How to properly clean and maintain a positive pressure respirator

Any device that is used continuously will inevitably require some cleaning and maintenance. For medical devices, however, cleaning and maintenance are even more crucial, since medical devices are used to improve health.

Therefore, if you have purchased a CPAP (Positive Pressure Monitoring) device, regular maintenance is essential, not only for the main unit but also for the CPAP mask/nasal cannula. During use, dirt, oil, and skin residue inevitably accumulate. Without proper cleaning, this can negatively impact its performance over time.

Cleaning the outer casing of the respirator main unit

Cleaning the outer casing is relatively simple, as it doesn't come into direct contact with our bodies during use. You only need to clean the dirty areas. Therefore, we recommend wiping it with a wrung-out damp cloth, and then wiping it again with a completely dry cloth – that should be sufficient.

Cleaning of other positive pressure respirator parts

In addition to the main unit, the respirator's mask, tubing, or humidifier also need to be cleaned. Humidifiers, in particular, have water tanks, as bacteria can more easily survive in humid, warm, and enclosed environments, so cleaning the humidifier is also important.

The three parts mentioned above are actually quite easy to clean yourself. Simply separate the parts from the main unit and then clean them according to the four-column cleaning steps.

1. Soak for about 30 minutes in diluted, simple, neutral detergent or mild soapy water.
2. Scrub and wash each part, cleaning each area evenly.
3. Rinse the parts with clean water.
4. Air dry naturally or use a dry cloth to speed up the drying process; do not expose to direct sunlight.

If convenient, use "drinking grade warm water" for cleaning to avoid leaving any raw water residue.

*A reminder: Do not use strong cleaning products; also, do not use washing or drying equipment for cleaning.

Other cleaning methods for positive pressure respirators

In addition to the cleaning methods we introduced, there are also cleaning methods such as using "ozone", "ultraviolet light" or alcohol/hypochlorous acid. It is recommended that you confirm with the manufacturer how to clean the device correctly when purchasing it to avoid damaging the equipment.