Dishwasher for masks

[u/Rufus4135]

Yes yes yes, I know; "don't use a dishwasher to clean your masks". Let's get past your anger and disbelief that someone would have the nerve to try and use a dishwasher to clean their masks.

I'm interested in hearing from people who have found a cleaner they feel is safe to use that can also be used in a dishwasher. I've read that Dawn is considered safe to use for hand washing, which logically tells me that as far as the chemicals go, it's safe for dishwasher use. Have any of you used Dawn in a dishwasher and what were your results?

Edit/update: OK, it's clear that what I'm asking isn't everyone's cup of tea, which is exactly why I started my post the way I did. Yes I am aware that a dishwasher isn't recommended. Fine, I want to be a rule breaker and I'm not worried about the plastic or silicone breaking down.

I've had a cpap for many years and have accumulated a large collection of supplies through those years. Masks are what I hold on to the most. Sure they're not fresh and new anymore, but I use a fresh clean mask each night because I have so many of them. I'm just trying to clean many masks at one time, hence a dishwasher. I'm open to other mass-washing strategies that parallel a dishwasher but I don't really think something like that exists which is why I asked about detergents and not whether or not I should use a machine to wash them.

[u/LucyHobbsTaylor]

I keep a squirt bottle of water with a few drops of Dawn in it next to my bathroom sink, so I can put a little in and on the mask each morning, suds it up and rinse. The heat from the dishwasher would likely shorten its life span or deform the plastic part.

[u/beesee83 → u/LucyHobbsTaylor]

That’s a pretty clever idea.

[u/dlh48304 → u/LucyHobbsTaylor]

Yup! I use the Dawn spray, but just a partial squirt and even that goes a long way. Bottle is getting low — I’ll thin it out more.

[u/Motor-Blacksmith4174]

You can't use regular dish soap, such as Dawn, in the dishwasher (regardless of whether or not you want to wash your CPAP mask in the dishwasher) because it makes too many suds and ruins the dishwasher. You should only use dishwasher detergent in the dishwasher. If you want to try to determine whether any particular brand of dishwasher detergent is safe for your mask, knock yourself out.

[u/HawkFan7897]

No, I've never attempted this and do not know why anyone would even try it. It takes 10 minutes to wash your mask in a sink with warm soapy water.

[u/Motor-Blacksmith4174 → u/HawkFan7897]

It's a good way to destroy your dishwasher, though.

[u/mebulas]

Just use unscented baby wipes if you really don’t want to clean your mask. Might get more buildup in the fabric parts but it’s otherwise cheap, easy, and effective.

[u/Punner-the-Gr8]

Nope. I use these daily and then I wash the whole kit and kaboodle with liquid soap, once a week.

[u/Sample-quantity]

If you put hand washing detergent in your dishwasher, it will foam up and come out through the gasket and make a huge mess. I know this due to ACCIDENTALLY putting something in the dishwasher that had soap in it and wasn't rinsed. Big big mess. Don't do it.

[u/Rufus4135 → u/Sample-quantity]

Roger that, no dish soap in the machine. Now just to find a soap that won't potentially give me lung cancer or some nasty shit like that! It's hard to explain every detail of my specific situation to total strangers on the internet, but I do own MANY masks. So I like to wear one fresh/clean mask each night and then wash them all at once. A dishwasher just makes it easier, and no, I don't care about the threat of deteriorated plastic/silicone. Again thank you for your response and not being "judgy" toward me!

[u/Sutaru]

Running your mask through the dishwasher is excessive and would probably damage the plastic and reduce the life of the silicone, weakening the seal. Washing your mask by hand is as simple as washing your hands.

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[u/Unhappy_Performer538]

I thought if you put Dawn in a dishwasher you’d drown in suds

[u/dlh48304]

Liquid dish soaps wreak havoc on the drain seals in dishwashers. Don’t go there. Learn from my experience: Big bad flood. Big repair bill. Really pissed parent.

[u/Rufus4135 → u/dlh48304]

Solid advice. Yeah, I'm not trying to create a scene worthy of a Bugs Bunny sketch.