I heard a radio commercial from Better Rest for their SoClean 2. I was wondering if anyone has experience with this device and can give honest feedback. I am about 6 months in on using a CPAP and find myself very forgetful on cleaning the tube and pillows and this look like a great solution if it really works.
I used a SoClean 2 for several years and the original SoClean before that, and was very happy with it. It does work really well to sanitize the tube and mask and is so much easier and takes less time than washing.
When I upgraded to a new APAP machine recently my DME expressed concern about the "activated oxygen" (ozone) from a health standpoint. I was not concerned, because it remains within the system and converts back to ordinary oxygen within a certain time. In my experience that was the case.
However I did more research online and learned that ozone can be corrosive to certain materials. It has no effect at all on many. I read a review by someone who had used a SoClean 2 and he believed that some of the seals in his CPAP machine had been damaged by the ozone. I don't know if that was the cause or not, but I have stopped using my SoClean for now. I miss it because I know it is an effective sanitizer, in my experience. I haven't decided whether to start using it again or not. I have not looked closely at my old machine to see if there is any evidence of corrosion.
Thanks for sharing, @IntellectualTanArmadillo1349. Anyone else out there have experience with the SoClean device they are willing to share?
I've used a CPAP for about 20 years, maybe longer. I've used a SoClean machine for the last year and a half. I'm on my second SoClean machine (more on that later). I've never had a problem with any kind of nasal irritation or skin reaction as a result of the SoClean. Like other people here, I was never as good about cleaning my mask and hose as I should have been. So the SoClean is a godsend there. I use it every day. That said, you have to check the seals regularly (I've never seen a problem with them, but I check them about once a month, just to be safe). And you have to change the filter (or whatever it is) according to their schedule. The only problem I've had is the unit itself. The latch that closes the lid is under tension from a spring, and it is only a flimsy piece of plastic - which is a really bad design - cheap to manufacture, but designed to fail. It will become brittle (maybe from the ozone, I don't know) and eventually break.
I have been using my so clean 2 since July and the other night the smell got really bad and i woke up feeling very sick. its 3 days later and i am still feeling awful...i cannot get the smell out of my nasal passages, feel shaky and nauseus, head hurts pretty bad too, going to see dr tomorrow.
Hi just started using the cleaning machine but because of my Asthma and Allergy issues I'm going to have to return it as the ozone smell from the machine lingers too long and is too strong and keeps the skin around my eyes and my forehead red and affects my asthma and allergy symptoms hope this helps
My husband has had his SoClean now for several years. The timer is set to clean soon after he gets up in the am. Yes, our bedroom smells like ozone for awhile but by the time he goes to bed at night, that smell is gone. If it bothers some people, it might be helpful if they would take their equipment out of the machine and like lay them aside away from the SoClean if that helps. It use of SoClean doesn't seem to wear his equipment prematurely. Please not the setting stay the same and are easy to set EXCEPT when our house looses power and then the time has to be once again adjusted.
Being the kind of man that he is, I sure wouldn't trust him washing his equipment. IE: The SoClean. If I counted on him to feed our dog, the dog would be very thin.
-Baba
I had problems sleeping due to the strong ozone smell the SoClean machine gives off after putting it on clean first thing in the morning. As many users recommended, I would lay the mask out after the cleaninging to "air it out" to try to get rid of the ozone smell before I would use it again at bed time. It still didn't matter. After multiple nights of doing this and not much sleep, I then started to research online about ozone and the health effects of breathing it. I found info on EPA.gov concerning ozone and air cleaners, among other sites, that do not recommend cleaners. I then emailed my pulmonary specialist and asked him about the SoClean and asked if he thought the ozone used to clean my CPAP would be safe to use, but he advised against it. That is all that I needed and returned my machine. The bottom line is that we need to stick to our guts and know that if something doesn't seem right, then it probably isn't! It may be easier to clean our CPAP equipment using these machines, but it's not worth our health doing so.
For about three months, I was coughing everyday and my allergies got much worse compared to all the years before, constantly sneezing and with runny nose. Took some prescription QNase and Bria that helped but allergies and cough would come back bad if I took a break from the meds. A breathing test given by my pulmonary Dr. Indicated my lung capacity was down 15%. I really believed it because when I tried to sing, I could not utter some of the words due to lung not being able to exhale enough air. I am quite lazy (maybe partly because of chronic fatigue) so I did not clean my CPAP for more than four months. That made me think that my constant coughing and sneezing probably came from dirty CPAP equipment. I started cleaning the CPAP tubing, reservoir, and mask with dish soap once a week for about a month and my coughing lessened but still there and my allergies did not improve. Finally thought "whatever" and painfully coughed up $300 for the SoClean 2. After one day of cleaning with SoClean, I noticed my allergies improved about 70%. A few more days and was just about 10% of the worst case, which is around my normal allergy level. So far it has been about two weeks on SoClean and not using QNase nor Bria. I am so glad sneezing and runny nose are significantly better. Coughing also improved but not back to my normal level. I just can't help believe that I had a lung infection that messed me up so bad since it still kind of feels like "something" (maybe mucus but do not see it come out during cough) is slightly impeding the lung inhalation/exhalation. In any case, the SoClean drastically helped me with alleviating my allergies, moderately with my cough and much less headaches after waking up. My situation is not normal since I did not clean the CPAP equipment for several months. I am somewhat concerned about the negative effects of ozone on health and equipment, but I really do not want to experience the incessant coughing and sneezing anymore. Even if I stop being lazy and start washing the equipment regularly, I still wonder about the parts that I cannot wash such as the air passage that leads from the reservoir through the CPAP device then out through the air port that connects the tubing for the mask. At this point I am paranoid about not using the SoClean, but still checking for experiences from other SoClean users that may have had any hazardous experiences to using SoClean.
I have only use the soclean for about 10 days but I cannot get the ozone smell out of it and it keeps me awake through the night I've tried turning it down I actually tonight changed out my hoses and my wisp and I can breathe better but the odor and smell have been making the skin around my eyes and my forehead continually red and itchy I have asthma and a lot of skin issues so I'm going to have to return it I'm afraid thank you I can't get the too strong smell out.
Has anyone developed a hearing loss or inner ear problem since they began using the SoClean machine?
I have, and it occurred to me today that the SoClean experience may be the cause. Shortly after I began using the SoClean about two months ago, I developed a pressure in one ear that progressively worsened to the point of severe sinus aches. I finally went to an ENT specialist, who can find absolutely nothing that would cause the feeling of pressure and sinus aches. He ordered a CT scan which - thankfully - showed no abnormalities, and after a 12-day series of prednisone, I still had no relief from the pressure and pain. I'm going to stop using the cleaner and see if the situation in my head clears.
Perhaps starting a new thread to document what you believe to be the issue causing your ear problems would be more helpful than posting a comment to a 7 month old comment. Most of the posters in this thread are no longer active. And welcome! SoClean has been a major topic of interest for quite a while!
I can't think of any possible way that the CPAP cleaner could cause pressure in the ear problem. However the CPAP itself could whether or not you use one of these cleaners.
I put the So Clean in the category of devices that are not harmful, but not helpful either. Or, a solution in search of a problem.
Psychologically, it's been studied about an object. Those that buy it reinforce positive reasons, those that don't reinforce negative reasons. If you have a germ phobia or an anxious person. It is reassuring and good. For the rest, a wipe with a wet tissue and a wash once a week is enough. There is nothing on the mask, that isn't on your pillow case and you live with everyday in a symbiotic relationship.
I been using the So Clean 2 for about 3 months now and haven’t had any issues. On the contrary like many here I was simply not cleaning my machine as regularly as I should. Prior too, I started to develop a cough and was concerned it may have to do with the cleanliness or lack thereof on my machine and hoses. Thankfully the cough has cleared and I feel great and sleeping like a baby. Like Bil mentioned “There is nothing on the mask, that isn't on your pillow case and you live with every day in a symbiotic relationship”. For those having problems I would try not over do it with the use of the machine. I run mine once a week and in between a quick wipe with CPAP wipes and I’m a very happy camper with my set up. I have the odor for one maybe 2 nights, afterwards it’s all clear. Should anything change with my use experience, Ill for sure post it here. I wish all a Happy Sleep.
I have been using the So Clean for just over 4 years. I own two homes and I bought one for each. I have only experienced the Ozone smell on the first few days of a new machinine, much like “new car” smell (not the smell , the temporary effect), and even if it was permanent it wouldn’t bother me. I use the machine every day, my wife puts the mask in the machine when she makes the bed. I do still have to clean the water tank sometimes, there is the same calcium buildup that it got before the So Clean. The clip that holds down the lid is ridiculously fragile, but when my original machine broke, I just started putting a weight on the lid when it was closed, and that works at least as well as the clip. I used to wash my equipment now and then, but I always knew there would be a better way. This is it. the biggest negative is the cost, and the fact that it is not covered by insurance.
This product is by far one of the best things you can do. I cleaned my water trap with alcohol, let air dry till bedtime every day. Cleaned tubing and mask regularly. The first breath after running the soclean for the first time was unbelievable. When, not if, this device keeps you from getting sick or even worse a hospital visit the cost becomes inconsequential.
Many folks don't use a SoClean Sanitizer and don't end up in the hospital. I have been on therapy for several years now and have not once ended up in the hospital or even sick for lack of one of these gizmos. I only clean my mask cushion daily to remove facial oils and that is it. I also clean my intake filter when dirty. I have never cleaned any of the other items. Not sick now nor ever have been from lack of SoClean use. If you are happy with that thing, God bless you but please don't infer everyone not using one is coming down with the plague! Ain't so, at least in one man's case.
Follow the cleaning instructions from the manufacturers of your mask and machine, in order to preserve the warranty and in order to, uh, follow the instructions. I am not aware of any manufacturer that recommends the use of any of SoClean's products. If SoClean products are not endorsed or recommended by the manufacturers of masks, hoses, and blowers, then their products should not be implemented in any form or fashion, in my opinion. SoClean products do not meet the standard of what is done in hospitals, despite what they imply. Worse, use of SoClean products can give people a false sense of security that can make them lax in doing the real cleaning that is actually recommended by the manufacturers. That is why my personal position is that I find the advertisements to be infuriating scare tactics that are highly misleading and that do more harm than good. That is only my personal opinion. I speak for no one else.
I started using SoClean 2 about 3 months ago. Within the past 2 weeks I have been sick with cold like symptoms and started have chest pains. After doing research I found that Ozone (they call it activated oxygen) is 3 oxygen atoms. We breathe O2 (2 oxygen atoms). In addition, oxygen poisoning is a thing. I immediately stopped using it and now 4 days later I am not longer have chest pains and my cold is going away. I see my doctor in 2 weeks and he will refer me to a cardiologist to check for permanent damage. I am surprised that this product is allowed to be sold. I wish that I had researched more before buying it.
I've been using the SoClean for about a year, and I love it. I have severe environmental allergies and am on 4 medications including an inhaler. Some have mentioned the residual ozone smell. Here's what I do and this works great:
(1) I have my timer set to run the SoClean in the morning.
(2) When it finishes (2 hours later... green light), I take the mask/hose out and briefly turn on my CPAP (ResMed AirSense 10). Once it starts up, I immediately turn it off and the blower automatically runs softly for a period of time (this is the normal function anytime this CPAP is turned off). This circulates air throughout the machine, water chamber, mask, etc. By the time I use the machine again, it is totally free of any ozone odor.
I've read all of the negatives of ozone. Nevertheless, I feel comfortable with the method I'm using now. Hope this is helpful.
And to quote the very words of SoClean themselves, in the disclaimer at the far bottom of the page:
"We are not . . . endorsed by any PAP equipment manufacturer." -- https://www.soclean.com/about-us/
Now THAT says something, don't it!
Not really. Lots of products aren’t “endorsed” by the product they were intended to be used with. That would be like saying that a car manufacturer doesn’t endorse a certain brand of tire so you shouldn’t use it. -well Ford doesn’t endorse the use of Pirelli tires on its vehicles so you shouldn’t put them on your car.....
It is not surprising that the CPAP manufacturers don't endorse the use of SoClean. It uses ozone which is a very corrosive gas. See this list of of susceptible certain materials are to ozone. They obviously want to isolate themselves from any damages which may be done to the CPAP equipment.
I use AVG anti-virus and they blocked the link you gave noting it was infected with a virus. You might want to scan your computer for viruses after looking at the link from ozoneservices.com.
Thanks for the tip. I did a full scan of my computer and there were no detections of a virus.
Here is a similar link. Hopefully it is not blocked by your virus scan software. Silicone seems to be quite safe from ozone. Stainless steel is probably fine too. Other plastics, elastic polymers in the headgear, and electrical connections on a heated hose more undetermined.
