Nurse at doctor's office is saying to not use Dawn soap to clean CPAP

[SarcasticDave94]

Thank you, Senator.

Even though I use Dawn, it's not necessarily by choice. I use whatever we have available. And I suppose that after about a year, maybe the mask cushion is ready for replacing.

[vroomvroom]

vroomvroomThe nurse at my doc's office is saying not to use Dawn as it may be too harsh on the machine, hose, etc. 

She recommended several options, but unfortunately, the only ones I can remember this instant is Ivory or 7th Generation. Essentially, only very mild soaps. 

Dawn is used to clean oil on animals (from oil spills, etc), so while it's gentle enough for skin, perhaps it's not for our lungs? 

What do you guys think? 

I was thinking of going 7th Generation since it's supposed to be a very mild soap, but am open to trying others, such as Ivory (I know that 7th Generation will likely be the most expensive out of the bunch as it's eco friendly, etc).

vroomvroom- 

Do you go to Kaiser?  That's what they recommended to me as well. They suggested Palmolive, Joy or Ivory.  While I only use Dawn on my dishes, pots, etc. (always have), I decided to play it safe and bought a small bottle of Palmolive for my cpap stuff. I think it cost a whole dollar and will probably last 6 months to a year!...lol.  

Btw, the rt mentioned to me yesterday that oil from your skin gets on your mask seal and can lead to leakage...hmmmm?  So, I am being diligent about the daily washing of the actual Eson2/p10. - -  I think I'll clean the hose/vent piece just once a week.  -  I'm also emptying the humidifier, rinsing with hot water & air drying every day;  I'm not sure if that's overkill, but I know others do something similar.

Nope, no Kaiser here, although it is a larger medical network in my area. 

I got a response email from the folks at 7th Gen, btw. I had asked them what their mildest soap was, and they pointed to this: Commercial link removed, instead search seventh generation dish liquid free clear.

I have been seeing baby soap as an alternative to make sure there isn't anything crazy in the ingredients list, and I might do that as well. I also like the idea of using hydrogen peroxide maybe once a week (for the big parts). 

I know I won't have time in the morning to clean the mask, so it will have to be cleaned when I get home from work (the cushions/pillows) to remove oil. I hope keeping the oils on there for an extra 8-10 hours from when I take it off in the morning isn't a big deal.

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[Melman]

I sometimes go for several days without cleaning my cushion and I've been using the same F20 cushion for 23 months. I'm not suggesting that cleaning not be done daily but it would appear that waiting till the evening will not be harmful.

[vroomvroom]

I sometimes go for several days without cleaning my cushion and I've been using the same F20 cushion for 23 months. I'm not suggesting that cleaning not be done daily but it would appear that waiting till the evening will not be harmful.

Just curious, but why do people use their cushions for so long if they have a replenishment schedule from their insurance? 

BIG assumption: that one has good insurance and that you've already satisfied your deductible, so the costs of the mask may only be a limited amount (~$10 or so, assuming you have 10% co-insurance and the mask costs $100). 

I totally understand if people self-pay for everything or they have really bad insurance plans, then I would do the same.

[Melman]

It's easy. Most of us don't like to spend money needlessly. I've used my F20 cushion and mask for almost 2 years and it's fine. Assuming $10 for monthly replacement I would have spent $230 unnecessarily for cushions alone. It just makes good sense to me. That's just for the cushion. If I had purchased a new mask every three months I would have wasted even more money.

[Dog Slobber]

Just curious, but why do people use their cushions for so long if they have a replenishment schedule from their insurance? 

Because the replacement schedule is artificial.

The schedule is based on the minimal amount of time that insurance companies will pay for replacements. DME's have inappropriately taken advantage of that to sell more stuff to make more money.

This is a waste of resources and inflates the cost of insurance.

It is also harmful to people who don't have insurance. It increases the price of supplies and many will replace equipment that is perfectly good because they are told to by people who they trust.

[vroomvroom]

I thought it was something like that. Thanks for clearing it up!

[Big Guy]

I can call my DME supplier and tell them if I want more supplies or not. I have that option. Right now, I'm working on building up the supplies / parts that I will need to insure that I have them on hand.

[ghce]

I sometimes go for several days without cleaning my cushion and I've been using the same F20 cushion for 23 months. I'm not suggesting that cleaning not be done daily but it would appear that waiting till the evening will not be harmful.

Just curious, but why do people use their cushions for so long if they have a replenishment schedule from their insurance? 

BIG assumption: that one has good insurance and that you've already satisfied your deductible, so the costs of the mask may only be a limited amount (~$10 or so, assuming you have 10% co-insurance and the mask costs $100). 

I totally understand if people self-pay for everything or they have really bad insurance plans, then I would do the same.

I really dont understand this cleaning fetish, in tha last year I have cleaned my P10 pillows 3 times, hose 3 times and humidifier never. They all look like new, though I have had to clean the Pillow frame mesh exhaust valve  twice.

I cannot see how even using an aggressive cleaner such as Dawn would have any detrimental effect to Silicone plastic or hard plastics as for breathing in fumes shear dillution factor when rinsing would get any residualls down to low parts per million.

[mesenteria]

I sometimes go for several days without cleaning my cushion and I've been using the same F20 cushion for 23 months. I'm not suggesting that cleaning not be done daily but it would appear that waiting till the evening will not be harmful.

Just curious, but why do people use their cushions for so long if they have a replenishment schedule from their insurance? 
...

Answering strictly for myself, I don't want functional items filling landfills or going to an incinerator, even if it's a co-gen.  It's the same thinking over electronic devices; the newest, latest and greatest, smart phone is out now, but I'd have to ask myself serious questions: what's wrong with the one in my pocket?  What serious-enough defect or limitation encumbers its utility to me?  MUST I have the latest and greatest...or just the newest?