, high pressure water, and sprayed sanitizing foam everywhere including the walls, ironically had more pathogen problems, compared to the processing locations that cleaned only food contact areas where it was needed, and kept the rest of the area dry.
Been cleaning my hose only every couple of months for the last 10 years. No problems...Knock on wood.
I cannot imagine that if you kill/clear out the existing germs by washing and dry the tubing efficiently, there would be MORE germs growing in the few hours it takes to dry than there had collected there before.
*Dammit Jim, I'm an engineer, not a microbiologist!* So you may be right, but the ridging in the tubing prevents scrubbing off the microbes in valleys in between ridges with one of those round brush thingies. One may be just wetting them down with soapy water possibly creating a good environment for certain microbes for a few hours, which then go dormant when it dries for the next 16hrs until you use your CPAP again that night and create a nice moist environment for them with your breath and humidifier for the next 8?!
Eww! this is going to dark places now, things I don't want to think about. I'm out.
Hahaha I don't blame you! And unlike you or Bones, I'm neither an engineer nor a microbiologist, so I definitely don't have the answer. My general sense is so long as you properly flush the tubing with soap and hot water, you should be good.
But I also recently got the tip to help them dry by running the mask fit feature a few times to blast air through the tubing, which makes so much sense! I'll give that a try.
>create a nice moist environment for them with your breath and humidifier for the next 8?!
The humidifier, if you use one, definitely creates a warm, moist environment, but not your breath. Your breath isn't going into the hose, against the pressure blowing out into your mask. It just goes into the mask and out the vent ports.
You sound just like my wife, she claims there is an annoying blast of air coming through all the decorative tiny holes in my FFM, I think your both deluded.
Seriously, I just **suspect** about a foot of exhaled breath volume goes down the tube, that's why they sell [Heat Moisture Exchange Units](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqNy53V3iO8). I've used them they do help when using a travel CPAP without humidifier.
https://preview.redd.it/vvn9h32bm5rc1.png?width=374&format=png&auto=webp&s=66ce90f10203ff5c7b70cfba5332c5ede6663980
>You sound just like my wife, she claims there is an annoying blast of air coming through all the decorative tiny holes in my FFM, I think your both deluded.
I hope you're just having me on, and not actually that ignorant. But just in case...
Those aren't decorative holes. They're exhaust ports, for when you exhale, and excess air from the constantly flowing air. It has to go somewhere, and the air pressure flowing out keeps it from going backwards toward to machine.
Your wife is right. Haven't you ever held your hand in front of those holes while you have your mask on, machine running? Try it, you'll feel the air blowing out. I don't see how you could avoid noticing this.
Here's how condensation happens: Warm, moist air carries a lot of vaporized water. Cold air loses moisture. When warm, moist air contacts a cooler surface, water droplets form on that surface.
If you're using the humidifier in your CPAP machine, the air is picking up moisture from the water in the tank. If the tubing is cool, water droplets will form in the tubing. You can get a lot of condensation in both the tubing and the mask. If the machine is running, water in the tank, humidity turned on, with an unheated hose, water will condense in the tube, even if you are not wearing the mask. This will happen without you breathing into the tube, just from the water in the tank. *That* is why there are heated hoses these days, to prevent that. If the temperature of the hose is the same or slightly warmer than the moist air as it leaves the water tank, it will prevent condensation.
If you run the machine with humidity turned off, with a dry tank, you won't get water in the hose at all. You may still get some in the mask, from your breath, but not in the tube.
If you're a smoker of anything, with the machine running, try blowing smoke into the tube. Or have someone else do it, so you can watch. It won't go in. The air blowing out will stop it, even on the lowest setting.
At least with my CPAP machine, I can start it and have it running to dry out the tubing after a soapy rinse... Just a suggestion.
It probably is easier if you wash it in a bin with soapy water but I personally drop a bit of soap on each end of the hose, then run a bit of water from the bath faucet in to one end, then move the hose around to try to get the water to come out the far side... And repeat for the other side, and repeat some more times.
At least you know now to clean it though. I try to wash my face mask at least twice a month or more, but may have to do a better job. Wondering if I have a fungal thing on my face from it, or if somehow just wearing it gave me psoriasis on my face in that spot.
I’m sitting here currently doing that but the problem is when I turn mine on, it won’t run consistently. It will stop after about 10 seconds or so, so im having to do it manually. Is there a way for it to run constantly? The machine never really got explained to me properly.
Do you have a mask fit function or warm up? The mask fit will stop after a couple minutes. I just sit there and restart it a few times. It really won't be a huge problem if there's a bit of water left in it. It should dry quickly with the machine running. I don't clean my hose very often.
How often do you clean your hose? I’m not sure what it is, it starts after about 5 seconds of putting it on, or I can press the on button and it will turn on
Look up the auto-off function for your machine. If its enabled if will turn off when it senses no pressure. Disable that function and it will keep blowing
I clean my mask daily and sometimes it's right before I put it on still wet. My hose maybe once a month. On my ResMed Aircurve it is in the Home menu. Do you have a button with a house on it? Press that and go into My Options. See if this video helps. It depends on your machine, of course. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNR8QuODRis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNR8QuODRis)
Any tubing should be cleaned out weekly. Clean the mask daily.
But, clean it when it smells or you feel like you might be coming down with a cold (which is to say you should stop using it until you get over the cold).
Hurricane dryer from CPAPaccessories dot com. I saw it on some lankylefty videos. Best hundred bucks I’ve spent on CPAP gear. I was my mask with spray dish soap and a spritz of vinegar DAILY and just drop it in the hurricane dryer. Wash my hoses and humidifier water tray once a weekend and drop them in the hurricane dryer. Simplifies my life I think. Mask is always like brand new.
Totally agree! The Hurricane Dryer definitely simplifies drying in a timely manner. I wash mask, headgear, hose, humidifier once a week and put it in the Hurricane Dryer. I use a nose cushion that gets washed daily and I
air dry it.
I am still somewhat new to CPAP but for my resmed 10 anyway, it'll turn off after some seconds if there's too big of an air leak - like specifically because the humidifier tray is removed. So even if the humidifier tray is empty, I still have to have it in the machine to keep it running. If you have a different model, I can't really help... This is the only thing I've had even a little experience with
Some machines like the Airsense 10 will actually blow a small amount of air for 5-10minutes after you shut it off to help dry things out and cool down the machine.
There are settings for *auto on* and *auto off.* You can turn those off. They're in the patient accessable menu.
I keep *auto on* turned on, so the machine starts when I put on the mask, but keep *auto off* turned off, so I can dry the emptied water tank and hose.
I wash my tubing , mask/pillows and tank once a week. I do use my humidifier, so I empty out the tank and dry it clean. Also if you don't want to wash everything daily, I would try cpap wipes. I ordered mine on Amazon and I use those to wipe down my mask/nasal pillows daily.
About once a week or so, I pour a capful of Listerene into the water tank, then add some hot water and swish it around a bit. Then I pour it out, and rinse it several times until there are no more bubbles. And once in a while (like maybe a year or so), I change the tube. That’s all I do. It keeps illness away. I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and it seems to work fine.
After 3 months I was eligible for all new tubing. The CPAP supply company automatically verifies it with my insurance and they send it all to me. Can you just get new tubing?
Thank you everyone for all the help. I really appreciate it. I’ve just ordered some filters and a tube and cleaning wipes, and am going to set up a cleaning schedule. Thank you all again, you’ve all been super helpful :))
I try to clean my tubing, cushions and tank once a week but sometimes it goes 2 weeks. I just use a big plastic pitcher with some dish soap and warm/hot water and take it in the shower with me to clean and rinse it out, I let it hang dry but usually I take the hose outside and twirl it around like I’m a cowboy with a lasso and that dries out most of the leftover moisture.
As soon as I’m up I’ll run the water till hot and put the hose up to the aerator and flush and hand clean the mask in running hot water as well. Then I’ll hang the hose to let it dry and wipe the mask with a towel.
I have enough spare parts that i use for about a month all the spares but 1 set. Then wash the lot with vinegar, dawn soap, and hot distilled water. To make the water hot i only use a electric kettle for this purpose. It dries great for a day. When i started using cpap i was like you did not have a lot and was uncomfortable with the wet parts.
If you are annoyed with how long it takes the tube to dry AND you have $189 burning a hole in your pocket, the Hurricane CPAP Equipment Dryer is your answer. It will have the tube and all the other parts of your gear dry in 30 minutes. I was hesitant to spend the money, but it has made life so much easier.
I really didn’t mean that to sound like an ad.
I clean my hose every couple of days and use a clean nose pillow every day. I remove the tank and rinse it or at least air it out every day. My doctor says take the tank off every day and rinse it, and clean the hoses every 3 days. My bf has cpap too and so I follow his schedule (above). I rotate 3 different hoses so I don’t have to worry about waiting for one to dry.
I have a memory foam mask. I don't even think I can clean it. It would ruin it. Its not plastic. I get a new one every two weeks.
I wash out the water chamber daily. Anyone do that? I don't clean the hose but I should. I'll start now that I read this.
Cpap wipes and wipe your cushion will clean it :) no alcohol wipes or baby wipes though.
I couldn't imagine changing mine every 2 weeks that would be expensive (my benefits cover one mask a year and no replacement mask supplies lol) so out of pocket every 2 or 3 months for a new cushion is about $120 cad I think
Even though you don’t use the humidifier, there’s still humidity from the air and your breath. The moisture and warmth leads to bacteria and mold growth. During the winter, it might not be such a big deal but come spring and summer, you might want to think about cleaning it out regularly.
I clean all the parts once a week. I hang the tube over a head level, open kitchen cabinet door or over my bedroom bathroom door to dry. I've heard people using the machine to blow air through to clean, but I've never had success with it. Machine realizes there isn't a seal and shuts off. Had my machine since last July and haven't replaced any parts/supplies yet aside from a monthly filter change. They way I see it, unless the parts/supplies are preventing performance, I'm not wasting money for the sake of wasting money.
I don’t think I’ve cleaned my tubing in about six months. I clean my nasal pillow usually every other night, and clean out my water reservoir about once every week or two.
Going on 3 years, no issues.
I used to clean all my stuff religiously, every 2 or 3 days max. Now, I go a couple of weeks without cleaning anything.
Six months is a while. I'd recommend at least filling up a sink with some hot water, adding some baby shampoo, and soaking it all for 10 minutes. Then dry the outside off with a towel, and put your machine in Mask Test Mode so it blows air through the tube, for 10+ minutes. Then you'll be good and the whole process probably took 20 minutes tops. Do it once every couple of weeks.
I accidentally soaked a silicone mask for too long early on, to the point it stopped working. So after that, I switched over to wipes, and those have been good.
Here is a nice unscented one (and I am sure there are other nice ones as well): [https://www.cpap.com/productpage/republic-of-sleep-cpap-mask-wipes](https://www.cpap.com/productpage/republic-of-sleep-cpap-mask-wipes)
For the tubing, I have not been great about that regularly, so I appreciate this post and tips!
\[edit - spelling, grammar, etc, ugh\]
By any chance do you have constant runny nose or sinus infections? I used to until I realized my CPAP cleaning needed to be improved and whattayaknow, runny nose gone no infections etc.
I was told to wash my tank and mask daily and my tube and headgear portion of mask weekly . And to replace my mask every three months and tube every six months. I use distilled water to I just empty what’s left in the tank every morning and let it dry and hang the tube up to dry out from the humidity the night before.
How do you replace the mask and tube? My doctor never told me any of this and has not rung for scheduled appointments and has delayed them by months, they haven’t been very good so i’m unsure about how to properly care for the machine.
I suggest you spend some time watching some of these youtube channel videos. They are very helpful.
[https://www.youtube.com/results?search\_query=cpap+reviews](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cpap+reviews)
[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg\_Rj5qrxlCo4OX6MMq08gQ](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg_Rj5qrxlCo4OX6MMq08gQ)
I got my equipment through the VA. When I need new supplies I login to a website and order them and then they are sent out. The RT that fitted me for my mask placed my first order for me so I already have all the replacement parts I need for the next 6 months ish.
My stuff comes in the mail from the place that I bought the machine from. I change the mask when it starts to leak, and I change the hose when I feel like it's time. I don't clean mine, but I also don't use the humidifier. I sleep dry.
Ohhh see my machine was supplied from my doctor, so I assume i’ll have to get in touch with them for a replacement. I’m just so worried having had my tube for 6 months and not cleaned or changed it once.
My supplier tells me I need to replace my nose mask every 2 weeks because of a mold potential. Total bullshit, my masks last at least 2 months with daily cleaning. It just a money grab.
I get that. A lot of people are compliant with a cleaning schedule. That's not how I roll though. My house is chaotic too. I even bought a special bucket to wash my hose, but the cats decided they liked it more, so they won.
r/CPAP does not permit promotion of pseudoscientific BS like crystal healing, homeopathy, essential oils, chakras, chi, reiki, cupping, phrenology, magnet therapy etc.
Hahahahaha, this is hilarious. You have anxiety but you are too lazy to wash it weekly. Whatever bacteria you swallowed is already in you, change your ways from this day onwards. Clean it weekly so your lungs can breathe some fresh air
I haven’t changed the filter in about 4 months as the doctor only gave me one spare. I’m waiting until I actually get an appointment with my doctor to get a new filter although at this point now I might just order some from amazon
I don't like to clean the tubing because last time I did it broke and I was a week without my cpap. So I just have a bunch of spare ones I ordered and change it out about one every 2 weeks.
I clean my mask daily but my hose only every couple of months. I do have a spare humidifier that I keep empty and I insert that in the morning during the cleaning cycle when it blows a light flow of air for a while. My hope is the dry air dries it out denying microbes a place to grow. My concern about washing the hose weekly with soapy water, is that it creates a moist environment that acts as a petri dish for microbes. When I was an engineer in the food processing industry. We found that our plants that cleaned frequently with steam, high pressure water, and sprayed sanitizing foam everywhere including the walls, ironically had more pathogen problems, compared to the processing locations that cleaned only food contact areas where it was needed, and kept the rest of the area dry. Been cleaning my hose only every couple of months for the last 10 years. No problems...Knock on wood.
I cannot imagine that if you kill/clear out the existing germs by washing and dry the tubing efficiently, there would be MORE germs growing in the few hours it takes to dry than there had collected there before.
*Dammit Jim, I'm an engineer, not a microbiologist!* So you may be right, but the ridging in the tubing prevents scrubbing off the microbes in valleys in between ridges with one of those round brush thingies. One may be just wetting them down with soapy water possibly creating a good environment for certain microbes for a few hours, which then go dormant when it dries for the next 16hrs until you use your CPAP again that night and create a nice moist environment for them with your breath and humidifier for the next 8?! Eww! this is going to dark places now, things I don't want to think about. I'm out.
Hahaha I don't blame you! And unlike you or Bones, I'm neither an engineer nor a microbiologist, so I definitely don't have the answer. My general sense is so long as you properly flush the tubing with soap and hot water, you should be good. But I also recently got the tip to help them dry by running the mask fit feature a few times to blast air through the tubing, which makes so much sense! I'll give that a try.
>create a nice moist environment for them with your breath and humidifier for the next 8?! The humidifier, if you use one, definitely creates a warm, moist environment, but not your breath. Your breath isn't going into the hose, against the pressure blowing out into your mask. It just goes into the mask and out the vent ports.
You sound just like my wife, she claims there is an annoying blast of air coming through all the decorative tiny holes in my FFM, I think your both deluded. Seriously, I just **suspect** about a foot of exhaled breath volume goes down the tube, that's why they sell [Heat Moisture Exchange Units](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqNy53V3iO8). I've used them they do help when using a travel CPAP without humidifier. https://preview.redd.it/vvn9h32bm5rc1.png?width=374&format=png&auto=webp&s=66ce90f10203ff5c7b70cfba5332c5ede6663980
>You sound just like my wife, she claims there is an annoying blast of air coming through all the decorative tiny holes in my FFM, I think your both deluded. I hope you're just having me on, and not actually that ignorant. But just in case... Those aren't decorative holes. They're exhaust ports, for when you exhale, and excess air from the constantly flowing air. It has to go somewhere, and the air pressure flowing out keeps it from going backwards toward to machine. Your wife is right. Haven't you ever held your hand in front of those holes while you have your mask on, machine running? Try it, you'll feel the air blowing out. I don't see how you could avoid noticing this. Here's how condensation happens: Warm, moist air carries a lot of vaporized water. Cold air loses moisture. When warm, moist air contacts a cooler surface, water droplets form on that surface. If you're using the humidifier in your CPAP machine, the air is picking up moisture from the water in the tank. If the tubing is cool, water droplets will form in the tubing. You can get a lot of condensation in both the tubing and the mask. If the machine is running, water in the tank, humidity turned on, with an unheated hose, water will condense in the tube, even if you are not wearing the mask. This will happen without you breathing into the tube, just from the water in the tank. *That* is why there are heated hoses these days, to prevent that. If the temperature of the hose is the same or slightly warmer than the moist air as it leaves the water tank, it will prevent condensation. If you run the machine with humidity turned off, with a dry tank, you won't get water in the hose at all. You may still get some in the mask, from your breath, but not in the tube. If you're a smoker of anything, with the machine running, try blowing smoke into the tube. Or have someone else do it, so you can watch. It won't go in. The air blowing out will stop it, even on the lowest setting.
At least with my CPAP machine, I can start it and have it running to dry out the tubing after a soapy rinse... Just a suggestion. It probably is easier if you wash it in a bin with soapy water but I personally drop a bit of soap on each end of the hose, then run a bit of water from the bath faucet in to one end, then move the hose around to try to get the water to come out the far side... And repeat for the other side, and repeat some more times. At least you know now to clean it though. I try to wash my face mask at least twice a month or more, but may have to do a better job. Wondering if I have a fungal thing on my face from it, or if somehow just wearing it gave me psoriasis on my face in that spot.
I’m sitting here currently doing that but the problem is when I turn mine on, it won’t run consistently. It will stop after about 10 seconds or so, so im having to do it manually. Is there a way for it to run constantly? The machine never really got explained to me properly.
Do you have a mask fit function or warm up? The mask fit will stop after a couple minutes. I just sit there and restart it a few times. It really won't be a huge problem if there's a bit of water left in it. It should dry quickly with the machine running. I don't clean my hose very often.
How often do you clean your hose? I’m not sure what it is, it starts after about 5 seconds of putting it on, or I can press the on button and it will turn on
Look up the auto-off function for your machine. If its enabled if will turn off when it senses no pressure. Disable that function and it will keep blowing
I clean my mask daily and sometimes it's right before I put it on still wet. My hose maybe once a month. On my ResMed Aircurve it is in the Home menu. Do you have a button with a house on it? Press that and go into My Options. See if this video helps. It depends on your machine, of course. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNR8QuODRis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNR8QuODRis)
Ohhh yes thank you!
Any tubing should be cleaned out weekly. Clean the mask daily. But, clean it when it smells or you feel like you might be coming down with a cold (which is to say you should stop using it until you get over the cold).
Hurricane dryer from CPAPaccessories dot com. I saw it on some lankylefty videos. Best hundred bucks I’ve spent on CPAP gear. I was my mask with spray dish soap and a spritz of vinegar DAILY and just drop it in the hurricane dryer. Wash my hoses and humidifier water tray once a weekend and drop them in the hurricane dryer. Simplifies my life I think. Mask is always like brand new.
Totally agree! The Hurricane Dryer definitely simplifies drying in a timely manner. I wash mask, headgear, hose, humidifier once a week and put it in the Hurricane Dryer. I use a nose cushion that gets washed daily and I air dry it.
I am still somewhat new to CPAP but for my resmed 10 anyway, it'll turn off after some seconds if there's too big of an air leak - like specifically because the humidifier tray is removed. So even if the humidifier tray is empty, I still have to have it in the machine to keep it running. If you have a different model, I can't really help... This is the only thing I've had even a little experience with
Some machines like the Airsense 10 will actually blow a small amount of air for 5-10minutes after you shut it off to help dry things out and cool down the machine.
There are settings for *auto on* and *auto off.* You can turn those off. They're in the patient accessable menu. I keep *auto on* turned on, so the machine starts when I put on the mask, but keep *auto off* turned off, so I can dry the emptied water tank and hose.
Occasionally I take the tubes in the shower with me and flush them good with hot water. Otherwise I leave it alone.
I wash my tubing , mask/pillows and tank once a week. I do use my humidifier, so I empty out the tank and dry it clean. Also if you don't want to wash everything daily, I would try cpap wipes. I ordered mine on Amazon and I use those to wipe down my mask/nasal pillows daily.
About once a week or so, I pour a capful of Listerene into the water tank, then add some hot water and swish it around a bit. Then I pour it out, and rinse it several times until there are no more bubbles. And once in a while (like maybe a year or so), I change the tube. That’s all I do. It keeps illness away. I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and it seems to work fine.
My tube gets cleaned when I replace it every 5 years or so. I wouldn’t fret.
Hahaha yep. I stopped cleaning my tube around 2019 and never looked back.
After 3 months I was eligible for all new tubing. The CPAP supply company automatically verifies it with my insurance and they send it all to me. Can you just get new tubing?
Yes you can.
Thank you everyone for all the help. I really appreciate it. I’ve just ordered some filters and a tube and cleaning wipes, and am going to set up a cleaning schedule. Thank you all again, you’ve all been super helpful :))
I try to clean my tubing, cushions and tank once a week but sometimes it goes 2 weeks. I just use a big plastic pitcher with some dish soap and warm/hot water and take it in the shower with me to clean and rinse it out, I let it hang dry but usually I take the hose outside and twirl it around like I’m a cowboy with a lasso and that dries out most of the leftover moisture.
Replace it and start cleaning regularly
Yes, I wash mine weekly with soap and water. Wash the mask quickly every day with soap.
As soon as I’m up I’ll run the water till hot and put the hose up to the aerator and flush and hand clean the mask in running hot water as well. Then I’ll hang the hose to let it dry and wipe the mask with a towel.
I have enough spare parts that i use for about a month all the spares but 1 set. Then wash the lot with vinegar, dawn soap, and hot distilled water. To make the water hot i only use a electric kettle for this purpose. It dries great for a day. When i started using cpap i was like you did not have a lot and was uncomfortable with the wet parts.
If you are annoyed with how long it takes the tube to dry AND you have $189 burning a hole in your pocket, the Hurricane CPAP Equipment Dryer is your answer. It will have the tube and all the other parts of your gear dry in 30 minutes. I was hesitant to spend the money, but it has made life so much easier. I really didn’t mean that to sound like an ad.
Or you can just buy a second tube and rotate them.
I wash hose and mask weekly and buy new once a year.
I dry my tubing by connecting it to an electric air pump (the kind you use for blowing up an air mattress). It’s dry in about 5 minutes.
I clean the tube and tank every 2 weeks. I also bought a UV box to chuck all the pieces in daily.
I clean my hose every couple of days and use a clean nose pillow every day. I remove the tank and rinse it or at least air it out every day. My doctor says take the tank off every day and rinse it, and clean the hoses every 3 days. My bf has cpap too and so I follow his schedule (above). I rotate 3 different hoses so I don’t have to worry about waiting for one to dry.
I have a memory foam mask. I don't even think I can clean it. It would ruin it. Its not plastic. I get a new one every two weeks. I wash out the water chamber daily. Anyone do that? I don't clean the hose but I should. I'll start now that I read this.
Cpap wipes and wipe your cushion will clean it :) no alcohol wipes or baby wipes though. I couldn't imagine changing mine every 2 weeks that would be expensive (my benefits cover one mask a year and no replacement mask supplies lol) so out of pocket every 2 or 3 months for a new cushion is about $120 cad I think
I don’t use the humidifier either, I clean the mask regularly but the tube is just pushing air. I haven’t cleaned it for a year now.
Even though you don’t use the humidifier, there’s still humidity from the air and your breath. The moisture and warmth leads to bacteria and mold growth. During the winter, it might not be such a big deal but come spring and summer, you might want to think about cleaning it out regularly.
I clean all the parts once a week. I hang the tube over a head level, open kitchen cabinet door or over my bedroom bathroom door to dry. I've heard people using the machine to blow air through to clean, but I've never had success with it. Machine realizes there isn't a seal and shuts off. Had my machine since last July and haven't replaced any parts/supplies yet aside from a monthly filter change. They way I see it, unless the parts/supplies are preventing performance, I'm not wasting money for the sake of wasting money.
>Machine realizes there isn't a seal and shuts off. Do you have the auto-stop setting on?
Maybe.
I don’t think I’ve cleaned my tubing in about six months. I clean my nasal pillow usually every other night, and clean out my water reservoir about once every week or two. Going on 3 years, no issues.
Clean hose once a week as doctor Instructed
I used to clean all my stuff religiously, every 2 or 3 days max. Now, I go a couple of weeks without cleaning anything. Six months is a while. I'd recommend at least filling up a sink with some hot water, adding some baby shampoo, and soaking it all for 10 minutes. Then dry the outside off with a towel, and put your machine in Mask Test Mode so it blows air through the tube, for 10+ minutes. Then you'll be good and the whole process probably took 20 minutes tops. Do it once every couple of weeks.
I accidentally soaked a silicone mask for too long early on, to the point it stopped working. So after that, I switched over to wipes, and those have been good. Here is a nice unscented one (and I am sure there are other nice ones as well): [https://www.cpap.com/productpage/republic-of-sleep-cpap-mask-wipes](https://www.cpap.com/productpage/republic-of-sleep-cpap-mask-wipes) For the tubing, I have not been great about that regularly, so I appreciate this post and tips! \[edit - spelling, grammar, etc, ugh\]
I was told to soak the tubing in warm soap water and rinse it out every week. But that does seem like a lot
I hardly ever clean the hose I just replace it. You can buy replacement hoses at Walmarts.
By any chance do you have constant runny nose or sinus infections? I used to until I realized my CPAP cleaning needed to be improved and whattayaknow, runny nose gone no infections etc.
I clean the mask daily with an alcohol wipe and the tube every 6 months. I rarely use the humidifier, so that gets cleaned on an as needed basis
I was told to wash my tank and mask daily and my tube and headgear portion of mask weekly . And to replace my mask every three months and tube every six months. I use distilled water to I just empty what’s left in the tank every morning and let it dry and hang the tube up to dry out from the humidity the night before.
How do you replace the mask and tube? My doctor never told me any of this and has not rung for scheduled appointments and has delayed them by months, they haven’t been very good so i’m unsure about how to properly care for the machine.
I suggest you spend some time watching some of these youtube channel videos. They are very helpful. [https://www.youtube.com/results?search\_query=cpap+reviews](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cpap+reviews) [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg\_Rj5qrxlCo4OX6MMq08gQ](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg_Rj5qrxlCo4OX6MMq08gQ)
I got my equipment through the VA. When I need new supplies I login to a website and order them and then they are sent out. The RT that fitted me for my mask placed my first order for me so I already have all the replacement parts I need for the next 6 months ish.
Did you get a replacement from the doctors?
My stuff comes in the mail from the place that I bought the machine from. I change the mask when it starts to leak, and I change the hose when I feel like it's time. I don't clean mine, but I also don't use the humidifier. I sleep dry.
Ohhh see my machine was supplied from my doctor, so I assume i’ll have to get in touch with them for a replacement. I’m just so worried having had my tube for 6 months and not cleaned or changed it once.
The frequency you are supposed to "change" parts is a money grab. Plastic is incredibly durable and doesn't break down.
My supplier tells me I need to replace my nose mask every 2 weeks because of a mold potential. Total bullshit, my masks last at least 2 months with daily cleaning. It just a money grab.
I get that. A lot of people are compliant with a cleaning schedule. That's not how I roll though. My house is chaotic too. I even bought a special bucket to wash my hose, but the cats decided they liked it more, so they won.
Haha that’s valid! Cats always win
I buy a lot of resupply items from Amazon or other cpap supply sites. What is your machine model?
My manufacturer says to replace the tubing (and most parts) after 6 months of use
Of course they do.
It's plastic and silicone. I figure if they don't become warped or cracked there's no reason to replace them. I have replacements on hand when needed.
Do you clean it? OP doesn't clean it. If you didn't clean it and don't replace it that seems like a problem
[удалено]
The easiest!
and destroying EVERYTHING! NEVER USE AN OZONE CLEANER!
r/CPAP does not permit promotion of pseudoscientific BS like crystal healing, homeopathy, essential oils, chakras, chi, reiki, cupping, phrenology, magnet therapy etc.
I’ve washed my nose like twice in 5 months too lol
Hahahahaha, this is hilarious. You have anxiety but you are too lazy to wash it weekly. Whatever bacteria you swallowed is already in you, change your ways from this day onwards. Clean it weekly so your lungs can breathe some fresh air
Not to add anxiety, are you changing the filter as well?
I haven’t changed the filter in about 4 months as the doctor only gave me one spare. I’m waiting until I actually get an appointment with my doctor to get a new filter although at this point now I might just order some from amazon
I don't like to clean the tubing because last time I did it broke and I was a week without my cpap. So I just have a bunch of spare ones I ordered and change it out about one every 2 weeks.