A clean mask every day makes CPAP a much better experience

Mask Care Advice From Dr. Zoroufy

Every day I hear complaints about how the mask does not seal correctly, slides to one side in the night, needs to be put on so tightly it is painful and a long list of other complaints.

I ask, quite innocently, "How often do you wash your mask?"

I get answers like, "I try to do it once a week." If they try to do it once a week that means they are probably not succeeding to do it that often. I will even get answers like, "I was supposed to wash that thing? It looks fine to me."

Keeping mask or nasal pillows and headgear is not only hygienic and will help prolong the life of your mask, it will also help your mask seal better against your skin. The problem is that adding another long procedure to your daily routine is not likely to be welcome. Some of the official instructions recommend filling the sink and using dish soap and soaking in an undertaking lasting 15 precious minutes as you are trying to get yourself and possibly your children out the door on time on a busy morning.

Here is a much easier technique that works well and leaves your mask smelling nice at the end of the day.

When your morning alarm rings and you remove your mask, disconnect it from the tubing and shuffle to the bathroom where you hang the mask in the shower. Do not take the mask apart.

When you take your shower the steps of washing the mask are as follows:

1. Hold the mask and headgear in the water until it is all wet.
2. Use a small amount of liquid soap or shampoo to wash all surfaces and headgear. Key word: "small" amount. If you use too much you will be rinsing soap out for a long time. Remember, you will be doing this every day, so it will not be that dirty. Avoid expecially greasy, slimy soaps or they will build up on your mask. The whole process should take only a few minutes. If you spend more than 5 minutes, you are taking too long.
3. Rinse your mask.
4. Shake it out and hang it up
5. Get your mask the next night. It should be dry or nearly dry.
6. *** As a courtesy, tell others in the household you will be leaving your mask in the shower.
7. Once a week take the tube into the shower, wash it and hang it with a similar procedure.
8. The CPAP machine itself does NOT get washed in the shower.

I hope this advice makes your CPAP use better and easier.

Darius Zoroufy, M.D.