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Permalink Reply by bonesigh on August 3, 2009 at 8:42pm

I personally would never use bleach and I can't say if they are messed up. Depends on how much bleach was used. This is what I would do however. Hook up your stuff to the machine and just let it run without you wearing it. Perhaps it will dry it out completely and get rid of the smell. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on August 3, 2009 at 8:59pm

My pump doesn't run unless I'm wearing the mask, but I'll see what I can figure out. The equipment's dry 'cause I washed it this a.m. The reason I used bleach was that I've had a bad cold while I've been trying to get adjusted to this whole CPAP thing. Someone suggested maybe using bleach would help get rid of the bugs so I wouldn't keep reinfecting myself every night.

It's my fault. I should have just stood there, washed it, and taken it out. DUH!

I wonder if blowing a hair dryer through it would help.....

Thanks for your input. I sure do appreciate it. -Susan McCord

bonesigh said:

I personally would never use bleach and I can't say if they are messed up. Depends on how much bleach was used. This is what I would do however. Hook up your stuff to the machine and just let it run without you wearing it. Perhaps it will dry it out completely and get rid of the smell. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by wallace j smith jr on August 3, 2009 at 9:03pm

rinse well with cold water , dont use hair dryer will be too hot for the mask and cant say either on the mask wether or not its ruined..if you do use bleach VERY little.. i use a capful of unscented bleach per sinkful of water and rinse well after a few minutes

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on August 3, 2009 at 9:20pm

THANKS! You caught me just in time!!!!! I'm certain I used too much bleach and then compounded the problem by forgetting the stuff was in there soaking. Oy vey.....I'm gonna go check it again and see if hanging around all day may have helped..Internet said to use vinegar but I don't think I have any. Glad you wrote or I'd be hairdrying away as we speak, so thanks again for the prompt response! Susan McCord

wallace j smith jr said:

rinse well with cold water , dont use hair dryer will be too hot for the mask and cant say either on the mask wether or not its ruined..if you do use bleach VERY little.. i use a capful of unscented bleach per sinkful of water and rinse well after a few minutes

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Permalink Reply by Moe-jo on August 3, 2009 at 9:42pm

Awwww.... Susan, too bad, with all the struggles you've been having. Cold water to rinse out the bleach is the way to go. I use vinegar to clean, you don't need much. It helps that I love vinegar, and if there's any residual smell (there isn't when I rinse well) I enjoy it.

Your mask and hose might be replacable under warranty - My DME replaced my nasal pillow when my dog chewed it....

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on August 3, 2009 at 9:50pm

LOL! Maybe I should put a few teeth marks in it!! At the moment, I'm perfectly capable of chewing SOMETHING up!!! Lord have mercy, doesn't it just figure? I was actually looking forward to going to bed early to see if I can pull off another 8-hour sleep. Now I get to stay up late and watch my hose dry!! (That really didn't come out the way it should have.....LOL) I think I'm gonna pick up on Dan's "happy hosing" and turn it into something that will get me kicked off here for sure!!! Wonder how patient Mike actually is?............

Well, I'm going to go take my putrid equipment out AGAIN and see what's new. My life according to apnea..... Thanks for the cheer-up! :-)

Moe-jo said:

Awwww.... Susan, too bad, with all the struggles you've been having. Cold water to rinse out the bleach is the way to go. I use vinegar to clean, you don't need much. It helps that I love vinegar, and if there's any residual smell (there isn't when I rinse well) I enjoy it.

Your mask and hose might be replacable under warranty - My DME replaced my nasal pillow when my dog chewed it....

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on August 3, 2009 at 10:00pm

It should be alright, but do not use bleach again! the bleach will eat away at the soft rubber of the mask. plus you would not want to inhale bleach AT ALL. There are several very safe products on the market for cleaning your eguipment. Having to clean several units everyday I prefer Cavicide or soapy water.

http://www.zoetekmedical.com/Default.aspx?tabid=3621&ProductID=...

http://www.google.com/search?q=Cavacide&sourceid=ie7&rls=co...

Dispatch is another good one.

http://www.caltechind.com/dispatch/index.asp

http://www.google.com/search?q=dispatch+disinfectant&sourceid=i...

I believe Mike uses another good one, but I can't remember the name.

Put warm water in your humidifier tank and squeeze some lemon juice into it. shake it up to get rid of the bleach smell. Hope you like lemons.

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Permalink Reply by Moe-jo on August 3, 2009 at 10:00pm

Susan, I just re-read your original post.....

NEVER, NEVER mix anti-bacterial soap with bleach!!!!! Check the ingredient label on the soap.... Anti-bacterial soaps are usually ammonia based. Ammonia + bleach = chlorine gas. Chlorine gas is poisonous.

ETA: Also - Triclosan + Bleach = Chloroform gas.

I'd say you have likely rinsed the bejeebers out of that sucker, and there's little to no risk at this point, but play it safe from now on. :-)

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on August 3, 2009 at 10:00pm

It's miracle!! The hose is FIXED!!! No bleach smell at all. Mask isn't quite as clear but it's breathable. Hope I don't electrocute myself!!! :-)

Moe-jo said:

Awwww.... Susan, too bad, with all the struggles you've been having. Cold water to rinse out the bleach is the way to go. I use vinegar to clean, you don't need much. It helps that I love vinegar, and if there's any residual smell (there isn't when I rinse well) I enjoy it.

Your mask and hose might be replacable under warranty - My DME replaced my nasal pillow when my dog chewed it....

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on August 3, 2009 at 10:08pm

I know that alot of us think that it is ok to ignore our physicians, DME's, or even the manufacturers instructions. Doing so can have serious results. Keep in mind that these people are supposed to be better trained, and have access to knowledge that the rest of may not have. the instructions given are based on hours of numerous case studies that have had various results.

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on August 3, 2009 at 10:15pm

Rock, I won't use bleach again. I think the idea was that since I have a cold maybe I was re-infecting myself. Not a plan!! I didn't know there were products to clean this stuff. All I was told by DME was warm soapy water. Someone on here told me not to use vinegar as a regular cleaner either. BUT the vinegar with cool water and anti-bac dishwashing liquid fixed the hose in about 7 minutes, thank God. I was afraid to breathe bleach and wouldn't have been able to use the pump tonight. Aaaaaaaaargh...!
Fortunately, I wasn't cleaning the humidifier too. I didn't know about using lemons for that either. Thank you AGAIN for pointing me in the right direction. I can't imagine what in the world I'd be doing if I hadn't found you guys..... -Susan McCord :-)

Rock Hinkle said:

It should be alright, but do not use bleach again! the bleach will eat away at the soft rubber of the mask. plus you would not want to inhale bleach AT ALL. There are several very safe products on the market for cleaning your eguipment. Having to clean several units everyday I prefer Cavicide or soapy water.

http://www.zoetekmedical.com/Default.aspx?tabid=3621&ProductID=...

http://www.google.com/search?q=Cavacide&sourceid=ie7&rls=co...

Dispatch is another good one.

http://www.caltechind.com/dispatch/index.asp

http://www.google.com/search?q=dispatch+disinfectant&sourceid=i...

I believe Mike uses another good one, but I can't remember the name.

Put warm water in your humidifier tank and squeeze some lemon juice into it. shake it up to get rid of the bleach smell. Hope you like lemons.

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on August 3, 2009 at 10:20pm

OH...MY...GOD!!!!! I had no idea.....Won't be doin' THAT again. It doesn't smell at ALL like bleach, at least the hose doesn't. The mask smells more like dish soap than bleach since I redid it all. Do you think it's okay????????????

Moe-jo said:

Susan, I just re-read your original post.....

NEVER, NEVER mix anti-bacterial soap with bleach!!!!! Check the ingredient label on the soap.... Anti-bacterial soaps are usually ammonia based. Ammonia + bleach = chlorine gas. Chlorine gas is poisonous.

I'd say you have likely rinsed the bejeebers out of that sucker, and there's little to no risk at this point, but play it safe from now on. :-)

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