CPAP product reviews and other helpful tips for CPAP users!
Tell-tale Signs You Need To Replace Your CPAP Equipment
- DAILY: You can prevent any surprises by checking your CPAP equipment daily; take a quick look at your mask and tubing after every use, especially after cleaning and drying it. Look for any small cracks or signs of wear.
- SEASONALLY: Give your equipment a thorough once-over every three months. You can do this at the start of every season - that’ll make it easy to remember. Typically, CPAP parts like mask cushions, headgear and tubing start breaking down around the 3-month mark.
- DAYLIGHT SAVING: You should be giving your CPAP equipment a thorough check about every 6 months. A good reminder might be the switch to and from Daylight Saving Time. It might also be a good time to replace your mask, water chamber and headgear. It helps that most private health insurance covers replacements every 6 months.
21 Day Beat The Dirt Challenge
Have you ever wondered, “If I clean my pajamas once a week; how often should I be cleaning my CPAP equipment?” Well, the answer is simple, you should be cleaning the mask daily while washing the tubing and water chamber at least once a week.
“Why should I be cleaning my mask when I do not see any dirt on the surface?” Germs and bacteria are not visible to our eyes. There are also debris that are hidden within your mask that you probably do not see when you are putting on your mask at night. Facial oils, skin residue or simply dust trapped within the mask cushion are all considered dirt you would breathe in if you do not wash your CPAP equipment thoroughly. Inhaling mold and bacteria growing in your CPAP equipment may compromise your overall health as well.
To remove dirt and oils and prevent buildup, we’ve linked a few items that might help you get through this daily process more efficiently:
SoClean 2 Ozone Sanitizing Device
Simply wipe down the mask cushion and surface with some mask wipes and/or sanitize the mask using the SoClean 2 or Lumin. Wash the tubing and water chamber with distilled water and mild soup. Make sure you hang the tubing upside down to allow the water within the tubing to escape and dry. Just remember to avoid leaving your equipment directly under sunlight as it could damage the supplies.
It takes 21 days to form a new habit and we challenge you to take a 21 Day Beat The Dirt CPAP Cleaning Challenge! By the end of this; I’m sure your CPAP equipment are sparkling clean and your new cleaning habit has hopefully been formed. Now that your CPAP equipment are clean, maybe it’s time to wash your pajamas!
Lumin CPAP Cleaner & Personal Sanitizer Review
CPAP Sanitizer & Cleaner Machine Review: The Lumin™
Today we will be reviewing the Lumin™ CPAP cleaner & sanitizer, providing our pros and cons of this unit from our own experiences, including feedback from our clients across North America.
Earlier this year, we started carrying a relatively new sanitizing device called the Lumin™ (made by 3B Medical) as an alternative to the very popular SoClean 2 CPAP sanitizing device. The Lumin™ is a sanitizer for everyday household objects like toothbrushes, baby bottles, smartphones, dentures etc... but is also marketed as a CPAP equipment cleaner.
According to the manufacturer, the Lumin™ CPAP Cleaner & Personal Sanitizer is a waterless sanitizing device that operates by emitting a high energy light within a narrow spectrum referred to as UV-C. They claim this UV light will disinfect up to 99% of detrimental bacteria, pathogens and fungi that can cause infection and illness on items placed inside the chamber.
Simply place household items you wish to sanitize into the chamber, close it and press start and the special UV bulb does all the dirty work. The manufacturer describes this method as the safest disinfection option on the market.
Lumin CPAP Cleaner Review: Here’s What We Think
What Are The Pros Of The Lumin™?
- It's a quick 5-minute cycle to kill most bacteria and mould on a surface: It takes the same amount of time to brush your teeth in the morning so you can easily sanitize items while you get ready for work or while you are giving your children breakfast.
- Minimal set-up: It took a couple of minutes from taking it out of the box to our very first sanitizing cycle. The instructions are easy to follow and self-explanatory.
- Versatile device: You can clean and sanitize almost anything you have around the house - sunglasses, headphones, baby bottles, cell phones etc.
- It is competitively priced compared to the SoClean 2: Besides the bulb, there are no replacement parts, such as filters and adapters.
- No lasting smell: There is no odour associated with the usage of the Lumin™.
What Are The Cons Of This CPAP Cleaning Machine?
- Cleaning is limited: The Lumin™ CPAP Cleaner and Personal Sanitizer cannot disinfect the inside of your CPAP machine because the UV light cannot reach the inside. You can use the device to sanitize your mask, standard hose and water chamber.
- The drawer opening to the chamber is not very big: There are limits to what you can and cannot fit into the chamber. This can be frustrating for some users.
- Metallic lining can cause scratches: We found that, if you're not careful, you can scratch yourself or your stuff on the drawer's metallic lining. As long as you're not rushing, this shouldn't be an issue.
Our Honest Verdict: What We Really Think Of The Lumin™ CPAP Cleaner & Personal Sanitizing Device
Overall, we think the Lumin™ is a great cleaning product for CPAP equipment but is it right for you? Well, that depends.
In our opinion, if you have little children or elderly family members who are susceptible to getting sick, it is a handy device to have in the house to keep bacteria at bay. The Lumin™ will help keep you healthy and keep your mask from smelling like an old running shoe. But if you're looking to disinfect your CPAP machine inside and out -- motor and all -- you might want to consider an alternative like the SoClean 2.