Cleaning your CPAP is important to your health. The mask and hose are breeding grounds for germs. If you do have a cold or another virus, you could reinfect yourself without cleaning your mask every day. In addition, cleaning your CPAP supplies on a regular schedule keeps the air you breathe at night cleaner. The first symptoms of a dirty CPAP machine are nasal congestion and irritation. If you’re experiencing those symptoms, you may want to give your machine a thorough cleaning to see if it helps. Here’s what to know about keeping your CPAP machine healthy and clean.
How Often Should I Clean My CPAP Mask & Hose?
Whether you use a ResMed AirFit P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear or another type of mask, you should be cleaning the mask every day. Also, you should clean the CPAP mask pillow or cushion every day. Hang your CPAP hose up every day to dry. Once a week, you should clean the hose. The humidifier chamber should be emptied and dried daily and cleaned weekly. Clean the CPAP reusable filters weekly.
Choosing The Right Cleaning Products For My Mask
Before you clean your CPAP machine, double-check the user’s manual for any product-specific information. You’ll want to have a mild soap without scent or color. Find a soap that is traditionally made with lye and fats, such as Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Unscented Liquid Soap or Dawn dishwashing liquid. The soap you choose needs to be gentle without any added chemicals, but strong enough to clean the equipment. You will also need a towel to gently scrub and wipe down your equipment. Look for a lint-free towel that won’t leave any residue behind that could tickle your nose in the middle of the night.
Things to Note About Cleaning Your CPAP Machine
Your user’s manual will have specific cleaning instructions for your machine. Here are some things that you may not realize when you’re first using your machine.
- Always give yourself time to let the equipment dry thoroughly after cleaning. The extra moisture can cause mold or mildew to grow.
- Unplug your CPAP machine and equipment before cleaning.
- Don’t use bleach or other harsh chemicals on your equipment.
- Use distilled water in your equipment to reduce mineral deposits.
- Wash and dry the reusable filters weekly to make them last up to six months.
Cleaning and sanitizing are different techniques. Cleaning removes the dirt and germs by using soap and water. Sanitizing doesn’t clean dirty surfaces, but it does lower the number of germs on the item. You can use a CPAP sanitizing machine when pressed for time, but you may still want to wash your equipment first.
If you’ve got more questions about your CPAP machine, talk to your CPAP distributor or healthcare provider. To learn more about the Airfit N30i vs Dreamwear, check out reviews by other users to get more information. Get the latest product information and read about other resources to help you get more out of your CPAP machine.
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