Moisture and cleanliness of CPAP machine

Good morning. I get moisture build up in the air hose (I use nasal pillows) and it disturbs what precious sleep I can get. Also, how important is it to clean the cpap machine?

Condensation in the hose is a common problem with the humidifier. The solution is to reduce the temperature difference between the humidifier heater and the cooler hose. You can Google tips for doing this.

I don't clean my CPAP daily but I probably would if water was condensing in the hose.

Manufacturers recommend cleaning the hose and mask once per week with the right soap. The bottom line is no anti-microbial soap. The best I have found is Johnson Baby shampoo. I agree with this regimen, going longer has irritation side effects.

My husband and son use the Cpap wipes for the mask/pillows. They rarely clean the tube. We were told 1 part vinegar to 9 parts water or baby shampoo.

heated hose helps reduce "rainout". Hose cover combined with the uphill trick may work.

How often do you clean your cpap and how much upper airway infections you deal with might be an interesting outcomes research project.

I use cpap in a sleeper berth equipped semi truck about 300 nights a year. Due to dust and dirt I have to be pretty anal about cleaning or I get bronchitis. When first started cpap I didn't keep it as clean and had more issues.

I now even use a soclean mask hose sterilization unit. No bronchitis problems for a couple of years now.

Again. ..mask hose and humidifier cleaning regimes correlation to complications rates.....

There is also a product called rainout guard. I believe you can find a provider who sells this product by checking on their website, www.rainoutguard.com

HM.... just a suggestion....

Have you looked at cloth mask liners? Remzzz's is one brand of disposable liners that I've tried and they work pretty well. Pad-a-Cheek is another vendor that makes thicker washable mask liners and strap pads.

I've also heard of some folks just taking an old sheet and making their own liners.

There are other sleep apnea support forums where you can post a question like yours and get comments and suggestions from a range of other CPAP users. Apneaboard.com is one I find active and supportive.

Good luck... hope this helps.

I have used "PAP" machines for 20+ years and only over the last 3 years used a humidifier. Humidifier(s) mean moisture and moisture is a/the key to causing sanitation problems. Drying/Cleaning the inside of your hose is very difficult. I have discovered a way to dry out the water tank, hose and mask seal each a.m. after I awake. (1) First I unplug my Respironics System 1 BiPAP Auto from the wall (2) Second I remove the SD memory chip (3) I pour out any water remaining in the humidifier tank (4) I put a little isopropyl alcohol in the tank and "slosh" it about to pick up the remaining water (5) I plug the BiPAP back in and restart the BiPAP and flow of air (6) I hang my mask from a coat/hat rack nearby The main thing I feel I am doing is removing the moisture which encourages bacteria growth... and I think the alcohol vapors also discourages bacteria growth.

Q - Let me know what you think about also adding a little hydrogen peroxide to the tank "brew" ? Regards, Sam

P.S. - With only a little alcohol added to my tank, I find that the tank, hose and mask dry out within 10 minutes. The tell-tale odor of the alcohol helps me to know when things have dried out. The Hydrogen peroxide would probably slow down the drying process, but don't you think it should help "sanitize" the BiPAP, hose, & mask ?

If you leave the cap off your bottle of Hydrogen peroxide the O2 will vaporize and you'll be left with water. Not sure what it might do mixed with alcohol. It's never a good idea to mix compounds like that I don't think. Rinsing your system with peroxide alone would clean it and residue would evaporate. Some alcohols leave a residue that you would be breathing along with the humidity on your next use. It would be interesting to list all of the different cleaning techniques and get some experts to comment. What do you all think?

I was told by the supply company to clean my mask and tank daily with water only. I don't think water alone can clean much of anything to a sterility that I would like to be putting on my face. I started to use a little mouthwash just in my mask and then rinse and air dry just to freshen it up a little. It still seems unsanitary though. It would be great to hear more from experts on the subject.

Welcome. Your best advice can be found in the flyer that came with your mask. The manufacturers provide the most up-to-date standard cleaning information for the materials used in the mask. If you no longer have the flyer, it can most likely be found on line on the manufacturer's website. Also, check the manual that came with your CPAP unit for humidifier cleaning recommendations. Always best to start with the best.

Before I got a heated hose, I made a scarf for my tube out of an old pantleg and some velcro. Wrapping the fabric around the tube helped keep it warmer, and prevented the rainout. I think you can buy this sort of thing, but I had a pair of old pants and velcro handy, and I didn't care if it looked nice as long as it got the job done.

My new machine does not have a heated hose, but if I pull most of the hose under the covers with me, that helps as well. If the machine is lower than your head, the rainout from the exposed part of the hose drips back into the reservoir.

I use Control spray and wipes. I have the hose brush (brush on end of 3' wire) I wrap a wipe on the brush end and push it through. I spray Control in humidifier and rinse it out. I use the wipes to clean my mask.

I will still clean the 'old'way...in baby shampoo. I use air produced by my very old first machine to dry the hose. I kept it just for that reason.

My insurance covers replacement of the masks, hoses, filters, etc. every three months, and the water container every six months. I go for it. Last thing I need is a bacteria buildup. Yes, I following the cleaning instructions, but I never get to the daily thing religiously.

Another oddity I experienced, when I didn't replace the mask/hoses every three months, I had a very itchy nose.

That is one problem that I don't think anyone will fix - how to scratch an itch on your nose with the mask on!

Barbz... Thanks for pointing out that IF one has an old machine [ I have 2 ] it can be used to push non-humidified air through the hose and mask to help dry these out each day after you are awake. Q - Where can I find the " Control spray & wipes " that you mention in your last POST... are these specifically marketed for " sanitizing " ??

I will definitely be adding a tube cleaning brush to my shopping list! Q - When does this "Blog"/"Bulletin Board" promote participants so they can have more than an # for their "handle" Regards, Sam Ross... aka "Member628307"

You can go to your account page and enter a user name and opt to upload a picture if you wish. I think you are probably registered as anonymous right now, hence the number only. https://myapnea.org/account