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Permalink Reply by Leslie Scott on October 9, 2009 at 4:26am

As someone who has used it personally and professionally this is what I tell my patients. (now I am replying before readying any of the replies, but I know this works). None of this is by the book... like I said, this is personal experience. (and I tell my patients that I share this with that this is what I find works, that it is a personal, not professional recommendation)

1. Keep the mask clean (especially the new ones, they tend to harbor more germs, at least from what I have seen with my dh). Baby wipes are not only great at cleaning between washings, but they help keep the mask soft.
2. For washing the mask... throw it on the top shelf of the dishwasher (at least 3 times a week). Make sure you take it apart or it take forever to dry. If you have small parts, get one of the little baskets that they use for baby bottles.
3. Head gear, I just throw in the laundry. I use a linen bag because then the valcro doesn't get stuck all over my clothes.
4. Tubing... vinager and water. If all else fails... vinager and water works for washing any of it. Just make sure you rinse well!!.

I do also let people know that their face is going to get chapped... especially in the first 2 weeks (for women, I will compare it to BF... something you just have to work through). I do tell patinets that they want to use a really good moisturizer on their face, but IN the MORNING, not before bed so it doesn't mess with the seal.

Hope this hleps,
Les inCO

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Permalink Reply by 99 on October 9, 2009 at 8:10am

you have got get the grease and gunk off first
hhave you been a carwash, notice how the water globule are ether smaller or non existant, it just flows, the same when you wash the dishes, they are now grease free from contamination, but they may still have bacterior on them and so a second wash in a diffrent solution is needed to get rid of bacterior and germs, i use milton, others use vinegar still others use bleach, you have or should have to get rid of the germs by whatever method you use, recap 1 clean or degrease 2 disinfect.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Katzung on October 9, 2009 at 10:57am

susan mccord said:

That's a new one, Brian! Where do you live? I'm in Indianapolis and am not certain we have that particular store here. I could be wrong.
Wonder if it can be bought online? For anyone who'd rather go completely organic, this would be a great option, 'specially since you've already tested it out for us! Thanks!

Susan McCord

I live in north suburban Chicago, Susan.

I believe "365" is one of Whole Foods' house brands. As far as I can tell from their website (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/), they don't have an online store.

There is good news for you however--they have a store in Indianapolis on 86th Street (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/eightysixthst/).

Their store locator is at http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/index.php for anybody else interested.

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Permalink Reply by birdshell on October 10, 2009 at 6:35pm

Cleaning is always a hugely debated issue, but there has to be some good reason for doing things...doesn't there? We all have to make our own choices but...we also need to know what the basis for our choices might be.

I have NEVER seen a good explanation of WHY each cleaning method and recommendation should be used. Anyone out there who can add the explanations about what we should do and why we should do them. please do so!

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on October 10, 2009 at 10:08pm

Hi! There are two schools of thought that make the most sense to ME, among a # of others which, I'm certain, work just fine.

1. One commonly-held rec on SleepGuide is to strictly follow the manufacturers' directions for cleaning.
(Even the manufacturers' disagree somewhat on what's the best). That makes sense to me.

2. I've based MY decision to use warm, soapy water to swish mask and hose in, mostly, from a comment
Rock Hinkle made on here awhile back. He does the cleaning for Universal Precautions at his work, and
said that's what he uses. If it's good enough for Universal Precautions, given all the freakin' orientations
I've been required to attend over the years at various hospitals and clinics, it's good enough for me. I've
always been one to get back to basics when I'm not sure what to do. My DME, who's had apnea for 26
years, uses the same method.

There HAS been a great deal of Discussion on SG re: this issue. People tend to believe their method is best.
And it probably is, for them. Seems to me the point is cleanliness, and there are multiple ways to achieve it.
If you pay attention to keeping the equipment relatively sanitary, my opinion only, then you'll do fine. It's common sense really, and comes down to what you're most comfortable with. The only thing I've been told NOT to use is bleach and anti-bacterial soap.

I've come to understand as well that soapy water may not be the best solution for full face masks. They apparently require somewhat different care. If I had one, I think I'd probably follow manufacturers' recs. That's just my personal opinion. I spent a fair amount of time being very concerned about cleaning equipment. I'm past that now. It's probably helpful for most of us to just get varying opinions from other apnea patients, and from MDs and manufacturers, and then decide which one makes the most sense to each of us.

Susan McCord




birdshell said:

Cleaning is always a hugely debated issue, but there has to be some good reason for doing things...doesn't there? We all have to make our own choices but...we also need to know what the basis for our choices might be.

I have NEVER seen a good explanation of WHY each cleaning method and recommendation should be used. Anyone out there who can add the explanations about what we should do and why we should do them. please do so!

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Permalink Reply by birdshell on October 11, 2009 at 12:55am

Susan, I want an answer to the "WHY" question. That is what all of this cleaning practices thread is really about, isn’t it?

I know that we want our cleaning practices to do several things...protect us from harm, make an acceptable trade-off of risk vs. benefit, and be as simple and easy as possible. We are especially going to differ in our estimation of what is easiest, are we not?

I have been told by experienced and well respected clinicians that it is OK to use a 5-10% bleach solution for cleaning CPAP equipment, including masks. I have been told by others that they use antibacterial hand soap on their three-year-old masks with no noted consequence. I have found that there are people who use ultrasonic cleaners. Some folks use commercial products; some admit to never cleaning their CPAP equipment at all.

Unfortunately, I don't think that I can make a good decision for myself without knowing why each method might be preferred over another. I have just enough medical oddities to need to know these things so that I can judge for myself.

Shouldn't there be some kind of a consensus that says these are all acceptable practices, with the pros and cons of each method being listed? Is that too much to ask?

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on October 11, 2009 at 10:16am

Hi! Absolutely NOT too much to ask. That's pretty much the same dilemma I was in a few weeks ago! It drove me so nuts that THAT'S the reason I finally chose one based on Universal Precautions, only because it made sense to me, and I know it's effective with hospital bodily-fluid spillls.

There will never be fewer endless conversations re: this topic--my opinion only. Most of us are concerned with sanitary practice. Perhaps it would help you to either ask your sleep MD, OR check manufacturer's reps, OR ask your DME if he/she is someone you have a good relationship with.

Another excellent source of info is Dr. Steven Park, a sleep MD out of New York, who is a regular contributor/supporter of SleepGuide. He has a book listed in our SG Book Club, and is most helpful in all areas of sleep disorders. He would welcome your inquiry and is in an excellent position to give you clear information. If I hadn't found a way to think about cleaning that makes sense to me, I'd have gone to Dr. Park. He's a gem and a huge asset to us on this site--all voluntary on his part.

Good luck!, and congratulations on taking such an active part in improving your own health and sense of wellbeing!!!

Susan :-)

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on October 11, 2009 at 10:20am

I think the basic why? is related to both protecting our own personal health (we're breathing through all this equipment every time we sleep!) and in addition, protecting our expensive equipment in the least destructive manner possible. If you write to Dr. Park, be clear about your specific questions. He'll be clear back if he understands your need to know "why?".

Susan McCord :-)

birdshell said:

Susan, I want an answer to the "WHY" question. That is what all of this cleaning practices thread is really about, isn’t it?

I know that we want our cleaning practices to do several things...protect us from harm, make an acceptable trade-off of risk vs. benefit, and be as simple and easy as possible. We are especially going to differ in our estimation of what is easiest, are we not?

I have been told by experienced and well respected clinicians that it is OK to use a 5-10% bleach solution for cleaning CPAP equipment, including masks. I have been told by others that they use antibacterial hand soap on their three-year-old masks with no noted consequence. I have found that there are people who use ultrasonic cleaners. Some folks use commercial products; some admit to never cleaning their CPAP equipment at all.

Unfortunately, I don't think that I can make a good decision for myself without knowing why each method might be preferred over another. I have just enough medical oddities to need to know these things so that I can judge for myself.

Shouldn't there be some kind of a consensus that says these are all acceptable practices, with the pros and cons of each method being listed? Is that too much to ask?

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Permalink Reply by sherry on October 15, 2009 at 10:39pm

Hope I am not beating a dead horse at this point, but my DME also told me to use very gentle dishwashing soap, that keeps your hands soft, like Ivory Liquid (which was very hard to find), and to clean everything once a week; a little white vinegar was OK but nothing harsher than those things as it would affect the plastics. A friend on oxygen told me her DME told her to use Johnson's baby shampoo, I have tried that and it works very well too, and I like the smell better, but will use up the Ivory Liquid. I take a small bottle of baby shampoo when traveling, and use it to both shampoo my hair and clean my hoses every day, as I don't like the hotel smell in my equipment. I did feel the need to further disinfect the equipment, and bought some hospital disinfectant, but do not like it and now I just add about a half teaspoon of white vinegar to my soapy water, that cuts the soap smell, eliminates a lot of the suds, and gives me some disinfection too all in one step! I wash the strapping in the same solution when needed.

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on October 15, 2009 at 10:57pm

Sherry, the horse has been beaten to death many times and still gets back up, so I think it's okay!!! lol

My thought is that whatever makes the most sense to people, or whatever they prefer (assuming it doesn't include any of the real no-no's) works just fine. The point is to keep our equipment clean, not sterilized. Power to the people!!

One thing I DO like about Dawn (the blue stuff) is that it cleans quickly and, if rinsed well, it leaves no smell at all. The key to anything anyone uses is probably the rinsing process.

Susan McCord :-)

sherry said:

Hope I am not beating a dead horse at this point, but my DME also told me to use very gentle dishwashing soap, that keeps your hands soft, like Ivory Liquid (which was very hard to find), and to clean everything once a week; a little white vinegar was OK but nothing harsher than those things as it would affect the plastics. A friend on oxygen told me her DME told her to use Johnson's baby shampoo, I have tried that and it works very well too, and I like the smell better, but will use up the Ivory Liquid. I take a small bottle of baby shampoo when traveling, and use it to both shampoo my hair and clean my hoses every day, as I don't like the hotel smell in my equipment. I did feel the need to further disinfect the equipment, and bought some hospital disinfectant, but do not like it and now I just add about a half teaspoon of white vinegar to my soapy water, that cuts the soap smell, eliminates a lot of the suds, and gives me some disinfection too all in one step! I wash the strapping in the same solution when needed.

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