Apnea Board Forum - CPAP | Sleep Apnea
Smelly mask/hose - what to do? - Printable Version

+- Apnea Board Forum - CPAP | Sleep Apnea (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums)
+-- Forum: Public Area (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Public-Area)
+--- Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Main-Apnea-Board-Forum)
+--- Thread: Smelly mask/hose - what to do? (/Thread-Smelly-mask-hose-what-to-do)

Pages: 1 2 3 4


Smelly mask/hose - what to do? - Benzi - 03-29-2022

Hi guys

Lately most nights when I put on my p10 mask there is a bad smell. Each morning I soak the mask in warm water with detergent, later rinse out well, turn on the machine for an hour or two to get out most of the moisture, let it air dry. Once a week I soak the hose.

And I change the S9's filter every few weeks.

Any ideas?

TIA

Benzi


RE: Smelly mask/hose - what to do? - Sleeprider - 03-29-2022

I don't wash my tube or mask with any frequency at all and only maintain the cushions. You might consider changing out the tube and just not washing it more than monthly. Daily exposure to water seems like over-kill and my have encouraged mildew if there is any soap or moisture residue. At this point you might try using a weak bleach solutions for the tubing and mask and try to swab the inside by tying a small swab on a string you can pass end-to-end in the tube. Lightly rinse and dry.


RE: Smelly mask/hose - what to do? - Aldebaran - 03-29-2022

Mechanical cleaning may be your next option. Look for "CPAP hose brush". It is a long coil/flexible wire with brushes on each end. You just drag it through your hose several times with some cleaning solution/bleach to remove any organic film that's been growing on the inner surface of the hose. Don't forget to do the same for the short run of hose attached to the P10 as well.

Next I dipped a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and pushed it all the way through with the brush.
This worked for me.


RE: Smelly mask/hose - what to do? - Benzi - 03-29-2022

Thank you both!
I'm going to try and clean the hose, order a new one and also order the brush. In the meantime, is it a health hazard to use a smelly hose?


RE: Smelly mask/hose - what to do? - Aldebaran - 03-29-2022

Unless you have some reaction to it, I doubt it's going to do much harm if you use if for a few more days/nights till the new hose/brush arrives. Mine smelled like dirty socks for several weeks until I decided to clean it, no harm done to me.

Make sure you air out the hose before you use it, otherwise you'll get a very strong hit of alcohol when you inhale!


RE: Smelly mask/hose - what to do? - Benzi - 03-29-2022

(03-29-2022, 11:22 AM)Aldebaran Wrote: Unless you have some reaction to it, I doubt it's going to do much harm if you use if for a few more days/nights till the new hose/brush arrives. Mine smelled like dirty socks for several weeks until I decided to clean it, no harm done to me.

Make sure you air out the hose before you use it, otherwise you'll get a very strong hit of alcohol when you inhale!

Maybe the alcohol will help me sleep ?


RE: Smelly mask/hose - what to do? - DaveCar - 03-29-2022

I was thinking disconnect the hose from the elbow , and the blow the air (just machine and hose now) into a bag to see if the smell is present. Then you would know if it's machine and/or hose.
How is the humidifier tank for cleanliness ? If you're currently using water in the humidifier, could something in the water have changed ?


RE: Smelly mask/hose - what to do? - Benzi - 03-30-2022

This is all very strange. The vendor says to wash everything daily.....


RE: Smelly mask/hose - what to do? - Benzi - 03-30-2022

Is there a chance that the smell is coming from the machine itself and not from the hose?


Smelly mask - Part 2: buy an S10? - Benzi - 04-11-2022

Hi guys,

I got a new hose, the smell is better but still there. I called the local resmed distributor (and lab) to ask whether there is something inside the machine itself that might need cleaning. They said they don't know, maybe try adding a few drops of mouthwash to the humidifier, and then added that I was eligible for a refresh, so why not upgrade my s9 to an S10 with a new mask (about $400 bucks).

I may just go ahead and do it, although it hurts to throw out money.

1. Any other ideas on how to deal with the smell?
2. I understand that the S10 for her is the preferred model but it's not available here. Is there a critical difference?


Thanks!