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Article: Guide: CPAP Care & Cleaning

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Guide: CPAP Care & Cleaning

  1. How to Care For and Clean Your CPAP Equipment
  2. References
  3. When to Replace Your CPAP Equipment
  4. Products that Make Your Life Easier
 

How to Care For and Clean Your CPAP Equipment
Regular cleaning and maintenance of your CPAP equipment is not only necessary to ensure everything is working at its optimal level, but also to reduce skin irritations and the risk of viruses, mold/mildew/fungi, and bacteria.


Click here to read a scientific study [PDF]:
CPAP Masks are Sources of Microbial Contamination
 
MASKS
   

  • Cushions should be washed in warm water and mild soap daily, or wiped down with mask wipes. Do NOT use alcohol, bleach, or baby wipes.
  • Clean all mask parts (cushion, headgear, etc) regularly (at least weekly). 
  • Air dry parts thoroughly.
  • Consider a UV sanitizing machine such as Lumin.

TUBING
   

  • Clean tubing at least once or twice a week with warm water and mild soap.
  • Don't let moisture remain in tubing. Hang to dry.
  • Use a tube brush to remove physical particles.

MACHINES
   

  • Only use distilled water in humidifiers.
  • Change water daily. Leftover water should be emptied from water chamber after use.
  • Check your filters regularly, and change when necessary.
  • Clean water chamber once or twice a week with warm water and mild soap. Air dry.
  • Wipe the surfaces of your machine regularly.
  • If you notice a strange smell from it, or have adverse effects such as headaches or reactions after use, there may be bacteria or mold. Follow this website's sanitizing process: https://moldhomes.com/cpap-mold-symptoms.

ROOMS
  • Consider an air purifier with UV to remove dust, allergens, and harmful pathogens from the air in your room, as this air can travel in to your machine.
And remember: DON'T SHARE CPAP EQUIPMENT.

 

References (External)

CPAP Masks are Sources of Microbial Contamination
(Alex Horowitz, Sandra Horowitz MD FRCP(C), Chinhak Chun MD SleepHealth Centers, Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston)
http://www.pureflowhealthcare.ca/pdf/Horowitz_APSS_poster_2009_mask_microbes.pdf

CPAP Mold Symptoms: Signs You Should Never Ignore
(Mold Homes)
https://moldhomes.com/cpap-mold-symptoms/

Is Your CPAP Making You Sick?
(Harvard Health Publishing, subscription)
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/is-your-cpap-machine-making-you-sick

How To Clean Your CPAP
(American Sleep Association)
https://www.sleepassociation.org/sleep-treatments/cpap-machines-masks/how-to-clean-your-cpap/

What Happens if You Don't Clean Your CPAP Mask?
(Taja An, B. Sc. Microbiology, Biochemistry, via Quora)
https://www.quora.com/What-happens-if-you-dont-clean-your-CPAP-mask

When to Replace Your CPAP Equipment
 
MASKS
  Cushions & Pillows
  • Replace cushions every 3-6 months, or if you notice problems such as leakage, brittleness or tears.
 
  Headgear
  • Replace headgear every 6 months, or if it loses its elasticity.
 
  Miscellaneous Parts
  • Replace any parts that break. Many parts can be individually ordered, without the need to purchase an entire new mask. 
 
  Complete Mask
  • Replace entire mask every 6 to 12 months.
For our complete lineup of masks:
https://www.cpapoutlet.ca/en/Masks
 
MACHINES
  Filters
  • Disposable filters should be changed monthly, more often if they're very dirty.
  • Reusable filters should be changed every 1-3 months, as necessary.
 
  Tubing
  • Replace every 3-6 months, or when it is no longer possible to clean it thoroughly.
 
  Water Chamber
  • Water chambers should be replaced every 6 months, or when it is no longer possible to clean it thoroughly.
 
  Miscellaneous Parts
  • Replace any parts that break. Many parts can be individually ordered, without the need to purchase an entire new machine.
For our complete lineup of replacement parts:
https://www.cpapoutlet.ca/en/Replacement-Parts
 

Products that Make Your Life Easier
SANITIZERS / FILTERS
  Lumin UVC Sanitizing System
  • Lumin is the easiest and fastest way to sanitize CPAP masks and accessories. Lumin™ works with a sanitization cycle time of only 5 minutes. UV-C light will disinfect up to 99.9% of harmful bacteria, pathogens and fungi that can cause infections and illness. 
 
  Viral / Bacterial Filter
  • These filters sit between your mask and tubing, to keep harmful pathogens from going from your breath in to your tubing and machine.
For our complete lineup of sanitizing machines:
https://www.cpapoutlet.ca/en/Machines/Sanitizing-Cleaning
 
CLEANING SUPPLIES
  Mask Wipes
  • Wipes are a quick way to remove debris from your cushion when you don't have the time for a proper cleaning. Specially formulated not to damage your mask.
 
  Mask Spray
  • Mask sprays are specially formulated to not harm your mask, and are a quick way to clean your parts when you don't have the time for a proper cleaning.
 
  Soaps
  • Specially formulated soaps that won't damage your mask during cleaning.
 
  Tube Brushes
  • Brushes can reach deep in to your tubing to remove debris and other particulates.
 
  Tube Hanger
  • Tubing should be hung up to dry so that no water is left inside that may grow harmful bacteria and mold.
For our complete lineup of cleaning supplies:
https://www.cpapoutlet.ca/en/Accessories/Cleaning
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