It’s more important now than ever before to keep the surfaces around you clean to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and that includes your CPAP device and equipment. While you’ve probably heard plenty about the need to clean your mask, tubing and humidification chamber, many people overlook keeping the CPAP machine itself clean and sanitized.

Here’s why it’s important — recent research from the New England Journal of Medicine found that viable COVID-19 virus can live up to 72 hours on plastic surfaces like a CPAP machine. If you’re a CPAP user, here are some tips for keeping your machine clean and sanitized:

• Use the right detergent. Use a clean, disposable cloth with a disinfectant solution. Here are just a few of the recommended types of disinfectants for your CPAP device that you may already have around the house:

  • Warm water with a mild detergent

  • Window cleaner or another premixed surface detergent

  • 70% ethyl alcohol solution 10% bleach solution Isopropyl wipes

• Don’t let water get inside the device. Your cloth should be wet but not dripping so that water does not enter the machine, which can damage its operation. For the same reason, spray the cleaning solution on a towel before wiping, not directly onto the device. Wipe off the unit with a dry towel after you’re done.

• Don’t try to open up the machine. It isn’t just your mask and tubing that can be contaminated with mold, mildew and bacteria. It’s common to find the same kinds of contaminants inside of the CPAP machine itself. But don’t try to open up the machine on your own! Only your homecare provider or a certified service center should be getting under the hood of your CPAP device.

Learn more here about the importance of keeping your CPAP machine clean and in good repair, or get in touch with us at info@repairauthority.com.