Cleaning and maintenance of equipment  [ Return to  CPAP Therapy Equipment  ]

You should be disassembling and reassembling your mask for cleaning once per week and your cushion or nasal pillows should be washed daily as shown by your CPAP Therapy Consultant during your education session.

To clean, disassemble the mask as per manufacturer’s instructions and submerge in a bucket of water, adding a few drops dishwashing detergent, wash well and rinse thoroughly. Headgear should be washed with a mild washing powder. Rinse mask parts with clear water and let dry on a towel inside the house. Reassemble when dry.

NOTE: Do not use bathroom pump soaps containing fragrances or oils.

If you have a nasal pillow system you should wash your pillows daily in warm dishwashing detergent and rinse, let dry before reassembling onto the mask. Tubing and headgear should be washed weekly.

Chinstraps should be washed with mild washing powder, Rinse thoroughly and let dry on a towel inside the house.

Wash your CPAP tubing weekly, the easiest method is to flush water through the tubing adding some detergent as you are flushing the water through. Rinse the tubing out with clean water. Hang tubing up and allow the water to drain from the tubing during the day ready for use that night.

The water in the chamber needs to be replaced daily. The chamber should be taken off the machine each morning to be emptied and rinsed. Fill with fresh water before put back onto machine.

For weekly cleaning disassemble the chamber as shown by your CPAP Consultant during your education session. Immerse in a bucket of warm water with detergent and soak for 20-30 minutes, rinse with clear water and let dry on a towel inside the house. Reassemble humidifier ready for use. You can soak in 1 teaspoon of cleaning vinegar to 1 cup of water to remove any calcium deposits or build up. Most chambers are also dishwasher safe, so ask if yours is suitable.

Disposable filters should be changed every 3-4 months, (do not wash the disposable filters), dispose of the used filter and put in a new filter. If you live in a very dusty area your filters may need to be changed on a more regular basis.

Washable filters need to be washed once a week in warm soapy water, rinse in clear water and let dry on a towel in the house before returning it to the machine. The filter must be in the machine always when the machine is in use.