The Best Budget CPAP Cleaner
No CPAP cleaner is FDA-approved, regardless of a seller’s claims.
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“Keeping your sleep apnea equipment clean is important for its effectiveness,” according to the American Sleep Association. However, a CPAP sanitizing machine isn’t always necessary.
Dr. Helene A. Emsellem, a National Sleep Foundation author, recommends “taking the mask, tubing and headgear in the shower with you once a week, rinsing it with a mild dish soap (odorless or with a smell you can tolerate), hanging it over the showerhead to dry and remembering to hook it back up the next night.”
How Dangerous Is a Dirty CPAP Machine?
A dirty continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine may have infected a patient with legionella pneumonia, according to a report published in SAGE Open Medical Case Reports. It’s a troubling incident, but a rare one.
Poorly-sanitized CPAP machines didn’t significantly increase the risk of respiratory infections in sleep apnea patients, according to a peer-reviewed study. Another study had similar findings: “there was no association seen between floral colonization of CPAP machine and symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis.” That said, “bacteria and oils on a dirty mask may give you a rash or infection on the skin,” cautions Dr. Lawrence Epstein, a sleep expert at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
The American Sleep Apnea Association suggests cleaning a CPAP machine so that it functions properly, but makes no mention of CPAP sanitizers. The same is true for a CPAP guide published by the Mayo Clinic, which advises: “Ask your doctor or CPAP supplier how to properly clean your mask and hose.”
Are CPAP Cleaners Covered by Medicare, Medicaid or Private Insurance?
CPAP cleaners and sanitizers aren’t “medically necessary” in the eyes of insurers, however, patients with an at-home CPAP device can request a replacement schedule from their insurance carrier.
Many private insurance companies and state Medicaid programs will replace CPAP supplies like masks, tubes and filters. Medicare’s replacement schedule for CPAP machine parts and supplies is among the most generous, according to a 2013 review by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Are CPAP Cleaning Machines Safe?
In February 2020, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration published a notice stating: “The FDA has received reports from patients experiencing cough, difficulty breathing, nasal irritation, headaches, asthma attacks and other breathing complaints when ozone gas-based products were used to clean, sanitize or disinfect CPAP devices and accessories…Although FDA has not received any problem reports associated with using UV light products that claim to clean CPAP devices and accessories, unintentional or excessive exposure to UV light during cleaning may put a user at risk of eye injury, skin burns or even an increased risk of skin cancer.” In short, no CPAP cleaner is FDA-approved, regardless of a seller’s claims.
CPAP Machine Usage May Increase the Spread of Coronavirus
“For asymptomatic (not showing any symptoms) patients, PAP therapy might increase the risk for the transmission of COVID-19 to others who might be in the same space,” says Colleen G. Lance, MD, a staff physician in the Sleep Disorders Center in the Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Lance continues, “If you share a bedroom and have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, it’s a good idea to use your PAP machine in another room until you know you’re in the clear.”
Can a CPAP Cleaner Kill Coronavirus?
Regardless of what a seller claims, a CPAP cleaning machine is not an EPA-registered disinfectant.
According to a bulletin on the agency’s website: “Unlike chemical pesticides, EPA does not routinely review the safety or efficacy of pesticidal devices, and therefore cannot confirm whether, or under what circumstances, such products might be effective against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Accordingly, List N only includes surface disinfectants registered by EPA and does not include devices.”
However, at least one research article suggests that ozone-based sterilizers can be used to disinfect cloth face masks. “The SoClean CPAP Sanitizer is a viable method for sterilizing against coronavirus, and therefore, reusing n95 masks or any cloth mask can be achieved with this method,” concludes Dr. Craig G. Burkhart, editor-in-chief of The Open Dermatology Journal.
If your doctor suggests purchasing a CPAP cleaner (or agrees that buying one is worth it to make life easier), here are the best affordable CPAP cleaning machines for the money:
3B Medical Lumin CPAP Cleaner LM3000
Good Value: $275 | Great Deal: $225
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3B Medical’s UV-light CPAP cleaner is quick, effective and easy to use, according to several online customers. Some reviewers were disappointed that the Lumin isn’t capable of cleaning a hose (without an accessory); others warn that the machine produces a bright light and a rubber-like smell when it is in use.
SoClean 2 CPAP Cleaning Machine SC1200-SB
Good Value: $275 | Great Deal: $250
Check Current Price on SoClean | Check Current Price on Walmart | Check Current Price on FSA Store
SoClean’s ozone-based CPAP cleaning machine sterilizes masks and tubes, according to several online customers who said that their allergies were reduced after cleaning. Many reviewers warn that the SoClean 2 has confusing instructions and produces a bad smell; others say that replacement filters are expensive.
Sleep8 Cleaning Companion System
Good Value: $240 | Great Deal: $200
Check Current Price on Walmart | Check Current Price on QVC | Check Current Price on MySleep8
Sleep8’s ozone-based CPAP cleaner is small and travel-friendly, according to several online customers. Some reviewers say that the unit has a twisty power cord that can loosen itself and prevent the unit from charging; others found the smell of ozone so off-putting (or allergy triggering), that they regretted their purchase.
Sani Bot D3X CPAP Mask Sanitizer Cleaning Machine
Good Value: $181 | Great Deal: $134
Check Current Price on Sani Bot
Many online customers are confident that Sani Bot’s sanitizer is effective. Some reviewers wish that the machine had a bigger wash basin (so that masks and hoses could be washed at the same time). Unhappy customers didn’t like how much time it took to wash every piece of their machine.
About the Author: John DeFeo was formerly the head of insights for Live Science, working in collaboration with the editors responsible for the sleep science research that was published on the site. He has also written about weighted blankets, sleep masks and indoor air purifiers.
