In the event you use one, you already know how necessary your continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is. When you might have a sleep problem like sleep apnea, your CPAP is the important thing to keeping you respiration normally whilst you sleep. It could help lower your risk of stroke, improve your cognitive functions and memory, and lower and control your blood pressure.
So, it’s necessary to know the way to clean and maintain it so you may get essentially the most out of its health advantages. It could take a while to get used to your CPAP machine, but when you get the hang of it, you’ll want to keep your CPAP clean and freed from mold and harmful bacteria.
Below, we’ll go over how to clean the parts of your CPAP machine, in addition to how often it’s best to clean it and why maintenance is so necessary. We’ll also provide another helpful information to keep your CPAP running the best way it should.
Cleansing your CPAP equipment keeps it functioning properly and safely
CPAP machines are manufactured from several parts, all of which require maintenance and cleansing. These often include:
- A humidifier with a water tank, though not all machines have one
- A mask or face covering that matches either over your nose, or your nose and your mouth, with straps to help position and keep your mask in place
- A tube that connects the mask to the motor
- An air filter to purify the air you breathe
- A motor that blows air into the tube under mild pressure
Check your CPAP owner’s manual for advice specific to your machine, and be certain that to see if there are any cleansing methods you shouldn’t use or that will void the warranty.
How to clean your CPAP humidifier’s water tank
Before you start disassembling your CPAP to clean its tank, be certain that your machine is unplugged. If your CPAP has an integrated battery, check the owner’s manual for the way to best disassemble and clean it. There are two ways to clean your tank:
- On a weekly basis, use a light soap, like dish soap, and warm water to hand wash the inside the tank, then rinse thoroughly with warm water and let it air dry.
- As needed, soak the tank in an answer of three parts water and one part distilled white vinegar (with 5% acidity) for half-hour, then rinse well with warm water and leave it out to air dry.
In the event you’re using a vinegar solution, it’s best to start by cleansing your CPAP’s tank, because it has to soak for some time. When it’s time to refill your tank, use distilled water as an alternative of standard tap water, as minerals and bacteria from tap water can dirty the tank.
How to clean your CPAP mask
Wash the cushion on a each day basis – ideally within the morning. Use hot water and mild dish soap, or a CPAP mask cleansing wipe to clean the cushion. Leave it to air dry in the course of the day.
Don’t use anything harsh, like alcohol or bleach, to clean the cushion. They’ll leave residue behind that could be harmful to you in case you breathe it in, in addition to harmful to your skin. They also can damage the cushion.
On a weekly basis, disassemble your mask into three parts: cushion, frame and headgear. Using a towel and mild detergent or dish soap, wipe down the frame and headgear, and leave them to air dry. Be certain you don’t reassemble the mask until all parts are completely dry.
How to clean your CPAP hose
Be certain your CPAP is unplugged before you disconnect the hose. Place a drop of mild soap within the rubber end of the hose, then flush the hose with warm water in your sink or bathtub until it runs clear. There are brushes made specifically for CPAP machines, so think about using one to be certain that the hose is thoroughly cleaned.
Once the hose is fully clean, hang it up to air dry. When it’s fully dried, you may reconnect it to the machine.
How to clean your CPAP air filter
The air filter is one of the necessary parts of your CPAP, each for your health and for the standard of the device. There are two varieties of filters – disposable and reusable – and a few CPAP machines could have each.
To clean a reusable filter, be certain that your CPAP is unplugged after which remove the filter, which is often positioned on the back of the device. Rinse thoroughly and leave it to completely dry before putting it back within the machine.
Disposable filters will not be made to be reused or cleaned. To be certain that you’re getting the very best quality air possible, disposable filters must be checked periodically, then modified each one to two months – or sooner if it’s visibly dirty.
There are numerous things that may damage the integrity of your CPAP machine, and so they’re mostly preventable with regular and thorough maintenance. Cleansing and replacing your CPAP parts as needed is significant for your health, and to the lifetime of the CPAP and its parts.
Some of the necessary reasons to clean your CPAP machine and its parts is to limit your exposure to dust, germs, mold and other allergens and irritants that may grow in and enter the varied parts of the machine – potentially causing illnesses like pneumonia and sinus infections.
It’s also necessary to usually clean the parts that touch your skin, just like the mask, as a unclean mask may cause skin irritation, soreness and pimples. A unclean mask also can affect the seal of your mask against your face, meaning it won’t work the best way it should.
Reducing your exposure to germs with a machine that works the best way it should, you’re more likely to experience higher overall health – and a greater night’s sleep.
When it’s best to clean your CPAP machine
How continuously it’s best to clean your device varies based on which part needs cleansing. It also will depend on the air quality of your home and in case you’ve had a respiratory illness recently. The actual CPAP unit that plugs into the wall will be cleaned or dusted as needed, but these individual parts need to be cleaned more continuously:
- Humidifier tank – Ideally, the water must be replaced each day, and it’s best to clean the tank once per week.
- Mask – The cushion must be cleaned each day, because it sits directly on your skin. The mask itself must be disassembled and cleaned weekly to avoid contact with dust, bacteria and other contaminants.
- Hose – This must be cleaned weekly to sanitize the hose for the air that enters your lungs.
- Filter – Disposable filters must be replaced monthly, and reusable filters must be cleaned weekly to extend their lifespan. In the event you live in a house where your CPAP is exposed to pet dander, tobacco or wood smoke regularly, the filters might have to be modified more continuously.
Why CPAP machine cleaners aren’t really useful
CPAP cleansing machines are marketed to clean CPAPs in two ways, with ozone gas and with ultraviolet (UV) light.
The priority with the ozone gas machines is that ozone gas will be dangerous and even toxic at certain levels, and there’s no evidence they really work. There’s also a possibility that ozone gas may leak out of the machine, and there’s no way to know what the degrees of ozone gas contained in the machine are once it’s finished being cleaned.
The priority with UV light cleaners is that there’s no evidence that shows UV light actually cleans the CPAP. There are also concerns about unsafe levels of exposure to UV rays.
Currently, there are not any CPAP cleaners approved or really useful to be used by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). One of the best method when cleansing your CPAP is using soap and water, or vinegar and water.
Replace your CPAP parts usually to keep it working well
The most important a part of the CPAP machine, the motor, should last around five years or for much longer, so long as it’s been properly maintained. The opposite parts, nonetheless, have much shorter lifespans.
Check the manufacturer’s guide for alternative recommendations for your specific machine, and check with your insurance (if you might have it) to see what their alternative guidelines are and what your insurance covers.
General recommendations to replace the parts of your CPAP include:
- If using disposable filters, use one pack of two filters per thirty days; if using non-disposable filters, use one pack every 6 months
- The top strap and chin strap get replaced every six months
- Tubing get replaced every three months
- The frame and cushion of the mask get replaced every three months
- Nasal cushions and pillows must be replaced twice per thirty days; full facemask cushion must be replaced once per thirty days
Keep maintaining your CPAP machine to stay healthy
Cleansing your CPAP machine is straightforward, and replacing parts as needed is significant. In the event you sustain with the correct maintenance on your CPAP, you’ll have the option to breathe slightly easier.
In the event you use a CPAP and want parts, HealthPartners has all the pieces you would like to keep your CPAP in good working order. And in case you’re concerned about your sleep or wondering in case you might have to use a CPAP machine, our sleep medicine specialists can assist.