rose
Extremely helpful member
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2008
- Messages
- 2,925
- Reason
- DX MND
- Diagnosis
- 7/2008
- Country
- US
- State
- Maryland
- City
- Anytown
I know many use the vinegar and water to soak, but I have a friend who is a nurse and insisted that using "Control III" disinfectant germicide was cheaper to use than the vinegar, and safe for equipment. She explained how to use this method:
I buy the concentrated disinfectant (16 oz bottle) ... mix 1 ounce to a gallon of water. Keep that solution in a covered bucket. It will keep 14 days, and is re-usable. After mixing, I put part of the solution into a little spray bottle. I keep a second small spray bottle filled with water and just a few drops of dishwashing liquid.
Every morning, I dump out the leftover water in reservoir for the humidifier, spritz it with the soapy water, do the same with the mask, rinse them off with running water, spritz them with the disinfectant solution (it has to sit 10 min to completely kill all germs, so depending on how busy things are, I either let them sit for that long, or just rinse again) They probably don't even need this step, but its easy, so I do it.
Once a week I include the hose with all other parts that get washed. I spritz with soapy water, rinse, and then immerse everything in the bucket of solution for 10 minutes. (Which is less time than the vinegar takes)
Take them out, rinse rinse rinse, and hang the hose over the curtain rod in front of an open window. I've read where others turn on their machine to dry the hose, but my machine won't run unless its connected to a mask on my face, if there is no resistance to air pressure, it cuts off again. There may be a way to remove this feature from my machine, but, hanging in front of open window, or outside, works well enough.
We all know the washing hose is a hassle, but, at least that's only once a week. Having two hoses would make things even easier.
After 14 days have passed, I dump out the bucket after I'm done soaking. (I think it probably could be stretched to last longer, as we don't have to have our equipment sterile.)
Although it took a lot of typing to put this all down, its actually a very simple process for daily maintenance. Having the two spray bottles filled and ready for use is the best part.
I buy the concentrated disinfectant (16 oz bottle) ... mix 1 ounce to a gallon of water. Keep that solution in a covered bucket. It will keep 14 days, and is re-usable. After mixing, I put part of the solution into a little spray bottle. I keep a second small spray bottle filled with water and just a few drops of dishwashing liquid.
Every morning, I dump out the leftover water in reservoir for the humidifier, spritz it with the soapy water, do the same with the mask, rinse them off with running water, spritz them with the disinfectant solution (it has to sit 10 min to completely kill all germs, so depending on how busy things are, I either let them sit for that long, or just rinse again) They probably don't even need this step, but its easy, so I do it.
Once a week I include the hose with all other parts that get washed. I spritz with soapy water, rinse, and then immerse everything in the bucket of solution for 10 minutes. (Which is less time than the vinegar takes)
Take them out, rinse rinse rinse, and hang the hose over the curtain rod in front of an open window. I've read where others turn on their machine to dry the hose, but my machine won't run unless its connected to a mask on my face, if there is no resistance to air pressure, it cuts off again. There may be a way to remove this feature from my machine, but, hanging in front of open window, or outside, works well enough.
We all know the washing hose is a hassle, but, at least that's only once a week. Having two hoses would make things even easier.
After 14 days have passed, I dump out the bucket after I'm done soaking. (I think it probably could be stretched to last longer, as we don't have to have our equipment sterile.)
Although it took a lot of typing to put this all down, its actually a very simple process for daily maintenance. Having the two spray bottles filled and ready for use is the best part.