Hygeine

[kmar92]

I guess we all know that hygiene with our masks is very important to both provide safe masks and also to get the longest use of them. I have been told different ideas of what to use when doing daily washing of a mask, Resmed say to use pure soap (whatever that may be) and others say to use mild dishwashing soap (detergent).

What do you use?

[trish6hundred]

Hi kmar92,
I use mild dish soap, (Ivory liquid,) in warm water once a week to clean my mask, hose and humidifier chamber.
If you are concerned about the alkahol that's in most of the dish soaps, (which some of the mask manufacturers say that it can break down the cushions,) another good cleaner to use is Control III in warm water.
You will find that at suppliers on the suppliers list here on the board.
By the way, as far as the dish soap I use, I haven't noticed any breakdown of the mask parts or cushions.
Best of luck.

[me50]

I guess we all know that hygiene with our masks is very important to both provide safe masks and also to get the longest use of them. I have been told different ideas of what to use when doing daily washing of a mask, Resmed say to use pure soap (whatever that may be) and others say to use mild dishwashing soap (detergent).

What do you use?

Welcome. I have been told by previous DME's to use Dawn dishwashing soap but my new DME says to use Dawn dishwashing soap and white vinegar.

[PollCat]

I use anti-bacterial Softsoap; but only wash my equipment once a week.

[DocWils]

Use soaps that do not leave any film after, like dishwashing soap. Hand soaps and other types of surfactants leave films behind that can either provide for bacterial growth or cause irritation of the skin and lead to the break down of the silicon in the mask. Hot water and air dry or with paper towels, never cloth towels. If you are using nasal pillows, pay attention to the inner lining of the pillow, as that can trap water. Most dishwashing soaps as safe to use, as the soap is only on the mask for a moment before being washed away. Daily washing generally is not necessary, however daily drying is. The best method, if you use nasal pillows at least, is to turn off the humidifier and empty it, turn off the auto-off, and take out the SD card, then let it run for half an hour to forty minutes - the forced air will dry the humidifier interior, the hose interior and the mask interior. Full Face masks may need another method.

[justMongo]

I used 5% white vinegar and warm water for the mask, tubing and water tank.
The mask cushion pops out of my mask; so I remove it and clean them separately.
Wipe down and air dry.

[archangle]

Standard home dishwasher and regular grocery store house brand dishwashing powder. I get good lifetime on my parts, and have been doing it that way for 8 years or so.

Once a week for me, but I do sometimes switch masks in the middle of the week and wash both of them at the end of the week.

[PaulaO2]

Dishwasher or hand wash with vinegar dilution soak. If ill (like cold) or it's really nasty (during allergy season) I use our low stink dish soap then rinse very well.

But I am way lazy on washing my stuff. Nasal pillows are easy to ignore and even easier to clean.

[me50]

I just cannot bring myself to put my cpap stuff in the dishwasher where dirty dishes were!! I laugh at myself b/c of that but it is what it is!!

[archangle]

I just cannot bring myself to put my cpap stuff in the dishwasher where dirty dishes were!! I laugh at myself b/c of that but it is what it is!!

My mask is clean enough to eat off of.