How Does a CPAP Cleaning Machine Work

How Does a CPAP Cleaning Device Work, and Is It Worth the Investment?

Nov 21, 2019 by PrimeClean

Continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, machines, have life-changing positive impacts on their users. In addition to making it easier to fight the symptoms of sleep-related respiratory ailments, such as sleep apnea, these devices can do everything from helping infants with underdeveloped lungs to contributing to the health of truckers who are typically low on rest. When it comes to cleaning, the technology isn't always as convenient as it ought to be, but this final hurdle may be easier than ever to cross thanks to modern advances in CPAP cleaning machines.

What are CPAP cleaners, and why do more people seem to be using them? Here's a quick intro that's sure to change your perspective as a CPAP user.

The Pitfalls of Manual CPAP Cleaning

CPAP devices include masks, tubes, pumps, dehumidifier chambers and other hardware elements that supply pressurized breathing air to sleepers. The fact that they're worn all night in close contact with your respiratory tract, however, means that they readily fall prey to unsanitary conditions. The bacteria and other contaminants that usually inhabit a user's nasal passages and lungs can easily make their way into CPAP devices. So can atmospheric pollution in the form of mold spores, allergens and mineral deposits. Like all other medical aids, these machines require rigorous, regular sanitization to keep them from becoming health hazards or breaking down entirely.

Unfortunately, the standard method of cleaning CPAP machines involves lots of elbow grease. After disassembling your device according to the manufacturer's instructions and disconnecting it from the power supply, you'll need to wash it vigorously. Most people use a mixture of water and mild dish soap, vinegar or antibacterial cleanser. During this process, it's critical to follow steps like

Wiping down every single surface, including the external parts,
Soaking the components in warm water for 30 minutes or more, and
Replacing the filters or rinsing them if they're the washable kind.

After all of that, you'll still need to let everything air dry, which can take some time depending on the construction of your device and how you hang it up. What's more, this strategy isn't always super-effective. In many cases, you'll end up with bacteria left inside the tube or mask, which can result in sickness. Considering that you need to go through this entire rigamarole at least once every month and still risk health hazards after the fact, it's no wonder that so many CPAP users are on the lookout for a better alternative!

How Do Automated CPAP Cleaners Like PrimeClean Work?

Whether you're considering switching to a CPAP cleaning machine for convenience's sake or merely trying to defend your well-being, you're in luck. These advanced systems bear a number of distinct advantages over the tiring, ineffective manual method:

Improved Sterilization Technology

CPAP cleaning devices use various methods to keep breathing aids pristine. For instance, some rely on ozone disinfection processes to kill about 99.98 percent of all bacteria. Unlike other forms of disinfectants, ozone is also safe for human contact at the concentrations used in CPAP cleaning. This makes it easier to use at home without running the risk of dangerous spills.

Ozone disinfection is also a well-studied, tested technology. For instance, research funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that the process is suitable for cleaning municipal wastewater before releasing it into the environment. Unlike other disinfection methods, such as those that use chlorine, ozone doesn't leave behind residues that might prove harmful to CPAP wearers.

Faster Cleaning

The amount of time required to sanitize a CPAP device by hand can vary depending on how thorough you are and what kind of machine you have. That being said, there's no guarantee that you won't spend more time than you'd like to waste on this chore, and you've probably got better things to do — such as catching up on your much-needed shut-eye.

With automated cleaners, you don't have to schedule your whole life around maintaining your CPAP hardware. These systems typically get the entire job done in about 30 minutes. Even better, they work consistently with a wide range of different CPAP machines, tube lengths, and mask styles.

User-friendly Design

One of the most overlooked benefits of switching to a machine-assisted CPAP cleaning routine is that these handy cleansing devices travel with you. You don't have to remember to pack a bunch of special scrub brushes or hope that your hotel room has a sanitary place to hang up the tube and mask while they air out. These devices are compact enough to fit inside your luggage — without taking up all of the space you meant to save for souvenirs — and sufficiently rugged to survive most journeys and keep on ticking.

Ease of Travel

How to Switch to a CPAP Cleaning Machine Routine

Now that you've discovered the advantages of ditching your manual CPAP cleaning chores, you need to learn how to use the alternative. Luckily for you, our hardware is simple enough for anyone to master in a few easy steps:

1. Start by placing your mask and tube into the provided bag. Then, insert one end of the tube into the indicated part of the PrimeClean device.

2. Next, click the start button. Go relax for 30 minutes while the machine gets to work.

3. Wait one hour for your mask and tube to ensure no ozone residue odor still lingers. At that point, you're ready to reassemble your CPAP hardware and drift off into slumberland.

Should You Upgrade Your CPAP Experience?

CPAP cleaning is a huge chore, and failing to complete it correctly could expose you to severe medical consequences. Although there's nothing wrong with being the sort of person who likes doing things by hand, this is one area where it isn't worth taking the risk. Remember that switching to a cleaning machine isn't just about making your routine simpler or less time-consuming. It could also help you stay healthier.

Want to learn more about how to keep your sleeping aid fresh and sanitary effectively? Check out PrimeClean to discover why so many users breathe easier with the world's leading automated CPAP cleaning tool.