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VPAP cleaning frequency

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AgreeableCrimsonMantis8785 +0 points · over 6 years ago Original Poster

I use a SoClean unit to clean my VPAP when home-- since SoClean units are not very portable I do not take it with me when I travel--I wonder how many nights one can NOT clean a VPAP unit without asking for trouble?

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wiredgeorge +0 points · over 6 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

The ResMed VPAP machine you have is more or less similar in conformation to a ResMed S series (like S9) or perhaps a 10 series and I can't see how you can clean one of these things using a SoClean. I thought those gizmos were for cleaning masks? In any case, I clean my mask daily using mild unscented hand soap from a pump and towel dry then let it air dry. Never saw much need for a SoClean as I have not gotten sick from my own mask in the years I have been using various masks.

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AgreeableCrimsonMantis8785 +0 points · over 6 years ago Original Poster

check out the SoClean web page, it DOES clean a vpap or cpap machine, hose, and mask

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wiredgeorge +0 points · over 6 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

I did go their page and saw a picture of a mask in a SoClean tub and didn't see the part about a whole machine. I have never cleaned my actual ResMed Aircurve 10 so I am guessing it doesn't hurt to not clean it. Perhaps others have had different experience?

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Whippet +0 points · over 6 years ago

Haven't yet received my Resmed 10, but do know So Clean sells adapters designed to fit various machines which clean hoses, humidification and other internal parts.

Saw a Craigslist ad by someone selling a brand new one (for above what my DME co-Apria-charges, lol) and claiming they had inadvertently ordered the wrong adapter (which looks like a replacement cover for humidifier reservoir).

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sleeptech +0 points · over 6 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

Your machine shouldn't need anything more than a regular check of the filter, and the occasional wipe to keep the surface clean. That's it.

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BrightLilacDove4332 +0 points · over 6 years ago

That has been my experience, too. I am using an AirSense10 and occasionally clean the nose piece with a disinfectant wipe. I also change the air filter every few months. Since the machine automatically dries out the hose each day, I figure it is not a breeding ground for bacteria then. Most of the flow is to me, not from me. I have used a CPAP since 2005 with no bacteria related problems and minimal fussing. I use only filtered water for the humidifier tank and every 3 months or so wipe it out if there is any residue starting to show. That water also is unaffected by my breathing. I know some are greatly worried about cleaning these machines, but I am not sure I understand what the basis is for that.

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wiredgeorge +0 points · over 6 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

Not sure what you mean by "nose piece" but if you refer to mask cushion, disinfectant wipes contain bleach or other chemicals that break down the cushion material. I was a volunteer firefighter and we shared SCBA masks and wiped them with those type wipes. The part that contacts your face wasn't soft vinyl stuff like a CPAP mask but was heavy/thick rubber and I used those wipes initially after I started therapy and found a mask didn't last long. The vinyl or whatever the cushions were made of got really soft and wouldn't seal and I ended up having to buy more cushions before my first replacement cushions could be sent via insurance/dme. Most folks use mild hand soap or dish soap. I prefer unscented.

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sleeptech +0 points · over 6 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

Actually, 100% of the air flow is to you and none is from you. All of the air you exhale is blown out of the exhalation port. So you are right, as long as your tube stays dry there is no risk of pathogens growing in it.

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ThunderPickle05 +0 points · over 6 years ago

I use the SoClean unit right before a trip. Then I'm usually not gone for more than a week at a time so I don't worry about it. I only use the SoClean once a week anyway.

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