There are three leading CPAP cleaners on the market today that all work excellently. Each has its merits. Here are all three listed along with a few of their finer points.
- SoClean:
- This unit is a mid-size, CPAP cleaning device. It works by connecting directly to your CPAP mask hose and the CPAP unit itself. When you are finished using your mask for the night, you simply place it into the cleaning chamber for the day. Unlike other units, you do not have to connect and disconnect the SoClean each day. You can leave the water in the humidifier chamber and set up a regular schedule for cleaning your equipment daily. The SoClean utilizes the disinfecting properties of ozone.
- VirtuClean:
- This CPAP machine cleaner is a smaller unit that comes with its own traveling case for easy portability. This unit works by disconnecting your hose from your CPAP machine and connecting it directly to the VirtuClean. You utilize the travel bag as a cleaning chamber and place the mask and as much of the hose into the bag as possible, and then run the cleaning cycle. VirtuCLEAN completes the CPAP disinfection process with the use of ozone.
- Lumin:
- This CPAP sanitizer is a mid-sized unit that harnesses the power of UV light. Like other cleaners, you do have to disassemble your CPAP equipment and remove the water from the reservoir. You then place the gear into the light chamber, close the door, and run the cleaning cycle. Unfortunately, the Lumin does not clean your hose portion due to the design of the lightroom and the contours of the hose; however, this company just released a new accessory, the Lumin Bullet, which disinfects your hose. One thing that the Lumin can do that no other CPAP machine cleaner can is sanitize other household items like toothbrushes, hearing aids, eyeglasses, and hair combs.
All of these units can thoroughly disinfect your CPAP gear in just minutes, leaving your equipment ready to go with no need to dry or buy expensive cleaners or solvents. The only part of washing your gear that these devices do not do is the removal of physical debris such as facial oil, skin cells, hair, and dust. You must use a damp cloth, or CPAP mask wipes to gently remove any physical debris from your mask, headgear, and outside of your hose or CPAP machine itself.