How to Clean A ChPAP Machine and How to Keep Your CPAP, BiPAP, and Auto PAP Functioning and Keeping You Healthy. Keep it clean!
These are some easy steps and just good reminders of how to keep your CPAP and all PAP machines clean.
- Wipe it down at least once a week! Just take a damp cloth and wiping down the exterior of the machine. Keeping the knob clear of debris so it functions properly. Wiping the screen off so you can see if its reading correctly.
- Separate your heated humidifier from the machine and wash out the tank with warm soapy water once a week. Using distilled water will cut down on the minerals that get built up in the water chamber. Washing it out once a week will keep any mold from starting to form. If you do have mineral build up, using a mixture of half vineger and half water and letting it soak will help with the efforts of mineral removal. Every morning you should not leave water sitting for the day in your water chamber. Running the machine out of water in the night so it’s dry when you wake up is a good idea. Or just dumping out the water that was not used in the night and letting the chamber get dried out during the day works too. Also, you should never travel with water still in your water chamber. Always dump it out before traveling with your machine.
- Replacing Filters – There are disposable filters and reusable filters on every machine. Replacing the disposable filters once a month keeps the air pushing through nice a clean. The reusable filters can be washed out with water once a week as well when you wash your water chamber. Let the reusable filter after you wash it get good and dry before replacing it in the machine.
- Wash your mask with warm soapy water once a week. There are lots of oils from your skin that you will want to keep off your mask so it functions correctly. Take a washcloth, mild soap and warm water and just let it soak and then wash it from top to bottom. Let it get good and dry before you sleep with it.
- Wash your headgear. When you are washing your mask you can also wash off the headgear. Use the same water, cloth and scrub the headgear. You might want it to get dry as well before you use it.
- Tubing. It is recommended that you keep your tubing out during the day draped across your bed, headboard or night stand. Let air get circulated through it as well. It needs to stay dry and not wadded under the warm covers during the day. We want to keep it clear from mold or anything getting on the inside of it. Running the warm soapy water through it after you have removed it from the machine would be fine to do. Just make sure it gets good and dry as well.
- All of these hints can be done with some soap, water and a little of time. Your supply office will be familiar with how frequent your insurance will let you have new supplies. When you can get new supplies, call and get them on order so you can keep your machine functioning properly.
- Alternative to soap and water are CPAP wipes. They work the same as wet wipes, they can be used to wipe all the equipment down without having to mess with water and soap. They are very convenient.
Equip Care Medical can help you with all your CPAP, BiPAP, and autoPAP supplies.
Give us a call today at 580-332-3353.