When you have a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine for sleep apnea it’s important that you clean it. Cleaning ensures that potential dangers like bacteria exposure, increased risk of sinus infection, and mold exposure are avoided.
But there’s often an information overload as to when to clean, how to clean, and what to clean with. Here are 6 tips to help you maintain your CPAP equipment.
Filters
Your CPA filters are what draw the air from the room and compress it according to your pressure settings. Your machine will have a disposable white paper filter and it might have an additional non-disposable grey filter.
Here’s how to maintain both.
Grey Filter
Clean the grey non-disposable filter at least on a weekly basis. Experts at wellawaresystems.com/how-often-change-cpap-filter/ advise that if you have pets, smoke inside your house, or if your home is especially dusty you’ll have to clean it more regularly. Clean it by rinsing it with water and letting it dry out of direct sunlight.
It’s recommended that you replace the grey filters every six months or when it begins to look worn.
White Filter
The white filter is disposable, so it has to be replaced more frequently. Ideally, replace the disposable white paper filters twice a month or more frequently when it starts to look dingy or dirty.
Do Not Use Harsh Detergent
When cleaning your CPAP do not use extremely harsh or overly concentrated cleaning products. This will damage the equipment and may leave behind harmful residue. This can also irritate your lungs and cause you to be sick. Instead, get cleaning products like mild antibacterial dish soap.
Also, avoid cleaning products with perfume or a powerful scent and never use bleach.
Refill With Distilled Water
You’ll have to replace the water in your humidifier. When you do only use clean, clear, distilled water to refill your humidifier tank. This is because regular tap water has minerals in it that will get into the equipment and these hard minerals will build up over time in your equipment. Plus there’s an increased risk of infection and illness when you don’t use distilled water.
Ideally, it’s useful to dump out any excess water in the tank every morning then replace it with distilled water before you use it every night.
Humidifier
Almost all CPAP machines come with a heated humidification system. This reduces the morning dry mouth and keeps your nasals from becoming irritated and inflamed. It’s recommended that you clean out your humidifier chamber at least once a week.
Here’s how:
Remove the chamber from the humidifier carefully so that water doesn’t enter your CPAP machine.
Open the chamber and wash it with warm, soapy water.
Rinse the chamber and let it dry on a clean cloth or paper towel out of direct sunlight.
After, fill it with distilled, sterile, or bottled water.
Additionally, once a week soak it in a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water for approximately 15-20 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with distilled water.
Note that not all humidifier chambers are dishwasher safe, so make sure to check your CPAP machine’s manual before cleaning it in a dishwasher.
Replace your humidifier chamber every 6 months or as needed.
Mask
It’s especially important that you clean and maintains your CPA mask. Most mask cushions are made of silicone and while this makes for a comfortable mask, silicone is not the toughest of materials.
Here’s how to clean your mask:
Wash your mask daily with warm water and mild soap.
Alternatively, use CPAP mask-specific wipes and detergents.
Rinse it with water and let it air dry on a clean cloth or paper towel out of direct sunlight.
Clean the tubing weekly in a sink of warm, soapy water, rinse well, and left to hang dry out of direct sunlight.
Headgear And Chinstrap
Your headgear and chinstrap have Velcro straps that secure your mask to your chin and head. The straps are made of stretchy material to allow the mask to adjust to the shape of your head. This means the straps will lose elasticity over time and eventually become permanently stretched out.
This is bad because then the mask won’t fit your face probably, which will lead to air leaks. This is one of the reasons why it’s advised to clean off facial moisturizers and face oil every night before you put on the mask. The facial products, dirt from your skin, and from your hair will break down the silicone straps faster.
It’s advised that you replace your headgear and chin strap every 6 months.
Your continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is not hard to maintain with the right cleaning supplies and techniques. Even if you clean it regularly, it’s important that you have it serviced if your sleep apnea appears to be getting worse because the machine isn’t working as it should.