Your CPAP sends air straight into your lungs all night, so it's worth keeping clean. It doesn't take expensive gadgets: mild soap, water and a regular routine do the job.
The simple routine
- Follow your manual first. Each maker sets its own schedule, and it's the one to go by.
- Mask, tubing and water chamber: wash in warm water with mild soap, rinse well and let them air-dry out of direct sunlight. Some makers also allow diluted vinegar.
- Water chamber: empty it each morning and refill with fresh distilled water at night.
- Filters: replace disposable ones, or rinse reusable ones, as often as the manual says.
- The machine itself: never put it in water. Unplug it and wipe the outside with a damp cloth.
What about ozone and UV cleaners?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasn't cleared or approved any ozone or UV-light cleaner for CPAP equipment. It has had reports of breathing problems, headaches and asthma attacks linked to ozone cleaners, and says both ozone and UV can damage CPAP parts. Soap and water is the method makers recommend.
Cleaning isn't replacing
Cushions, filters and tubing wear out even when they're clean: a tired cushion stops sealing, and leak goes up. Set supply reminders in your CPAPGeeks account settings and your calendar will tell you when each part is due. If your leak has been creeping up over a few weeks in Trends, a worn cushion is a likely cause.