Do you know that the CPAP machine is a device for breathing treatment? Not many people know.
Because of this, it’s important to keep your CPAP clean and odor free – as well as take good care of the mask itself!
What kind of dirt are we talking about?
Different things can make your CPAP machine dirty or smelly. The most common is a build-up of oils, dirt and dead skin cells inside the CPAP mask and tubing.
If you are regularly cleaning your machine (especially if someone in your house smokes), it will have less of a chance to get dirty or smell bad.
Also, sleeping at least eight hours makes the difference – as you sleep for longer duration, there’s less time for dirt to accumulate. If that doesn’t help out enough, try using a CPAP cleaner every day – which will keep your device clean all the time!
What kind of bacteria could be growing?
Did you know that mold and mildew can form inside the humidifier water tank? After some time, bacteria start to form in this place.
It can’t happen if you disinfect the tank and don’t leave it went for a long period of time.
Clean your CPAP machine more often
Clean every three months. If you sleep 8+ hours every night, clean your equipment weekly or bi-weekly – whatever is easier to remember.
Also, make cleaning part of your morning routine – so that you know it’s done right every single day! It’ll take just a few minutes to throw everything into a sink with hot water and soap. Once clean, dry all the parts before putting them away (by leaving them out somewhere). In this way, they won’t go moist/damp/moldy.
How to clean a CPAP mask?
Take the hose, and attach one end of it to your faucet. Run warm water through the hose until all dirt is out of it.
Hold the frame of the mask up-side down over the sink (to let any residue fall into the sink), then rinse this with warm water too – don’t forget about all parts which can be taken off!
How to clean CPAP tubing?
Repeat what you did for your mask: hold one end of it under a running faucet, put some soap onto your hands and roll/shake around all surfaces. Make sure there’s no more suds or soap left before continuing. That way you make sure that everything is clean.
Take the hose off, and attach it back to your CPAP machine. It MUST be dry before you do that!
What are a CPAP cleaners?
It’s a special kind of cleaning solution for all parts of your equipment which can’t be put into water – like power adapters, mask cushions, etc.
For some other components (like tubing) – faucet and sink are enough to clean them thoroughly; while the rest (mask frame, headgear) have to be cleaned with special solutions.
Do not use any random cleaner on your equipment – or you might ruin it completely! Just ask us how to make sure everything will go well in the future…
What is this an example of?
This is an article about CPAP cleaners. So, in conclusion, don’t forget to clean your mask and tubing with a proper cleaning solution. Don’t use random things – like shampoo or soap! Ask us for a recommendation instead.
What’s the moral of this story?
- possibilities: different things can make your CPAP machine dirty or smelly
- sleeping at least 8 hours makes the difference – as you sleep for longer duration, there’s less time for dirt to accumulate
- if that doesn’t help out enough, try using a CPAP cleaner every day
- mold and mildew can form inside humidifier water tank; after some time, bacteria start to form in this place
- it can’t happen if you disinfect the tank and don’t leave it went for a long period of time.
- clean your equipment weekly or bi-weekly – whatever is easier to remember
- make cleaning part of your morning routine
- attach one end of hose to faucet and run warm water through it until all dirt is out. Hold frame of mask up-side down over sink, rinse with warm water – don’t forget about all parts which can be taken off!
- repeat what you did for the mask (so that all parts are clean) to remove residue.
- use a proper cleaning solution for mask cushions, power adapters etc…
- ask us how to make sure everything will go well in the future…
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