CPAP Cleaning and Instructions

To keep your equipment working longer and spend less money on replacement parts, maintenance is the key. We have organized CPAP cleaning instructions below and have provided an instructional video showing you step by step how to clean your CPAP mask. As you know, proper maintenance is very time consuming, so we also have some cleaning aids available to help make the job easier.

Cleaning a Humidifier

If you have a humidifier on your CPAP Machine then you will need to empty your humidifier every morning and wash it with soapy water. Once a week you need to soak the humidifier for 30 minutes with 2 parts distilled water and 1 part white vinegar to disinfect it.

How to Clean a CPAP Mask

It is recommended that you clean your CPAP mask every morning. All of the pieces of the mask need to be taken care of slightly differently. Below is the breakdown for how to clean each part of a CPAP mask:

• The Hose Connector Nozzle is generally made of hard plastic and can be removed and cleaned with alcohol to disinfect. This should be done daily as bacteria often collects here.
• The Mask Frame should be wiped off daily to remove the oil that accumulates on the mask from your skin. Use alcohol pads or wipes to clean the frame.
• Your Headgear should be cleaned with dish soap. Generally, it is recommended to clean the headgear daily as well, but you can make a judgement call because it has the least contact with your face and less risk of creating irritation. If it accumulates more oil or residue then wash it in dishsoap.
• Lastly, clean the cushion or liner of the mask. This is the most sensitive part of the mask and you should never use an alcohol-based disinfectant to clean. Instead use specially made CPAP wipes or dish soap.

CPAP Tube Cleaning

Once per week take your tube and submerge in 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts distilled water for 20 - 30 minutes. This should sufficiently disinfect any accumulated bacteria. These products can help with the CPAP cleaning process and speed up the time it takes to do a full cleaning.

• These CPAP Cleaning Wipes are the same as the ones used in the How to Clean a CPAP Mask video below.
• If you are fed up with the daily CPAP cleaning process of disassembling your mask the SoClean 2 is the cadillac of CPAP Accessories and is an automated cleaning machine that disinfects your entire mask without disassembly. It is expensive, but well worth it.

Watch this great instructional video by a board certified sleep doctor on how to clean a CPAP Mask.