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If not cleaned properly, CPAP machines and accessories can quickly begin to harbor potentially dangerous bacteria. That’s why finding the best CPAP cleaner is so important. A good CPAP cleaning machine really makes all the difference.
That’s exactly why we have put together these careful reviews of the top 5 best CPAP cleaning systems on the market – including our guide on Choosing the Best CPAP Cleaner.
Best CPAP Cleaners
SoClean 2 CPAP Cleaner | 3B Lumin CPAP Cleaner | Virtuclean CPAP Cleaner | |
---|---|---|---|
Ozone | Activated oxygen | Activated oxygen | Activated oxygen |
Operation | Automated cleaning cycle | One-touch operation | Lightweight and portable |
Special Features | Free Respironics DreamStation and System One adapter | UV light, No filters, 5-minute cleaning cycle | Rechargeable lithium ion battery, 30-25-minute cleaning cycle |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best-Rated CPAP Cleaners
- SoClean 2 CPAP Cleaner and Sanitizer
- Lumin CPAP Cleaner and Supplies Sanitizer
- Virtuclean CPAP Equipment and Mask Cleaner
- SoClean 2 Go Travel CPAP Equipment Cleaner
- SolidCLEANER Portable CPAP Cleaner
More about CPAPs: CPAP Alternatives
CPAP Cleaners & Sanitizers Reviews
#1 – SoClean 2 CPAP Cleaner and Sanitizer
- Activated oxygen (ozone)
- No disassembly required
- Automated cleaning cycle
- Independently tested
- Free Respironics DreamStation and System One adapter
It kills an impressive 99.9% of the germs on your CPAP mask, in your tubing, and even in the water reservoir. The activated oxygen technology that the SoClean CPAP cleaner uses is the same technology often used for water purification and handling of produce. Even hotels and hospitals utilize this effective and safe sanitization process.
Another thing you’ll love that really increases the value of this product as a CPAP mask cleaner is that you don’t have to disassemble anything! It’s made to work with your mask and machine as is.
You simply place the mask inside the CPAP sterilizer, close the lid, and let the SoClean CPAP cleaner do the rest with its automated cleaning cycle. The tubing sticks out of the cleaner from a built-in hole in order to allow you to do this without disassembly.
This CPAP cleaner also includes a free adaptor that works with the Respironics DreamStation and System One. You may need a separate adaptor if you have a different CPAP machine. It’s also important to note that this is an expensive option when it comes to CPAP cleaning products.
The high price should be carefully considered, but it seems that more often than not customers agree that it is well-worth it due to convenience and effectiveness.
#2 – Lumin CPAP Cleaner and Supplies Sanitizer
- UV light
- No filters
- Large sanitizing drawer
- One-touch operation
- 5-minute cleaning cycle
Instead of using activated oxygen to clean your machine and accessories, this CPAP sanitizer uses powerful UV light to kill 99% of germs and bacteria. This CPAP cleaner from Lumin also happens to be a good bit more affordable than the option from SoClean.
While this has a similar effectiveness to CPAP cleaners that use activated oxygen, there are some benefits as well as drawbacks to consider with this type of CPAP sanitizer. The UV light method of cleaning is often considered safer making many people believe this is undoubtedly the best CPAP cleaner.
While this is a great choice, it’s important to understand that activated oxygen is considered completely safe as well. The biggest issue is often the smell that gets left behind, which you won’t have to worry about with the Lumin CPAP cleaner.
In contrast with many ozone CPAP cleaners, the Lumin does require you to disassemble your CPAP accessories for cleaning. You’ll also need to clean each piece separately – although, this isn’t that big of a deal since the cleaning cycle of the Lumin is a fraction of the cleaning cycles of other CPAP cleaning devices at only 5 minutes.
You also don’t have to worry about upkeep with the Lumin CPAP cleaner since it doesn’t require any filters like many other options. The included lightbulb is built to last long enough to outlive even your actual CPAP machine.
#3 – Virtuclean CPAP And Mask Cleaner
- Activated oxygen (ozone)
- Rechargeable lithium ion battery
- 2-hour battery life
- 30-25-minute cleaning cycle
- Lightweight and portable
What’s really special about this particular ozone CPAP cleaner, though, is the fact that it does not require any replacement filters like most ozone options. Just like with the Lumin CPAP sanitizer, this CPAP cleaning device requires no special upkeep.
The Virtuclean is a very lightweight CPAP cleaner that works great in-home or as a portable option. That’s partially thanks to its rechargeable lithium ion battery.
This long-lasting battery allows you to use the CPAP cleaning machine without plugging it into the wall, but also does not require changing the batteries like many portable CPAP cleaners.
Since the battery has a 2-hour charge time and a cleaning cycle of 30-35 minutes, you can get 3-4 full cleaning cycles out of each charge. Something else that’s different about this particular CPAP cleaner is that you don’t actually put your mask into anything.
You simply hook it up and turn it on to sanitize your CPAP equipment. It also doesn’t require any special additional adapters for different CPAP units!
#4 – SoClean 2 Go Travel CPAP Cleaner
- Activated oxygen (ozone)
- Portable
- 8 AA batteries
- Sanitizer bag
- No disassembly required
It uses the same activated oxygen to get an effective and safe clean for your CPAP machine. There are a few major differences between the two SoClean CPAP cleaners, though.
First, the SoClean 2 Go is much smaller to help with portability. Because of its smaller size, it doesn’t have a built-in sanitizing compartment for cleaning your CPAP mask. Instead, it comes with a sanitization bag.
To use the CPAP cleaning device, you simply put your mask into the SoClean CPAP sanitizer bag, zip it closed with the hose hanging out, and turn on the machine to activate the cleaning cycle.
That means that just like with the full-size SoClean 2, no disassembly is required to clean your CPAP supplies. The bag also doubles as a carrying case.
While the SoClean 2 Go is portable like the Virtuclean, it’s important to note that it is best when only used as a portable option unlike the Virtuclean that can easily double as an in-home option as well. This is because the SoClean 2 Go uses 8 AA batteries opposed to the rechargeable lithium ion battery of the Virtuclean.
So, daily use would cause your battery costs to start to really add up. Of course, it does mean you don’t have to charge the SoClean 2 Go and the SoClean 2 Go is also a good bit more affordable.
#5 – Sani Bot D3 CPAP Mask Sanitizer Cleaning Machine
- Utilizes disinfectant tablets
- 1 to 30-minute cleaning cycles
- User-friendly control panel
- Stainless steel tank
- 60 tablets included
- Drying rack included
This Sani Bot CPAP Cleaner is quite a bit different than our other best CPAP cleaner picks. Rather than using ozone or even UV to clean your CPAP supplies, this CPAP Cleaner uses a more traditional method of cleaning.
It uses a combination of hot water and strong cleaning tablets to effectively clean and disinfect your CPAP mask and other supplies.
Many users may prefer this method because it is more traditional. Some people may not feel as confident using CPAP cleaning methods that don’t involve something like cleaning tablets even though the other methods are certainly still effective options.
There is a little more work involved in using the Sani Bot compared to the other cleaners we reviewed, but overall it is still easy to operate. You simply place your mask and any other pieces you’d like to clean inside the basket that you’ll find in the reservoir of the machine.
Then you fill it with hot tap water until your items are completely submerged. When cleaning things like tubing, make sure to get all air bubbles out for the most effective cleaning.
Finally, place a cleaning tablet in the water, close the machine, and set it to your desired cleaning time. This machine can be set for a cleaning cycle ranging anywhere from 1 to 30 minutes.
The biggest downfall that should be considered before purchasing a machine like the Sani Bot is simply that you will have to continuously purchase the cleaning tablets as you use your machine.
Your initial purchase does include 60 of the cleaning tablets, though, which will certainly get you through for a while.
Overall, this is a great choice for anyone that wants a more traditional cleaning method as long as they take into account the small ongoing cost of cleaning tablets and the fact that they will have to replace the water each time they clean their supplies.
Choosing the Best CPAP Cleaner
For many sufferers of sleep apnea, CPAP therapy becomes a very important and beneficial part of their daily routine. In fact, CPAP therapy is the most common and effective treatment for sleep apnea.
Due to the nature of CPAP machines, it’s important to know the best way to clean CPAP supplies.
When it comes to picking out the best CPAP cleaner for your needs, you have a pretty important decision in your hands. CPAP therapy tends to be very important for those that use it.
It makes a huge difference in sleep apnea symptoms and can be extremely beneficial to your overall quality of life. This is why keeping your CPAP machine and accessories clean is so important.
For such an important task, you’ll want to make sure that you choose the best product for the job by understanding better just exactly what you’re looking for. With CPAP cleaners, there is one major choice to make as well as a few other slightly more minor factors to consider.
The first thing you’ll have to decide is if you want an ozone CPAP cleaner or a UV light CPAP cleaner.
- Ozone CPAP Cleaners
- UV Light CPAP Cleaners
- Other CPAP Cleaner Considerations
- CPAP Cleaner FAQs
- CPAP Cleaners Buyer’s Tips
Ozone CPAP Cleaners
Ozone CPAP cleaners use a gas often called ozone or activated oxygen in order to clean and sanitize the various parts of your CPAP machine.
The gas is generally regarded as safe and is approved for use in CPAP cleaners. However, there are opponents that claim ozone can be associated with health risks leaving some people seeking alternatives.
Overall, the biggest drawback is the strong smell of the gas. Fortunately, most users report that if they simply clean their machines in the morning that the smell has dissipated by the time they’re going to bed. The nice thing about ozone CPAP cleaners is that they are so powerfully effective.
Testing has shown that this type of CPAP cleaner thoroughly sanitizes the various parts of a CPAP machine by killing 99.99% of all germs, bacteria, and other pathogens.
During cleaning, the gas reaches all the smallest parts and hidden crevices of CPAP masks and other accessories to ensure all parts are completely clean. This is the same technology that is often used in produce farming, hospitals, hotels, and water purification.
UV Light CPAP Cleaners
A great alternative to ozone cleaning is UV light cleaning. It’s very clean and there are no doubts questioning its safety. It is another sanitization method that is often used in various industries like food handling and the medical field.
The way UV light CPAP cleaners work is by simply surrounding the CPAP supplies in powerful UV light for a few minutes. This effectively kills 99% of all germs, bacteria, and other pathogens similarly to the ozone cleaners.
Unfortunately, because of the way the light works, these types of CPAP cleaners do require you to disassemble your CPAP set-up and sanitize the parts separately inside of the CPAP cleaner.
In other words, ozone cleaners tend to be a little simpler to use and take slightly less of your time. While some ozone cleaners require filters, UV light cleaners never do.
You also might want to consider that a UV light CPAP cleaner has the added value of being able to sanitize many other household items such as toothbrushes, toys, and even other medical devices like hearing aids.
Other CPAP Cleaner Considerations
While the most important decision to make regarding your CPAP cleaner is how it cleans your CPAP supplies, there are some other important factors to consider. Know that some of these factors may not be relevant if you choose to go with a UV light CPAP cleaner since there are a lot less options for UV light cleaners on the market.
Portability
Some CPAP cleaners are designed specifically for daily in-home use, while others are made to be portable. Some choices are able to fulfill both in-home use as well as portable use.
Power Source
Going along with portability, there are different ways your CPAP cleaner may be powered. Some options plug directly into the wall for power, some require batteries, and some are rechargeable.
Cleaning Cycle Time
How long a cleaning cycle takes is another varying feature of different CPAP clean Most options feature cleaning cycles ranging from between 5 minutes and 30 minutes.
Cost
Finally, the cost of a product is always an important consideration. The CPAP cleaners that we have reviewed here range from just under $100 all the way up to over $300. It’s important to consider up-keep costs as well since some CPAP cleaners do require regular filter replacement.
CPAP Cleaner FAQs
Are CPAP cleaners safe?
There is a little bit of debate out there about the safety of CPAP cleaners – specifically ozone CPAP cleaners that utilize activated oxygen. Evidence suggests that they are safe in general.
The biggest concern is that they may cause irritation in particularly sensitive individuals. They also tend to leave a fairly strong smell that may bother some people.
If these are concerns of yours, you can certainly choose to go with a CPAP cleaner that uses UV light instead of activated oxygen like the 3B Lumin CPAP Cleaner.
Are CPAP cleaners really necessary?
Cleaning your CPAP mask and other CPAP parts and accessories is absolutely mandatory to stay healthy and avoid potentially dangerous health outcomes.
Since cleaning is needed, you will absolutely need CPAP cleaning supplies. You do have some options here like soap and water or CPAP mask wipes.
Of course, it’s important to realize that most options are tedious or difficult and the truth is that CPAP wipes can only get your supplies so clean.
Without a CPAP cleaning machine, it’s very difficult for most patients to adhere to a proper and healthy cleaning schedule with their CPAP supplies.
Your best bet – which will save you a lot of time and trouble – really is to just find the best CPAP cleaner for your needs and let it do the work.
Not only are they much easier, but they also tend to be more effective at sanitizing your CPAP machine.
How often should you clean your CPAP mask?
Recommendations for how often you should clean CPAP equipment varies. A general rule of thumb seems to be to give your equipment a good cleaning once a week.
The CPAP mask is a little different, though. The CPAP mask tends to come in contact with the most germs and bacteria, so it can begin harboring and growing them faster.
So, while it’s fine if CPAP tube cleaning happens only once a week, you’ll want to clean your mask more often. The most common recommendation is to clean the mask daily.
Since CPAP cleaning machines make it so much simpler to effectively clean both your CPAP mask and other CPAP equipment, many users choose to do a cleaning cycle on their entire CPAP machine daily.
CPAP Cleaners Buyer’s Tips
When it comes to choosing important products that can impact your health, you don’t just want to jump in and buy something without putting careful research and thought into it.
Hopefully, our guide and recommendations have taken some of the work and stress out of it for you.
Keep in mind that if you are still questioning which option the best CPAP cleaner for you is, that user reviews of a product are an excellent source of information. Be careful where you shop as well because prices will certainly vary between different sellers.
We have found Amazon to have consistently low prices while still providing high-quality service and fast shipping that’s often free. It’s always important to keep your options open, though!
Notice:
HealthWellness365 is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. HealthWellness365 earns fees from products sold through qualifying purchases by linking to Amazon.com. Amazon offers a commission on products sold through their affiliate links.In March 2019 Amazon announced that Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts (HSA/FSA) would be accepted as new forms of payment for eligible product purchases. Using HSA/FSA funds to purchase on Amazon can be a great way to reduce taxes and reduce overall healthcare costs for items not covered under medical insurance. Users of such medical savings plans are issued a debit card by their provider, which can be added to their payment methods in their Amazon account.
Whether items sold on Amazon are deemed as eligible for HSA/FSA plans remains the responsibility of the buyer and their particular health plan provider. It’s ultimately up to the IRS and participating health plan providers to deem which medical and health products are considered eligible for the payment plans.
But the eligibility is quite broad and inclusive of thousands of products that are sold on Amazon and considered Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts plan-eligible. See this IRS document for more information about Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p969.pdf