The Best CPAP Cleaners for Easy Maintenance

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Machines or CPAPs are an effective way to manage your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). There are approximately 25 million cases of sleep apnea in the United States at present, and that number is growing. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine further estimating that 26 percent of Americans between the ages of 30 and 70 have some form of sleep apnea.

If you are one of this rising number of people with OSA, and treating with a CPAP device, you know that keeping it clean is an important requirement. Recommendations on how often you should clean your CPAP include daily for the facemask and at least weekly for the hose and headgear. This can add up to a fair bit of work with disassembling the mask and tube, washing, soaking, and drying. You could think of it like brushing your teeth, something that needs to be done, and once you establish a routine, it’s not that hard to keep up. But if you are finding it difficult, there are other options.

Having a professional CPAP cleaning machine at home makes the process a breeze. Check our our top picks.

Our Top Picks the Best CPAP Cleaners

Why You Want a CPAP Cleaner

For optimal health, the parts of the CPAP that are intimate with your face, mouth, and breath need to be more than just washed, they need to be sanitized. You need to prevent the growth of germs and viruses by keeping the machine clean and dry. Professional cleaning can sanitize and maintain a contaminant free device.

An easy way to manage your machine and be assured of better hygiene, is to use a CPAP cleaner of some sort at home. This can be as simple as using wipes designed especially for your device, using the help of CPAP tube brushes, applying a disinfectant spray, or more effectively, using a CPAP cleaning device. These devices can automate the process and have many advantages including saving time and energy. They work without water, so your system isn’t threatened by things that grow in a damp environment like mold. They kill 99% of bacteria and viruses and make the cleaning process so much easier.

How do CPAP Cleaners Work?

CPAP cleaning machines work in one of several ways. They kill germs and bacteria with either the use of activated oxygen or ozone, or the use of ultraviolet light. The parts of your machine are either hooked up to a device that irradiates your entire machine with activated oxygen (ozone) which kills the germs and bacteria throughout or placed inside a bag where ozone is circulated. For ultraviolet there is a drawer or chamber in which to place the mask and tube, or the water chamber. In a short few minutes the ultraviolet light kills all germs, mold, bacteria and viruses.

There are now dozens of CPAP cleaning machines on the market for less money than the three we have profiled. Don’t be fooled however, they don’t have the ratings, reviews, and reliability of our top picks. If you are going to invest in a professional grade cleaner, spend the money for a good one.

Do I Really Need a Professional CPAP Cleaner?

Across the board, medical professionals recommend cleaning at least with soap and water on a weekly if not daily basis. They also suggest changing the filter at least every month, more often if you have been sick or used something other than distilled water in the machine.

The step up to a professional grade machine is warranted when you aren’t making time to clean your machine, if you have a compromised immune system and don’t want to risk viral or bacterial infections, or when you just appreciate the thought of the CPAP being sterilized instead of just cleaned.

Summary

Cleaning your CPAP is a part of what has to be done if you own one. There is always just soap and water, but it requires taking it apart, washing and thoroughly rinsing, and making sure it is fully dry so no mold can develop before the next use. This process can be laborious, especially on a daily basis. Rather than skipping the cleaning process all together, for a few hundred dollars, you can purchase a machine that will easily clean and sanitize your CPAP for a better night’s sleep.