Sleep Apnea Support Group

I don't know for sure and so it's a guess.
Why can't they just be washed and rinsed supper good?

Are you talking about the dark gray foam filters? (Not the "micro-filters" that trap out the smallest dust but the basic foam filter). Yours may not be gray but if they're foam just get a little basin or large bowl and fill it with warm water and little Ivory dishwashing liquid (the original kind with no scent, "moisturizers", or anything. This is what you should be washing all your stuff in (not like Dove soap which has moisturizing cream, etc.).

What I do is put a few drops in the basin and then run the water on top of where the drops are as this will make it foam up (you don't much foam; you'll just need a drop or two of Ivory at most). Then put your filter down in it and just squeeze, let it go ("snap back to shape"), squeeze, repeat, etc. a few times. If the water is noticeably dirty. Empty the water and repeat. Once it's washed, empty the bowl, rinse it out with cool, clear water and fill it with clean water. Then just repeat the squeeze, release process until all the soap is out. You can also run water out of the faucet over it will squeezing, etc. until all the soap is out.

Then just give it a couple of good squeezes (I ball my up and squeeze it as small as I can but don't tear it up!) until all the water is out. Then just lay it somewhere out of the sun (I put mine under the ceiling fan for quicker drying but it doesn't take long at all either way) until it's dry. Just make sure when you lay it out to dry it's back in "shape" (not twisted or curved, etc.). I lay mine with one end on the table and the other leaning against a book so air can circulate all around it.

That's about it!

some filters arent designed to be cleaned but must be replaced when clogged, ask about whether yours can be washed

Thanks for all of the replies. I've been washing it with dish soap and rinsing it out like some people have mentioned. I'm on the second filter and it only came with two. I have a bottle of bleach/water solution that I use for disenfecting the counters and stuff. It's mostly water. I sprayed a little on the filter and rinsed it out and it did get much whiter.

What I'm wondering is what to do when they get too worn. The first one had been cleaned so many times and it really got in bad shape so I replaced it. I'm wondering what I could use to replace it with without paying the outrageous prices the medical supply houses charge. Plus I'm cheap. Any other ideas?

I clean my hoses with vinegar water - let them soak and then air dry...learned this thru my mother's breathing machine and hospice.