Do I really have to clean my CPAP all the time?

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Yes! Did you know that patients who use CPAP and don’t regularly clean their equipment are 32 percent more likely to get pneumonia?

CPAP cleaning can present a real challenge to some CPAP users. Sometimes understanding the REASON behind the recommended maintenance, along with some simple guidelines, can go a long way to making the process less of a chore. The proper maintenance of your CPAP unit and accessories plays a significant role in success of the treatment of your obstructive sleep apnea. A proper hygiene of the equipment will avoid complications such as leaks, bacterial and fungal growth and further health complications.

germ icon Reasons to clean your CPAP

  1. Oil, sweat and dead skin cells can accumulate in the CPAP mask every time it’s used.
    The mask accumulates oil, sweat, dead skin cells and dirt which are absorbed by our skin and can lead to irritation. If you are waking up with acne, soreness or skin peeling, this is an indication that your mask is due for a good wash.
  2. The water in the machine and the moisture in the mask and hose are potential breeding grounds for bacteria and germs.
    A study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School found 2,000+ bacteria counts evident after just 48 hours on 48 percent of samples from CPAP masks they collected. By implementing a cleaning regimen, you’ll be reducing the risks of infection and disease. Your equipment will also smell and look better and be more effective, which will contribute to the longevity of use of your CPAP.

kills 99% of viruses similar to coronavirus

note icon What you need to clean your CPAP

  • CPAP mask wipes or a damp cloth
  • Warm water
  • CPAP soap or dishwashing soap

If you opt for dishwashing soap, it is important to select a soap that is neither antibacterial or hydrating. The alcohol in an antibacterial soap will cause the cushion of your mask to dry out and break sooner than expected. Avoid hydrating soap as the hydrating agent in the soap will leave a greasy residue on your equipment. If you want to ensure that you are eliminating all bacteria in your mask or if you’re not cleaning your mask daily because of the inconvenience, we recommend the Lumin to sterilize your mask, water chamber.

cleaning kit grapefruit

Shop Cleaning Kit – Grapefruit

cleaning kit mint

Shop Cleaning Kit – Mint and Green Tea

Lumin UVC sterilizer from Kego

Shop Lumin UV-C Sterilizer

CPAP Premium 2 in 1 Hose Brush

Shop CPAP Premium in 1 pipe brush

calendar icon How and when to clean your CPAP and accessories

daily

Daily

Wipe down your mask

Use soap and warm water to wipe down your mask, especially the cushion which comes in contact with your skin, and allow to air dry. This will remove any oily residue, sweat and dead skin cells. For faster cleaning, pre-moistened wipes made specifically for CPAP masks are available .

Rinse and refill your water chamber

Empty the chamber, rinse with tap water and allow to air dry. Then refill with distilled water right before bedtime. Do not allow water to sit in your chamber all day as it is a good environment for bacteria and mold to thrive.

weekly

Weekly

Wash your mask

Fill your sink with warm, soapy water and gently wash your mask, including the headgear. Ideally, this should be scheduled early in the morning to allow your equipment to air dry.

Wash your air hose

Fill your tube with warm, soapy water and gently swirl the liquid back and forth. Run clean water through to rinse, and hang to air dry. Special brushes exist to help with the scrubbing inside the air hose.

Wash and sanitize your water chamber

Gently scrub the inside with soapy water then properly rinse it. Next, pour in a mixture of one-part vinegar and two-parts water, let sit for 30 minutes, then properly rinse and air dry. This will sanitize and decalcify your water chamber.

yearly

Every 3 Months

Replace your filter

By replacing your filter, you limit the deposit of dust and impurities in the compressor of your CPAP. It is important to replace the air filter of your CPAP once every three months especially if you have allergies.

Annually

Replace the mask, air hose and water chamber

This recommendation is widely known so most insurance company cover a certain percentage of the cost. With the proper upkeep of your CPAP device, your CPAP will continue to work optimally, you will be breathing clean air and be able achieve your goal of better night’s sleep.

Free CPAP check-up

video icon Let us show you how!

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Do you really need a humidifier with your CPAP?

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Every CPAP user in Quebec has to deal with it: the need for humidity in our climate.

Even if you’re already using a humidifier, you might have been asking yourself some common questions – like why is a CPAP humidifier important anyway? Does distilled water really make a difference? How do I deal when I travel?

Well, once again Apnea Health has your answers.

Why is a humidifier important? One word: comfort.

By using a heated humidifier, you reduce your chances of waking up with dry mouth in the morning, and being bothered by nasal congestion at night. While in the southern US it’s common to buy just the compressor without a humidifier, here in our Canadian climate, the extra humidity is a must. Because of that, humidifiers are usually included with CPAP machines sold here, so make sure you don’t miss out on their benefits!

Here’s what’s happening with your CPAP. In simple terms, your CPAP draws the ambient air from the room, filters out impurities, then passes it through the tube into your lungs at just the right pressure. It’s like a vacuum in reverse – just less noisy. Now imagine how you’d feel if it were blowing cold, dry air at you all night – ouch!

That’s where heated humidifiers and tubes come in

By using your humidifier, you’ll experience less dryness in your nose, sinuses and lungs. You can also reduce the risk of nasal congestion, inflammation, infections, and nosebleeds.1

As for a heated tube, well, that can help too. With standard tubing you can run into condensation problems – especially if the temperature in your room is on the cooler side. Humidity produced by your CPAP can wind up condensing in the tube if it’s cold, and get stuck there instead of making it to your nose where you want it. You may have noticed some “rainout” in your tube in the morning – which means you’re not getting the benefit of the humidifier and will probably still be stuck with some of the symptoms above.

Resmed ClimateLine Heated Tube for S9 Series

The water level in my humidifier hasn’t budged. Why?

Don’t panic! Your CPAP is working properly.

As we said before, the CPAP takes the air from your bedroom and sends it into your tube. An amazing thing with these machines is they constantly measure the humidity of the air they draw – if it already meets the comfort level you chose for your CPAP, the machine will leave the water tank alone and blow the air as is.

So, depending on the weather, the season, and personal preference, your CPAP’s thirst for distilled water will be different. Most of our patients need less distilled water in the summer, and ramp up in the winter when the air gets drier. Even in summer though, we recommend leaving a little water in your humidifier each night to prevent it from running dry and potentially damaging the heating element over time.

If it feels like your CPAP is causing dryness in your nose, sinuses or lungs, please let us know. We’re all about your sleep comfort. Just give us a call, or drop by anytime we’re open, and one of our respiratory therapists will be happy to help!

What’s with the fancy distilled water?

Lots of patients ask why they can’t just use tap water with their CPAP. After all, we’ve got some of the best tap water in the world – and it’s free – so why not use it?

The reason is there are still microorganisms and minerals in the water from your tap. According to Brandon Peters (2019), a board-certified neurologist and sleep medicine specialist:

“Boiling water will kill microbes, but it will not remove minerals or chemical contaminants. These minerals that make water ‘hard’ include calcium, magnesium, iron, and others—if they are present in the water put in the humidifier’s water chamber, over time scale will develop that discolors the container and could damage the machine. Filtered water may remove some of the minerals but may not remove living organisms or other chemicals. Bottled water that has been distilled is certainly the safest option.’’2

Using distilled water reduces mineral deposits in your water chamber

The odd splash of tap water won’t hurt the tank, but long term, mineral build-up from using hard water will damage the plastic and shorten its life. That’s why most CPAP manufacturers recommend distilled water.

water pouring

What about when I travel?

Travelling’s awesome. It means getting exposed to new cultures, architecture, food, and lifestyles. But it also means getting exposed to some fun new microbes your body isn’t used to. Even if the water’s safe to drink, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to put it in your CPAP. Peters mentions that “tap water within Neti pots in Louisiana has led to a few reports of harmful parasite infections affecting the brain. This condition can be fatal and treatment may be ineffective.’’1

All right, that sounds scary, and he goes on to say that “the same risk has not been demonstrated with the use of CPAP,” but think about it – everything in your water chamber gets vapourized and inhaled to your nose, sinuses and lungs. Do you really want to take the risk?

We recommend that you take the time to go buy a bottle of distilled water when you arrive at your destination. Call it a tourist experience – why not? So you get to go check out a grocery store in a new country. Hey, you can even pick up a little of what the locals eat at the same time… you might find it an interesting switch from what’s on the “tourist menu” at the restaurants!

the dreamstation is a great travel buddy

What NOT to do with your water chamber

If you keep in mind that everything that goes in your water chamber can go into your lungs, you should be ok. Wash it every day with mild soap and regular water, rinse carefully, then let it air dry. That’s enough to get rid of any bacteria before you fill it back up with distilled water.

Don’t get any silly ideas about putting alcohol, bleach or ammonia in there, or any perfumes or essential oils to make the air smell pretty – your lungs won’t thank you! Use nothing but soap and water for cleaning, and distilled water for therapy, and everything should be fine.

no bleach

Upgrade to a CPAP with advanced humidification

Resmed Airsense for Him

Learn more about the Airsense

sleepstyle-cpap

Learn more about SleepStyle

Care for Life at Apnea Health

Don’t forget, the Apnea Health team wants to give you the best CPAP care you can get.

All of our patients are made part of our Care for Life Program, so whether it’s helping you tweak the level of humidity in your CPAP, answering any questions you might have, our respirologists and sleep experts are here for you!

let us help you with insurance claims

  1. https://www.sleepapnea.org/treat/cpap-therapy/what-you-should-know-about-cpap-humidification/
  2. Peters, B. (2019). Do You Have to Use Only Distilled Water in the CPAP Humidifier?. [online] Verywell health. Available at: https://www.verywellhealth.com/do-you-need-distilled-water-for-the-cpap-humidifier-3015017 [Accessed 5 Oct. 2019].
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