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- People who suffer from sleep apnea are familiar with ventilators that provide continuous positive airway pressure, known as CPAP machines.
- CPAP machines require use of a mask, but cleaning it daily can be difficult and tedious. High-quality CPAP mask cleaners should be easy to set up and require minimal maintenance.
- Though it's more expensive than other options, you can pay for it using your HSA or FSA, and the cleaner is backed by a two-year warranty.
According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, about 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. An estimated 80% of cases go undiagnosed and untreated, which can lead to major health problems including stroke and chronic heart failure. One of the most common treatments for obstructive sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) applied by a ventilator, called a CPAP machine.
About half of the people with prescribed CPAP machines don't use them as prescribed or stop using them altogether because the mask is uncomfortable and needs to be cleaned on a daily basis, even if you don't use the machine regularly.New Hampshire-based company SoClean contacted me recently to test the SoClean 2 + Respironics DreamStation and System One Adapter, one of its second-gen sanitizer and adapter bundles. Both my parents use CPAP machines to treat their sleep apnea so I worked with my 59-year-old dad to review this particular unit.
Design
SoClean has created several bundles that include a white cleaning chamber and a different adapter that works with a variety of popular mask models. My dad tried the SoClean 2 + Respironics DreamStation and System One Adapter (currently $335 on Amazon) because it came with an adapter that works for both the Respironics and Philips System One, which he personally uses, but there are also bundles for ResMed AirSense 10 ($339), Fisher & Paykel ICON ($339), and others.
The white sanitizing chamber is 7.5 inches by 6.5 inches by 8.5 inches and uses activated oxygen to disinfect your mask and CPAP machine, removing 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and other pathogens without chemicals or water. There's a slot between the lid and chamber for the hose to go through so you don't need to disconnect the mask to clean.
Set-up process
The bundle comes with everything you need to start cleaning your CPAP machine; you just supply the electrical outlet. I let my dad take the reins on setting things up since he was much more familiar with things than I am. It took about 30-45 minutes, but ironically, he was slowed by the quick start guide because it didn't provide clear information about the parts and steps for completing the set up; the longer user manual was much clearer.
Another hiccup was changing out the adapters. Our bundle had adapters that connected to the Respironics DreamStation and Philips System One; the former came pre-installed with the machine but my dad uses the latter so he had to swap them accordingly. Rremoving the DreamStation tube proved difficult, but attaching the one he needed was easy.What makes the CPAP cleaner stand out
Once the cleaning chamber is set up, it's incredibly easy to use. There are two main ways that you can clean your CPAP machine. For manual cleaning, you put your mask in the chamber, press the start button, and allow the cleaner to run its course. With the daily programmed cleaning, you can use the LCD screen on the base to set the device to clean your machine each day at a specified time.
My dad also appreciated that the cleaner only works if the mask is inside the cleaning chamber. This keeps you from accidentally starting the machine on manual mode, and if you forget to put the mask in the chamber when you wake up in the morning, the cycle won't run at the programmed time.
The SoClean CPAP device is also low maintenance; my dad has used his unit for more than three months and hasn't had to do any maintenance yet. After six months of use though, the manufacturer recommends replacing the cartridge filter and the check valve assembly. Thankfully, the LCD display tells you when these components need to be replaced. Both are available on Amazon (currently $30 total) and you can use the Subscribe & Save feature to automatically order replacements every six months.
The most impressive part about the SoClean device is that it actually got my dad to clean his CPAP machine. Prior to using this product, he wouldn't manually clean his machine as frequently as he was supposed to. This led to the mask becoming uncomfortable, but with how easy it is to operate, he has it programmed to clean on a daily basis.
Cons to consider
When I saw that there was a SoClean cleaner that came with adapters for the Respironics DreamStation and System One, I thought it would be perfect for my parents since those are the two models they use. However, in practice, it's hard to use one SoClean unit to clean two CPAP machines even if they are the same brand because, as mentioned earlier, switching the adapters for the different units is a pain. You'd also have to choose the manual cleaning option and remember to switch between CPAP machines after the cycle is finished. It can be done, but it's so inconvenient that it isn't really worth the effort.
Other than that, we didn't have any problems with or concerns about the unit.The bottom line
Overall, we were completely satisfied with our SoClean 2 + Respironics DreamStation and System One Adapter. Despite the minor hiccups with setting it up, my dad could essentially set it and forget it. Each morning, he puts his mask in the cleaning chamber, the unit cleans the CPAP machine at the programmed time, and everything is ready to go each night. If you have a CPAP machine and find regular cleaning to be a hassle, we strongly recommend buying a SoClean bundle, especially if you have extra FSA money that won't roll over at the end of the year.
Pros: Works with popular CPAP machines, small footprint, low maintenance, automated cleaning, two-year warranty, can fall under HSA and FSA plans
Cons: Expensive, inconvenient to use with multiple CPAP machines at once
Buy the SoClean 2 + Respironics DreamStation and System One Adapter on Amazon for $335
Buy the SoClean 2 + ResMed AirSense 10 Adapter on Amazon for $339
Buy the SoClean 2 + ResMed S9 Adapter on Amazon for $339
Buy the SoClean 2 + Fisher & Paykel ICON Adapter on Amazon for $319
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