If your CPAP therapy leaves you with dry mouth, chapped lips, or a rough start to your mornings, your humidifier might be the missing piece. A properly used and maintained humidifier can make sleep therapy more comfortable and easier to stick with.
Most CPAPs come equipped with a built in humidifier nowadays, but it can be difficult to know how best to care for it and use it. Here’s why regular care—and the right kind of water—matters more than you might think.
If you’ve ever spent time under the direct blast of a fan, you know how quickly it will make your skin feel dry and your lips chapped. By using a humidifier, your CPAP experience can be more comfortable, and easier to stick to. Compliance with your CPAP routine is paramount to keeping yourself well rested, and a humidifier supports that by adding moisture, which can let you avoid:
One of the biggest reasons why people don’t clean their CPAP equipment everyday is time spent on the humidifier. But consider this — regularly cleaning your supplies is just as important as maintaining your own personal hygiene. Would you skip brushing your teeth or taking a shower for a week? Probably not. And you wouldn’t brush your teeth with soda – so don’t use the wrong water for your humidifier either.
Ideally, you should be refilling your humidifier each night with distilled water, and cleaning it each morning. That can sound like a lot, but leaving water in the tank each day can lead to buildup in the humidifier that will shorten the life span of your CPAP. It can also lead to germ buildup, and CPAP related illnesses. The same goes for the water – if it’s not distilled, you can wear down your other supplies quicker, and possibly irritate your mouth and throat.
Using a CPAP cleaner makes cleaning your CPAP supplies easier, faster, and more efficient without the hassle. No more messy cleaning with soap and water, or harsh chemicals. You don’t even have to worry whether you’ve washed your supplies thoroughly enough to avoid bacteria or mold growth. The Lumin makes cleaning easy with:
Get $70 off when you buy the Lumin CPAP Cleaner with code LUMIN70 at checkout → TRY NOW
Wear and tear from using your CPAP daily is completely normal. however, you’ll want to make sure to replace your supplies on a regular basis to avoid using deteriorating equipment. Small cracks can form in your mask seal; tubing, and humidifier chamber, where bacteria and germs can hide. You should also replace the filters regularly to ensure any air that enters your machine is always clean and filtered.
Using dirty CPAP supplies also makes your sleep therapy less effective. Because this happens slowly over time, most folks end up not noticing it. You can avoid this by replacing your supplies with fresh ones regularly.
Need to know when to replace your equipment? Review replacement schedule here.
If your CPAP is several years old and you haven’t been cleaning it daily, it’s probably time to upgrade to a new one to keep your health in check. After all, you’re breathing in the air that circulates through your machine. Newer CPAP machines are now auto-titrating, meaning they adjust to give the most effective pressure all through the night. The premiere choice is ResMed’s AirSense 11, which offers:
Get the AirSense 11 today for just $99 down and 0% APR → BUY NOW
Cleaning your supplies by hand can be time-consuming, but is well worth the effort. Wash your CPAP supplies with mild soap and warm water at least once a week. For a deeper clean, consider using a mixture of vinegar and water to help kill any potential mold or bacteria. After cleaning, allow your supplies to air dry completely. Mold thrives in moisture, so make sure your equipment is fully dry before you use it again.
Other helpful cleaning supplies include:
Add CPAP-specific cleaning supplies to your maintenance routine → SHOP NOW
Allow us to check with your insurance provider for you to find out what is covered (for free!). Click below to get started:
