Patients who have been using a CPAP machine probably know that cleaning the equipment is mandatory. However, how frequently you need to clean it and how you should do it? According to Phoebe Ochman from Sleep Apnea Treatment Centers of America, daily and weekly cleaning is mandatory. Ozone Disinfection CPAP is highly recommended and can help you more than you may think.
Cleaning is mandatory, not needed in order to remove the dust, dirt, skin, oils, and also bacteria. Proper cleaning is mandatory on a regular basis and there are no exceptions. If you don’t clean your equipment, it may stop working properly or you will develop allergies.Luckily for you, these are simple tips and processes you can do it in the comfort of your home. The cleaning process can be divided on a daily and weekly basis.
Every day a patient has to wipe the CPAP mask with warm water and a towel. Using a detergent is possible as well and it won’t have any side effects. The goal here is to remove the skin, oils, and also any dirt that may be present on the mask. Also, for machines that come with a humidifier. Replace the water on a daily basis and always pour fresh,clean distilled water at the end of a day.
Daily cleaning is even more important if you have been sick for some time. By cleaning, you will remove any viruses or bacteria that may have caused the diseases in the first place. In this case scenario, you should wash the mask, hose, and humidifier.
Weekly cleaning is even more important. Here you need to mix and match several options. First of all, weekly cleaningof the mask is the same as daily cleaning. Use a safe detergent without anyammonia, warm water, and a damp towel. Always let the components air dry.
For hose, you need to use a specialized cleaning tool. The best example is Prime Clean. This is an ozone cleaner that will kill 99.9% of bacteria and make sure your hose is perfectly clean. Connect the hose, leave it for 40 minutes, and disconnect the gadget. Leave it for other 40-40 minutes of the ozone to be removed and you are done. As a matter off act, you can even clean the hose using this process every single day. It is perfectly safe for all machines and there are no risk for you of any kind.
Other components should be cleaned with other solutions. For example, you need to use warm water and a damp towel to clean the headgear and the mask. Don’t use plenty of water so it won’t reach the CPAP machine. It is also advised to wipe the entire machine with a damp cloth.
The filter has to be cleaned as well. You will need warm water and soak the filter with the water for a couple of minutes. Squeeze it to remove the water and repeat the process a couple of times. Keep in mind that the white filter of the machine should not be cleaned.It must be replaced as stated by the manufacturer.
Some CPAP machines come with humidifiers.To clean them, soak it in soapy water mixed with vinegar and leave it for 30 minutes. Rinse it with clean, cold water and let it air dry. You are done.Vinegar is used to disinfect the humidifier and it is very effective. Don’t forget to rinse it with cold water as long as needed to remove all the traces.
These steps need to be repeated every week at least once. You won’t have any problem even if you clean the CPAP system a few times per week, but there is no need for that.
All you need to remember is that once per day you need to wipe the mask with warm water and damp towel. Once per week,you need to clean the entire system using Ozone Disinfection CPAP for the hose and the warm water and vinegar for the humidifier. Other elements should be cleaned with daily requirements.