How to Clean And Disinfect A CPAP Machine
For those who struggle with sleep apnea, using a continuous positive airway (CPAP) machine helps relieve snoring, swelling of the nasal passages, and prevents the soft palate and tongue from shifting into the airway. Here’s how to clean a CPAP machine and keep it protected from germs – without toxic chemicals.
Importance of Regular CPAP Cleaning
Keeping your CPAP machine clean and disinfected is critical to your health because germs, mold, and other pathogens can collect and thrive in the device from dust, oils, and dead skin cells. Unfortunately, conventional cleaning products and disinfectants can expose you to toxins that are as harmful (or worse) than the germs we’re trying to protect ourselves from. Harsh chemicals can also corrode and damage your valuable equipment, so it’s important to use a cleaning and disinfecting product that is effective enough to protect you from germs, without harming your machine.
We created our cleaner and disinfectant, Force of Nature, to be a toxin-free EPA-registered medical-grade disinfectant that kills 99.9% of germs including Staph, MRSA, Norovirus, Influenza A, Salmonella, Listeria and Pseudomonas. It’s great for cleaning CPAP machines because it has no harmful chemicals or fumes. Force of Nature is an appliance that uses electricity to convert tap water, plus a tiny capsule of salt, water and vinegar, into a cleaning and disinfecting formula.
Here’s how you can clean, sanitize, and disinfect your CPAP machine – without exposing you to harmful chemicals or damaging your equipment.
How To Clean And Disinfect Your CPAP Machine and Equipment
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
Before you get started, it’s important to know the difference between cleaning and disinfecting. In a nutshell: in order to kill 99.9% of germs, you have to clean off any residue or soil on a surface first, in order to allow the disinfectant to come into contact with 100% of the surface. Then you disinfect the surface by making sure it’s completely wet with the disinfectant for the required amount of time.
Here’s what you need:
- Force of Nature
- Cloths or paper towels
- A clean, dry towel
- Space to allow your machine and accessories to dry
Step 2: Disassemble CPAP Components
- Always unplug your CPAP machine before cleaning with any product.
- Disconnect all your tubing from the mask.
- Disassemble your mask and tubing, removing the headgear.
Step 3: Clean CPAP Mask
Your CPAP face mask or nasal pillows should be cleaned weekly to remove the bacteria, germs, and dead skin cells that collect on the surfaces.
- Spray each piece with Force of Nature and wipe clean to remove any residue.
- To disinfect, spray each CPAP mask part with Force of Nature thoroughly. Set on a clean, dry towel and allow to air dry or sit for 2 minutes before wiping with a paper towel or clean, dry cloth.
Step 4: Clean CPAP Machine And Hose
- Spray a cloth with Force of Nature and wipe down the outside of the machine to remove any residue.
- Any watertight surfaces of the machine can be sprayed with Force of Nature and allowed to air dry to disinfect them. Please consult your manufacturer’s instructions before spraying Force of Nature or any liquid onto your machine’s control surfaces.
- Allow your machine to air dry, no need to rinse.
- Rinse your tubing with water to remove any residue. Then submerge in a bowl filled with Force of Nature and let sit 2 minutes. Then remove tube and let it air dry naturally.
Step 4: Reassemble
Once your CPAP machine is dry, you can reassemble it for your next use and sleep easier knowing you aren’t breathing in harmful chemicals.
Benefits of Using Force of Nature for CPAP Cleaning
There’s no need to rinse your CPAP machine and accessories after cleaning with Force of Nature. Many conventional disinfectants contain harmful chemicals (like quats) that can linger on surfaces for extended periods exposing you to risks like asthma, allergies, endocrine disruption, reproductive concerns, and cancer. Force of Nature is certified 100% top allergen-free by SkinSAFE, Mayo Clinic’s allergy rating system. And it’s the only disinfectant and cleaner to earn the Clean Label Project Purity Award and the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I clean my CPAP Machine?
Check the manufacturer’s instructions for your CPAP to see their specific recommendations. If you’re sick with allergies or upper respiratory symptoms, it’s a good idea to clean and disinfect your supplies before each use until you’re feeling better, so you don’t continue to expose yourself to germs.
Can I use other disinfectants on my CPAP equipment?
Due to the health risks of bleach and quaternary ammonium compounds (quats), in addition to the corrosion potential of these chemicals, you’ll probably want to steer clear of disinfectants using those active ingredients. Recent studies have shown that chronic exposure to bleach, quats, and fragrances, over the long term can:
- Cause lung damage equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day
- Increase the risk of COPD by up to 45%.
Can I clean my CPAP machine with Vinegar?
Vinegar can be handy for cleaning some things, but not your CPAP machine. Here’s what you need to know about vinegar:
- Vinegar is not an EPA-registered disinfectant or a sanitizer.
- Vinegar isn’t powerful enough to kill many viruses and bacteria, like the ones that cause MRSA and Staph.
- Vinegar can be corrosive to many surfaces and irritate your respiratory system.
Sleep Easier With Our Gentle, Effective Disinfectant
When someone is living with a condition like sleep apnea, allergies, or asthma, we know how important it is to you to use gentle, effective cleaning products that won’t trigger and worsen their conditions. We’re proud to offer a toxin-free, all-in-1 cleaning system that’s EPA registered for use in hospitals, NICUs, and more critical care environments. Force of Nature comes in 2 size options: our 12 ounce Force of Nature and our large-capacity, commercial-grade Force of Nature Pro that makes 32 or 64 oz. Learn more about Force of Nature.
