Cleaning your CPAP machine is crucial for preventing the buildup of dirt, sweat, and bacteria, which can lead to health issues. Hand-cleaning with common household ingredients is an effective option to ensure your equipment stays hygienic.

Cleaning your CPAP machine is absolutely essential. Your equipment accumulates dirt, sweat, and other debris that can lead to the development of bacteria, potentially causing illnesses.

The FDA has not approved ozone gas or ultraviolet (UV) light to clean your machine. We do not recommend either option. It’s possible to clean your CPAP by hand using everyday ingredients found at home.

Read on to learn more about CPAP cleaning machines and whether or not they’re essential.

A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is most commonly prescribed for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA can cause interruptions or pauses in your breathing while you sleep. A CPAP machine helps send a steady flow of pressured air into your nose and/or mouth as you snooze.

A CPAP machine device is programmed to produce pressurized air at one steady level. Regular use can help improve your quality of sleep, lower your risk of having a heart attack, help lower your blood pressure, and reduce daytime sleepiness.

A CPAP cleaning machine aims to thoroughly sanitize your CPAP machine and its accompanying accessories, including the mask, headgear tubing, and the water chamber. It’s important to regularly clean your CPAP machine because bacteria, fungi, and viruses can grow in CPAPs. Allergins, dust, dirt, mold, and pollen can also get into them.

Although you should clean your CPAP machine consistently, the FDA has issued a warning against at-home CPAP cleaning devices that use ozone or UV light as cleaning mechanisms. This is because they’re not legally marketed for cleaning purposes. We recommend you can still clean your CPAP machine using the following ingredients:

  • a mild soap (preferably unscented and without moisturizing ingredients)
  • white vinegar (if you use a humidifier tank)
  • warm water
  • a sink, tub, or bucket
  • a clean towel

To properly clean your CPAP machine, you should unplug it and then disassemble it. You can wash the tubing with warm, soapy water, but the inside of the tubing should be cleaned by submerging it long enough for it to fill up with soap and water.

Each part of the mask, cushion, and headgear can be washed with a mild and oil-free soap. If you use a humidifier tank, you can soak it with equal parts warm water and vinegar.

Lastly, all machine parts should be soaked with cold water once you’re done cleaning them. From there, you can set them each on a clean towel to air dry. Hoses and tubing dry better if they’re hung up.

You should only reassemble your machine once all parts are fully dry.

If you still decide that you want to purchase a CPAP cleaning machine, there are a few things that you should keep in mind:

  • Is it portable? If you sometimes travel with your CPAP machine, you’ll want to take the accompanying cleaner, too. This means that you’ll want the cleaner to be as compact and lightweight as possible.
  • How do you charge it? Some CPAP cleaners take batteries, while others recharge via electrical outlet or USB port. This aspect of CPAP machines comes down to personal preference.

Cleaning your CPAP machine is essential to prioritize your health as you use the equipment night after night. Cleaning your CPAP machine can be done by hand. CPAP cleaning machines that use UV light or ozone are not FDA-approved and are not recommended.

With a clean CPAP machine, you’ll be able to sleep tight knowing that your materials are as clean as they can be.

Hailey Hudson is a full-time freelance writer and content marketer based out of Atlanta, Georgia. She focuses on the health, marketing, and education industries. Clients include Livestrong, Runner’s World, Dell, and others. Hailey is also a novelist and a musician.