04-30-2017, 11:09 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-30-2017, 11:11 AM by jasonarmstrong.)
RE: cleaning your machine
(04-28-2017, 06:44 PM)PollCat Wrote: I use an antibacterial, liquid, hand soap for the wash, then rinsed in hot water, followed by a 15-minute soak in distilled water and white vinegar, and then rinsed again in hot water. 
The real key is to periodically clean your equipment - at least monthly and preferably weekly. 
I was gonna ask frequency - as I do my humidifier chamber and heated hose every 3 days and my mask daily, I seem to have oily skin cause it clouds fast on the outer membrane of my full face mask.
RE: cleaning your machine
You may get a dozen answers with respect to frequency. I clean my mask cushion daily to remove skin oils. It's been at least two months since I cleaned my reservoir and hose. I check the reservoir daily when I refill it for haziness, residue, or a slimy feeling indicating bacterial growth but see nothing. I don't pour out the water remaining in the reservoir. I use distilled water to avoid mineral deposits.
Others may suggest I'm risking my life by such infrequent cleaning
but I'm still around. When I do clean I use Dawn dish washing detergent with warm water and rinse with warm tap water. Some will use a disinfectant as well but, in my opinion as a microbiologist, it's unnecessary.
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RE: cleaning your machine
I usually wash my mask in the shower and use baby shampoo. If it was good enough for before my wife's eye surgery, it's good enough for the mask. I usually throw the humidifier tank in the dishwasher, top rack, every couple of weeks when it starts to show it needs to be washed. If the tank melts, I just grab one of the 4 or 5 I have stashed in the closet that haven't been opened. I get one from my DME every 6months whether I need it or not and can't break up the kit.
Homer
RE: cleaning your machine
I use Dawn for all of my stuff except the Circadian masks. I use baby shampoo for that. For my brother's stuff, I use water/vinegar because he can't stand the Dawn after odor (I can't smell it). If I get problems with the pink slime, I found Control III works fabulous. However, since I know it's a problem in the warm months, I bought a dishwasher safe bin to use during that time.
