How to Clean CPAP Tubing | Do you need a tube brush??

How to Clean and Dry a CPAP Tube. Can you use the cpap machine to dry the tube?
Rinse with Warm Water: Rinse the inside of the tube with warm water to remove any visible dirt or dust. You can let the water run through the tube for a few minutes.
Use Mild Soap: Add a small amount of mild soap to warm water. Submerge the tube in the soapy water and gently swirl it around. If you have a CPAP tube brush, gently insert the brush into the tube and scrub the inside to clean it thoroughly. Be careful not to damage the tube.
Rinse Thoroughly: After scrubbing, rinse the tube thoroughly with clean, warm water to remove all soap residue. It's important to ensure no soap remains inside as it could be inhaled.
Vinegar Rinse for Deep Cleaning (Optional): If you're doing a deep clean, you can also rinse the tube with a mixture of one part white vinegar and three parts water. This helps to disinfect the tube. After the vinegar rinse, make sure to rinse the tube again thoroughly with warm water to remove any vinegar smell.
Dry: Hang the tube up in a well-ventilated area to air dry. Dry any remaining water with the air from your CPAP machine.
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[@heatherschall-lucas9971]

You are a bright beacon in my completely stressful new CPAP life. Thank you for all you do! Keep up the great attitude!

[@jpearson535]

I used the mask fit program to air-dry the tube. It works pretty well, and the angry red face on the machine kind of feels like pay back for waking up to mask leaks and those times the tube smacked me in the face. Thanks for the videos--they've helped me a lot as I get use to using the CPAP.

[@hijeanniehere]

This was a super helpful video. Thank you for actually showing us the entire process (with water!). I've always hated cleaning my tubing because I get water everywhere and it's so hard to keep the electronic component dry. Now im not going to worry about it and im going to start using my tub. Its nice to see a video with a host who has personality!

[@MB-mw2eb]

I think your videos are great! There is so much information that you don’t learn about when getting the machine. They are clear and concise. You have such a pleasant and sweet way of describing what is a very frustrating but necessary thing to wear at night. I like your matter-of-fact approach. It would, however, be really helpful if you could have the masks name, photo, and description at the very end of the video. I feel like I have to rewatch the video several times to figure out which one is which again. I’m very happy that you make these videos and they are extremely helpful. Thank you so much.

[@CosmicPotato]

Thanks for the video. ResMed has a video on their YT channel showing the tube being completely submerged as well, and responded to a comment saying it can be submerged just make sure the electronic connector is dry before hooking it up.

[@thecpapstore]

Did this video help? Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts! Monty Elite : thecpapstore.ca/collections/cleaning/products/monty-elite-tube-brush-blue-handle

[@strebis6]

This is exactly what I was looking for.

[@LikeaGlove90]

Some great tips here mate! I'm gonna have to get myself a cleaning tote/box/container/receptical/plastic tub etc and a microfibre... I thought I was doing a good things having a toothbrush to get into the crevices but obviously now thats a terrible idea! Thanks!

[@TK-jc9by]

Thanks. I've been soaking my tube, including electronic portion, for 20 minutes. Will definitely cut down the time for that end of tube!

[@jeffblunt4406]

Great video - especially for new CPAP users. Had no idea tube brushes esist! And 100% agree that it's ok to (briefly) get the heated tube connecters wet while cleaning. I've been doing it for years with no problem. He advises against hanging the tube over the shower, but I will say that I've do it all the time with no problem. I also don't worry about using the machine to dry the tube. As he says, if you do your cleaning in the morning, it's mostly dry by bedtime. So I just go ahead an use it even with a few water drop with no problem. Really, it's the fact that the mask straps don't fully dry and are still a bit damp that is slightly annoying at first. Thanks for this video.

[@saldomino1639]

Great Video ! I try all the time to dry my hose with the machine guess what it shuts off after a minute any suggestions I have an Airsense10

[@iSheree]

Some people's showers have a sharp metal edge that can damage or kink the hose. I wouldn't hang mine up in my shower personally. I guess it is up to everyone to exercise common sense and decide for themselves if it is ok to hang the tubing over their shower. I am a new CPAP user and I just did my first weekly cleaning a couple of days ago and my tube wasn't dry by bedtime so I ran the machine to dry it. I felt like I was doing something wrong if I didn't haha. It is a shame that all the parts are expensive for me (pensioner in Australia who has no insurance or anything that helps me pay for them, I was lucky that my dad was able to buy the machine for me), so I can't have a second lot to rotate out when something hasn't fully dried.

[@iSheree]

@@TK-jc9by we have Medicare here in Australia but its probably not the same. :( I am expecting to replace the tubing once a year, mask every 6 months. I think its crazy that people get to replace parts so frequently.

[@TK-jc9by]

@@iSheree Sorry you must pay for CPAP. Parts are expensive. Medicare covers mine and replaces tubing every three months. Of course, I paid into Social Security for years, and Medicare is deducted from my Social Security each month. But at least I don't have to worry about it now.

[@iSheree]

@@TK-jc9by it is good that you can replace parts regularly. I hope mine lasts as long as possible so I can save up for them lol.

[@wendynicholson927]

Great video and really helpful!

[@taliaha8053]

Cool way to dry

[@adila2442]

I was told when cleaning to do dye free dish soap like ivory. I was told Dawn dish soap is bad for machine. No one told me about brushes for tubes. I ordered one from amazon yesterday. On the MyAir app they show cleaning video. The face part is daily clean but the big tube is weekly clean. Your videos helped me choose a mask better for my face and other things the app/book manual dont tell me. I am more concerned with 1. Something to hold up tubes by my bed so its less messy 2. Machine to dry the stuff quick 3. A Routine around using the CPAP + getting familiar with it as new CPAP user. Schedule to get new parts (3-6 months), getting new filters every month, showing a night routine and morning routine for CPAP machine use. Tracking progress, address hiccups, etc 4. Travel with CPAP - whats your experience, tips, tricks, can you use on airplane, what to bring, etc. I am new at this but share what the MyAir app doesnt give us details on.

[@TK-jc9by]

I also read that Dawn is hard on the machine. I use Seventh Generation fragrance free dish soap from Target.

[@davetoms63]

I drop a few drops of dawn in tube, hold up to kitchen faucet and fill tube. Then I swish the water back in forth of tube. I then hold it back to kitchen faucet and run water until it's clear. To dry it I hold the tube in the center and then swing it hard in circles. Done in 2 minutes. I don't clean the tube but once a week and I never clean the machine. I have been doing this for over 15 years and I have never had a respitory infections. I also never use water or heat in my cpap, just air.

[@BigMex777]

Thank you!!!!!

[@aaronrdz9572]

I have the Hurricane dryer and it's heated air. Does that compromise the parts put in to dry? I attach the tube, mask parts, and water tank.

[@kopite1967]

I use Ozone Tube cleaner Monday to Saturday, but on Sunday I wash it with Fairy Liqiuid Original by submersing in Bowl for half an hour, I then rinse it through with cold water, I then dry it along with my humidifier tank and mask parts in the Hurricane Drier for 1 hour. When I use my Ozone cleaner, I finish off by running my BiPAP with the tube attached for a couple of minutes to get rid of residue chemical smell in the tube, I don't at anytime attach the Ozone cleaner to my BiPAP, just the tube which iI put in a Sealable lid Box before turning the Ozone cleaner on, I then leave it the box for a couple of hours.

[@BUZZKILLJRJR]

Thank you for making thease videos, mine won't continue to run without the mask attached and I'm just started out.

[@fluffy4866]

Just turn smart start off then it will work. You can Google how to turn it off. Then turn it on after you have dried the tube

[@vivian2077]

Even when turning auto start/stop off, machine stops says leak detected. Any suggestions? Resmed airsense 11

[@gweno9901]

Thank you! One thing I don't really understand is, why is the aim to get the hose as dry as possible when it's going to be filled with moist air?

[@elyset911]

Moisture breeds bacteria. Even though there is moisture in it for up to 8 hours, dry it so any bacteria that is in there dies. Think of a dog’s water bowl that isn’t washed for a while. It gets slimy inside 🤢🤮

[@gweno9901]

@@elyset911 Thank you. That makes sense. 🙂

[@fitybux4664]

How many people do you think do this weekly, as it's recommended? 😆

[@kenfhill84083]

At about 5:00 you hang the tubing in the bathroom. I'd be concerned about toilet plume contaminating it - and anything else you let dry in the bathroom. Otherwise, I liked the video and others on your channel.

[@Origami_River]

I’m ready to leave my sleep apnea machine. I need to lose weight first

[@WillLav2012]

I’ve been using a cpap machine for almost 18 years. I am currently have an ResMed AirCurve S10 with the ClimateAir heated tubing. Unfortunately the L-shape of the machine end connector makes it impossible to use a tube brush and the mask end has the insert preventing insertion of a brush. What’s the best cleaning technique. Thanks

[@thecpapstore]

Hi there. You might want to just soak it in vinegar for a bit. 2 parts white vinegar / 3 parts water. Do this for 25min and rinse out. Try to dry it out as soon as possible, to further reduce bacteria. Nothing more you can do, but if you do that regularly enough it should be fine. This video is definitely a best case scenario.

[@jpbaley2016]

The airsense 10 tubing has a major problem. Because poor design gave the tube a 90 degree elbow at one end, which precludes putting a brush down that end. The other end has that rather large protrusion protecting the ends of the tube’s heating element so you can’t put the brush through the tube at that end. It is very annoying. I had bought years ago (can’t find it anymore) a hose hanger, which you can not just drape the hose over, but fits the ends of the tubes in the slots so it holds both ends of the tube up and you can fill your tube. I use unscented castille soap not detergent. I pour the hot, soapy water in the tube and hang it, both ends up, and let it soak for 15 min. Then, holding both ends, I bring up one end and then the other to vigorously swish the solution inside the tube. I rinse the tube out. I make 2+ cups of 30% vinegar solution, pour it in (tube holds about 2 cups), hang the tube ends up for another 15 min and then rinse. ResMed designed the tubes and humidification chamber to make them difficult to clean, thereby forcing a 6 month replacement.

[@giri5641]

Thank you for making this. Wondering if Tap water can be used to clean CPAP parts? I have read somewhere that sterile or distilled water is recommended. That being said, ResMed videos also show the parts being cleaned via tap water. Curious if anyone has any thoughts on this?

[@thecpapstore]

Clean with tap water is not an issue at all. Some people rinse with distilled, but tap water is 100% fine.

[@EzramvanRijnberk]

When I got my machine, the resmed guy that was explaining it, said that while the instructions recommend distilled or boiled, the only thing that using tap water may cause is 'lime scale' (? according to translate :) ). The white calcium residue, which can easily be cleaned off with a bit of vinegar every now and then.

[@earlt911]

I don't remember you saying how often does the machine and tubes need to be cleaned?

[@dotjohnson4247]

Weekly. Daily is the mouth and nose part of the mask and the water chamber. You can take off the face piece from everything else... I looked at videos from four places in KZbin to learn everything I needed to use and clean my CPAP.😊

[@jmurphy6767]

Here’s what scares me. If there’s anything in your tube - or anywhere in your equipment - to clean out it’s already been blowing under pressure into your lungs for many hours a night. Of course, you don’t want it to grow more but even a tiny bit of bacteria, mold, etc. could be horrible. Anectodally, it doesn’t seem to be an issue but has this been formally studied at any level?

[@NoLefTurnUnStoned.]

You’re breathing in pollutants and bacteria all day every day of your life. Having said that I now clean my cpap mask AND tubing every day.

[@tonyledrew9560]

When I hook hose to machine to dry as you show here ,after a few seconds the machine stops because it detects a leak

[@thecpapstore]

To stop your CPAP machine from automatically turning off, you will need to turn off your SmartStop or AutoStop feature in your device. You may find this in settings. If not, you will have to go into the clinical menu. We have videos for each machine, but for the AirSense 11 for example, hold the Purple and Blue Buttons (My Options and My Sleep View) for 5 seconds until the Clinical Menu appears. Here, you can adjust your SmartStart and SmartStop settings.

[@debvoltolina6143]

My hose os a;ways wet after washing .. even a week later it will still have water in it

[@barbp2768]

After washing the tube, I attach the tube to the CPAP machine and turn it on to blow air only. Be sure to spread the tube straight. I place a hand towel under the end of the tube to protect the bedspread from water coming out. I use Ivory dish soap to clean the tubes and water chamber. Also, I water down the Ivory dish soap and use a soap pump. Also, cold water is used for rinsing to remove the soap bubbles.

[@tonyledrew9560]

​​@@barbp2768if I do that the machine will stop b/c it detects a airleak

[@TK-jc9by]

Mine, too. I've had my CPAP machine for almost six months now, so insurance has replaced my tube/hose three times. Now I replace the wet tube with a previous one that is finally dry! Before I had extra tubes, I used the drying method in this video and suggested by @barbp2768 below. I have not had a problem with machine stopping. Also, I use Seventh Generation dish soap from Target.

[@debvoltolina6143]

@@tonyledrew9560 mine works I do loans up hook g it up the next day after 24 hours of air drying

[@hagakuru]

Is there a reason why people just don't buy an ozone sanitizer cleaner like SoClean 2? I get that people with oily skin and/or wear makeup want to get that crap off - but other than that?

[@chiisuchi1102]

It will void the warranty and the ozone can release its own kind of unnecessary chemicals

[@michaelhunt8739]

Dude! We're busy...keep it under 2 min. Geez.

[@BartHugo]

on the bottom right of thumbnails, you can see how long a video is...

[@TK-jc9by]

I appreciate all the detais.

[@NoLefTurnUnStoned.]

Love it when people complain about free advice 🙄

[@hijeanniehere]

I was happy to have a realistic video instead of some dude sitting at a table talking about cleaning.