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CPAP Cleaning Hacks: How To Get Your CPAP Equipment Sparkling Clean

February 25, 2020

When it comes to CPAP equipment, we could all do with some good cleaning hacks. Just like keeping our house tidy, it is important that CPAP masks and machines are always kept in good condition. Find out below just how to get your CPAP equipment sparkling clean each and every time.

Why Having A Clean PAP Machine & Mask Is Vital

We’ve all been there. The strap on our headgear starts to look a little grubby but we say we’ll look after it later. “Later” then turns into days or weeks later. While you might think that delaying cleaning your PAP equipment is no big deal, you could actually be doing a lot of harm.

CPAP parts collect bacteria and germs daily. Masks share close proximity to both the mouth and nose, making them a breeding ground for infection. Without a regular cleaning routine, this build-up of bacteria will eventually make you sick or run the risk of re-infection.

Clean air is vital for CPAP therapy success. This is another reason why having clean CPAP equipment is necessary. If we fail to clean each part on a regular basis, it’s comprising the effectiveness of Sleep Apnea therapy.

Top CPAP Cleaning Hacks To Use

Want to know how often you should be cleaning? Read our post ‘You and Your CPAP Equipment: How Often Should It Be Cleaned?’

For CPAP Masks

Think you need a whole array of specialized cleaning products? All you really need for cleaning a CPAP mask is soapy water and a clean cloth.

As CPAP masks sit so close to the face, they collect the most bacteria. It’s for this reason that they should be your first port of call when cleaning. All you need to do is:

Disconnect the mask from any tubing.
Dissemble each part of the mask and remove the headgear.
Place the mask and headgear in the warm soapy water and let sit for 5 minutes.
Rinse each piece thoroughly with clean water and hang out of direct sunlight to air dry.
Let each part dry completely before wearing again that night.

Pro tip: Use wipes such as the Citrus II CPAP Cleansing Wipes every morning, especially if you’re always rushing and on the go. Quickly wipe down the mask with one of these in the morning and you’re ready for a bacteria-free night.

For CPAP Hose

Cleaning a CPAP hose is going to be trickier than other CPAP parts, mostly because of its length. Again, you will need soapy warm water but also another handy tool.

Place the tube in warm water and mild detergent. Let it swirl around for at least 5 minutes.
Use a tube brush to scrub the length of the hose thoroughly to remove any built-up deposits that may be trapped.
Hang on a towel rack to let it fully dry.
Repeat once a week for germ-free breathing.

Pro tip: Want to make sure that your CPAP hose is fully dry? If time permits, plug the tubing back into your machine and turn on the unit for a few minutes. Doing this will help to completely “blow dry” the inside of the tubing before use.

For CPAP Filters

How you clean CPAP filters will depend on which type you use. Disposable CPAP filters should be replaced at least every 2-6 months or as needed. You may find, depending on whether you live with animals or if you smoke, that filters will need to replaced sooner than this.

For reusable filters, however, follow these steps:

Remove the filters from the back of your CPAP machine.
Rinse them gently under warm water and squeeze out any excess moisture.
Using a clean dry towel, blot the filters dry and leave flat on a surface to air dry.

Remember: You can only use reusable filters up until a certain point (even if you wash them regularly). Eventually, they will deteriorate. When that begins to happen, you need to replace them.

For CPAP Machines

Finally, we can’t forget the machine itself. It’s true - the filters and mask are the most vital CPAP equipment parts to clean - but when it’s this simple then it is a pity not to.

Always unplug the machine first.
Gently wipe the outside casing of the machine with a damp cloth to remove any dust.
Dry gently with a clean towel.

For Water Chambers

If your machine comes with a humidifier or a water chamber, it is important that you don’t neglect this part of your unit. A water chamber should ideally be cleaned at least once a week to ensure that calcium and other minerals don’t build up on the surface. Here is how:

Remove the water chamber from the CPAP machine unit.
Using hot, soapy water or a mixture of distilled vinegar and water, wipe down the humidifier chamber.
Allow to air dry for at least one hour or as long as needed.

Remember, it is important that you only use distilled water for water chambers or unless instructed otherwise by the manufacturer guidelines.

Best CPAP Sanitizers To Have In Your Cleaning Arsenal

We always recommend you find time to manually clean your CPAP equipment on a regular basis. But we also know that you are only human. Another pro tip is to use a CPAP cleaner and sanitizer. The Lumin UV light sanitizer is great for this purpose.

Not only will this CPAP cleaner easily sanitizer all CPAP parts including your mask, tubing, machine and water chamber in as little as 5 minutes. It also is believed to be the easiest and safest way to disinfect your CPAP equipment. All you have to do is connect the sanitizer to your machine and it does all the work. It’s that simple.