I have a ResMed Autoset Vantage CPAP. The reservoir for the humidifier has developed a little pink bacterial film along the seam.

I clean it every day or two, and have encountered the beginning of a bacterial film once before. I was able to get it clean  with tissues and/or paper towel and a chop stick. But where the film is now, I can't reach it with anything like a chop stick.

I've cleaned it with my normal CPAP cleaner, shaking vigorously, and also let it soak in straight vinegar for an entire day, all to no avail.

I'm looking for some ideas to get it clean. What haven't I tried that's likely to be successful?

Thanks!
Bill


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Bill Treloar
my website: Rank Magic

Perhaps put some water and some uncooked rice in the humidifier and then shake it.

Uncooked rice -- great idea. Thanks!

I hope it doesn't scratch the plastic, though. I guess I'll look to see how much a replacement reservoir costs, just in case.


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Bill Treloar
my website: Rank Magic

I don't think that they are very expensive from cpap.com and some other online stores.  Regular uncooked rice shouldn't scratch it; dried instant or parboiled rice may have sharp edges.  You could also dry dried beans instead of rice.

I have cleaned out several motorcycle gas tanks using sand, gravel, and water -- that would scratch your humidifier.

Thanks! Looking closely at the film, it's so close to a seam (an inside corner) that I don't think the rice would reach it. It doesn't extend more than 1/16" from the corner, and my rice doesn't seem to be "pointy" enough to get in there. Crumbled egg shells might have a better chance....


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Bill Treloar
my website: Rank Magic

I didn't tell you this, but diluted chlorine laundry bleach may remove it.  The problem is that bleach can etch or damage aluminum, and your water chamber probably has an aluminum bottom or disk.  You might be able to add and rinse the bleach solution without it touching the aluminum.  Rinse it with vinegar to remove the bleach smell.

I clean mine with dish soap (dawn) and warm water.  Is this bad?  My DME told me to use that for cleaning.  I clean everythign with dish soap and warm water in fact.

I use Dawn too and it is OK.  Chlorine bleach is hard on humidifier water chambers because it will etch aluminum, and water chambers usually have aluminum plates.

This is actually a question I have asked yet. I've only been using mine for a week. They said not to use antibacterial soap and that is really hard to find. Everything is antibacterial!

How do you guys clean your masks also?

Bill,

Doesn't your humidifier tank come apart?

Runningbare


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I am an engineer not a doctor. All of my suggestions are from my own experience and not medical advice. All information should be discussed with your doctor before implementation.

Respironics M Series APAP w/C-Flex & heated humidifier & Optilife Mask

How long have you had your water chamber? The resmed uses Hi3 or Hi4 humidifier chambers and they don't really come apart like others. If you have the Hi3 it supposed to be a "life time" chamber. The Hi4 are made so you can replace them depending on your insurance every 6months.

Have you tried a bottle brush?

Have you tried the products that are made for regular room humidifiers? The pink is a mold.

maf79 wrote:

This is actually a question I have asked yet. I've only been using mine for a week. They said not to use antibacterial soap and that is really hard to find. Everything is antibacterial!

How do you guys clean your masks also?

I use a Fisher & Paykel Forma mask and I just pop the seal part off and wash it using dish soap and warm water in a tupperware.  Then I hand dry it.  I wash the rest of the mask once every few weeks.  It doesn't really get that dirty.  The seal gets oily though and I wash it about every other day.

maf79 wrote:

How do you guys clean your masks also?

I use regular (blue) Dawn dishwashing liquid.  If you have an odor left over from the Dawn, you can remove it with vinegar mixed with water 1:1.  A 1:1 vinegar solution by itself may be good enough to clean your mask.

Bearded One wrote:

I didn't tell you this, but diluted chlorine laundry bleach may remove it.  The problem is that bleach can etch or damage aluminum, and your water chamber probably has an aluminum bottom or disk.  You might be able to add and rinse the bleach solution without it touching the aluminum.  Rinse it with vinegar to remove the bleach smell.

I use bleach too.  I leave it sit for a while, then I stuff in a piece of cloth and push it around with a dowell., pull it out, and rinse.  I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one with scum in my tank.  The pink film is most likely Serratia marcescens bacteria, the same stuff you may see in the toilet bowel or perhaps hanging onto the bottom of the shower curtain; It's airborne, it's everywhere.


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My life was restarted on June 29th, 2007

58 yr. male
pre-CPAP apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 64
ResMed S8 Escape w/humidifier
ResMed Mirage Swift II nasal pillows system
Prescribed for a 6 but I like to fool with things, and prefer 7