CPAP Maintenance: Taking Care of Your CPAP Machine & Mask

Your CPAP machine and mask will be one of the biggest investments you make to treat your obstructive sleep apnea, so why not consistently maintain them to make sure they are always working at their best? To help make your transition into CPAP therapy as easy as possible, we are here to give you some simple maintenance tips so you can finally have that good night’s sleep you’ve been dreaming about.

The only care you are required to provide for your CPAP machine is to clean or change the filters at the air intake of the machine to keep the internal parts from accumulating dust. 
In addition, we recommend keeping the area around your machine clean and removing all dust. This will ensure that you continue to receive optimum air quality. Keeping the air intake of the machine unblocked from curtains, bedding and papers will prevent reduced airflow to your machine.

With most CPAP machines, it is easy to spill water from the humidifier into the machine and cause damage. Therefore, if you have a humidifier, avoid picking up your machine when the humidifier is attached. Instead, empty the water from the chamber every morning.

Cleaning Your CPAP Mask & Hose

There are many methods available for making sure your CPAP mask and hose are clean on a daily basis. Most manufacturers of CPAP masks include cleaning instructions in the packaging. Alternatively, we recommend that our patients use a solution containing one part white (distilled) vinegar and two parts water. Simply soak your masks for 15-20 minutes, and then dry it on paper towels. This is a great, inexpensive way to disinfect your mask and hose.

Drying Your CPAP Hoses After Cleaning

After cleaning your CPAP tubes and hoses in warm water (don't use soap in the water or you may be blowing bubbles out of your tube!) and rinsing them thoroughly, you can dry them by leaving them alone for a while or using one or more of the techniques listed below.

• Spin the tube gently. The centrifugal force will pull the water to the outside of the tube.
• Tie a fishing weight to a nylon string, paper or cloth towel, or other fabric and pull it through the tubing.
• Set a hair dryer on low and blow it through the connector hose (you can even duct-tape it to the end if you’d like to leave it there for a while)
• Place the hose in a freezer for a couple of hours. The droplets will freeze and fall off the hose surface when you flex it from the outside.

We recommend having two hoses so you can rotate them as necessary.

Replacing Your CPAP Supplies

Use the following as guidelines to replacing your CPAP supplies, as they adhere to most insurance carriers' requirements:

• Once a month. We recommend replacing your face cushion/nasal seal cushion, nasal pillows and device filters once a month.
• Every three months. It is important to remember to change out your CPAP mask (excluding headgear) and tubing every three months.
• Every six months. Changing out your headgear, chin strap and humidifier water chamber every six months will keep your CPAP gear working like it should.

Contact My CPAP Club for More CPAP Maintenance Tips

In order to get the most out of your CPAP machine, mask and supplies, you must properly clean and maintain them. Don’t hesitate to reach out to My CPAP Club at 1-888-272-7050 for more tips and tricks on proper CPAP maintenance.