Lumin vs Sleep8: A User Review
At The CPAP Shop, we love to hear from our customers regarding what products they use, why they use them, and what they love about them. So, we sent Sleep8 user Claire the Lumin CPAP Sanitizer and asked her to try it out and give us her honest feedback, as well as a comparison between the two devices. Claire has been a CPAP user for over 10 years and has been a loyal customer of The CPAP Shop since 2015. Her current CPAP equipment setup includes the ResMed AirFit P10 Nasal Pillow Mask and ResMed S9 CPAP. For travel, she uses the HDM Z2 Travel CPAP.
Claire was also recently diagnosed with COVID-19, and while she has recovered, she highlights her experience using both sanitizers during her illness.
Why I Decided to Use a CPAP Sanitizer
I have been using CPAP for 10 years. Although I don’t get sick very often, I find that I still have a stuffy or runny nose (despite taking allergy medicine). I clean my CPAP mask, tube, and water chamber on a weekly basis, but after doing some research, I learned that bacteria could still be forming, contributing to my risk of illness or infection. This was confirmed after finding a pink build-up (bacteria) in the corners of my water chamber, even with regular cleaning!
I received the Sleep8 as a free gift through a promotion at The CPAP Shop.
Sleep8 CPAP Sanitizer
The Sleep8 CPAP Sanitizer uses activated oxygen, or ozone, to sanitize up to 99.9% of your mask, tubing, and water chamber. It is travel-friendly (it fits in the palm of your hand) and comes with a built-in battery that lasts for up to two cleaning cycles. The included filter bag attaches to the Sleep8 and has a lot of room for your equipment. I was able to fit the water chamber for my ResMed S9 (which measures 4”x4”), my mask, and my hose in the bag simultaneously for cleaning.
Because the Sleep8 uses ozone, it has a few built-in safety features, which I also enjoyed. Firstly, the Sleep8 will not run if it is not connected to the bag properly. The Sleep8 screen displays a countdown timer while sanitizing, and the device beeps and automatically shuts off when it is finished.
Sleep8 is quiet; it makes less noise than my CPAP machine. While I like the “clean” smell of my equipment after a sanitizing cycle, I found that if I didn’t let it air out long enough (about a day), the ozone smell irritated my nose. I would recommend having a spare CPAP mask and tube to use while the other is airing out.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Kills over 99% of bacteria, viruses & mold | Long cleaning time (60 minutes) |
| Effectively cleans all CPAP equipment | Need to let ozone dissipate (60 minutes) |
| No special adapters required | Need to let equipment air out (up to a day) |
| Travel-friendly (lightweight, portable) | Bag needs to be replaced every 90 days |
| Battery-powered (full charge = two cycles) | |
| "Clean" smell after use | |
| Built-in safety features/alarms |
Lumin CPAP Sanitizer
The Lumin CPAP Sanitizer, unlike the Sleep8 and SoClean sanitizers, uses ultraviolet light (UV-C) to sterilize CPAP equipment. According to the Lumin User Manual, it uses a “UV energy... around 254nm... 265nm is the most lethal wave to microorganisms.” However, the light, is only able to sterilize the surfaces it can reach. For this reason, equipment is placed into a polished aluminum drawer that will reflect the light onto every surface for a more effective sanitization.
Unfortunately, even with the reflective drawer, the Lumin may not sufficiently sanitize some CPAP equipment (nasal pillows and hoses). Since I use a nasal pillow mask, that was a little disappointing. However, I just put my mask through two cleaning cycles (one face-up, one face-down). For CPAP tubes, the manufacturer recommends the Lumin Bullet, a separate cleaner designed specifically for tubes. I just coiled my tubes inside the drawer and ran them through two cleaning cycles, flipping them over in between.
The shorter run time (five minutes) of the Lumin is a real plus. With no need to wait for ozone to dissipate, you can use your equipment immediately after cleaning. However, the drawer is small when compared to the filter bag of the Sleep8, which means I had to run my equipment through multiple cleaning cycles to ensure all of it was disinfected.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Kills over 99% of bacteria, viruses & mold | Not recommended for CPAP tubes or nasal pillows |
| No special adapters required | Limited space in drawer, may need multiple cleaning cycles |
| Multi-purpose (not just for CPAP equipment) | Not travel-friendly |
| No replacement parts needed | Not battery compatible |
| Fast cleaning time (5 minutes) | May leave a "burnt" smell on equipment |
| Environmentally friendly (no ozone) | |
| Quiet operation |
My COVID-19 Diagnosis
In April 2020, I tested positive for COVID-19 and suffered weeks of symptoms: chills, muscle pain, runny nose, headache, chest tightness, and trouble breathing. For the first time in my life, I was grateful for having a CPAP machine to provide me with air, without having to work as hard to breathe.
After my diagnosis, my equipment cleaning went from once a week to every day. I used my Sleep8 to clean my hose, nasal pillows and humidifier chamber. The Lumin provided a second sanitizing cycle to the water chamber. I used soap and water in addition to the sanitizers to ensure I was effectively getting rid of the virus particles. Although the Sleep8 has not been tested to show its effectiveness against COVID-19, it is rated to kill 99% of bacteria, viruses and germs, so I felt comfortable using it.
In addition to my CPAP equipment, I also use the Lumin to sanitize the cloth and N95 masks I wear outside now that I am recovered. The Lumin published it's study results on its effectiveness against COVID-19 on an N95. With something as deadly as COVID-19, I am glad I am not relying on a soap and water rinse to disinfect my equipment. I am grateful to have such an easy-to-use, powerful cleaning method as the Lumin and the Sleep8.
My Recommendation
For the most complete sanitizing system and travel-friendliness, I prefer the Sleep8. With COVID-19, it was useful for disinfecting my hoses, nasal pillows, and humidifier chamber and I feel as though it helped with my recovery. While I do love the Lumin’s 5-minute speed of sanitizing and ability to disinfect a variety of items, it does not do an effective job at cleaning my nasal pillows or hoses.
Disclaimer: The claims made by the manufacturers of these sanitizing devices have not been supported by the FDA.
Claire has been a CPAP user for over 10 years and has been a loyal The CPAP Shop customer since 2015 when she first discovered the significant savings they offered. I use the ResMed AirFit P10 CPAP Nasal Pillow Mask and ResMed S9 AutoSet or the HDM Z2 Travel Auto Travel CPAP. Like and Follow my Facebook blog about my recovery from COVID-19 with helpful COVID-19 news at ClaireWithLove. Website: https://clairewithlove.com
Disclaimer: The author received a Sleep8 for free through The CPAP Shop promotion when she purchased a travel CPAP (HDM Z2 Auto Travel CPAP) and received the Lumin for free in exchange for a review. All opinions are her own.
