How to Use a Neti Pot the Right Way

Rinsing your nasal passages with a neti pot and saline solution can help clear congestion. However, skipping safety precautions can increase your risk of infection.

A neti pot is a common at-home remedy for nasal blockage. If you have upper respiratory congestion or are healing from nasal surgery, you can purchase a neti pot and use either a commercial or homemade saline mix to irrigate your sinuses and nostrils.

This method can remove mucus and temporarily make breathing easier. A neti pot is generally safe when you follow proper safety practices and use it as instructed.

How to use

Step 1

Perform the irrigation near a sink. Some people prefer to do it in the shower so any runoff is easily washed away.

• Pour the saline into a clean, dry neti pot.
• Bend over the sink and gaze down toward the basin.
• Tilt your head about 45 degrees to the side.
• Gently insert the spout of the neti pot into the nostril that’s higher up.
• Ensure the neti pot forms a seal with your nostril. The spout should not press against the septum.

Step 2

Breathe through your mouth while performing this step.

• Tilt the neti pot so the saline flows into your upper nostril.
• Maintain the tilt while the solution passes through that nostril and exits the opposite one.

Step 3

The solution will exit from the nostril that’s closer to the sink basin.

• Keep pouring the saline until the neti pot is empty.
• After the solution is used up, remove the neti pot from your nostril and lift your head.
• Breathe through both nostrils to help clear your nasal passages.
• Use a tissue to blot any remaining saline and mucus that drips from your nose.

Step 4

Repeat the above process so the saline can irrigate the other nostril.

Here’s a video that illustrates how to use a neti pot:

How it works

Shaped like a small teapot, a neti pot flushes mucus from the nose. Using a saline mixture rather than plain water reduces irritation.

Neti pots have been used for centuries to clear nasal passages.

If congestion is caused by a cold or allergies, a neti pot may be helpful. In some cases, your physician may recommend a particular solution for use after nasal or sinus surgery.

To operate the device, pour saline into one nostril at a time. The fluid will travel through your nasal cavity and exit the opposite nostril.

Benefits

A 2009 study suggests saline irrigation may:

• cleanse your nasal passages
• remove substances that cause inflammation
• enhance the respiratory system’s natural cleansing ability

Try irrigating once daily when you have sinus congestion. If it helps, you can increase to twice daily while symptoms persist.

You can purchase a neti pot online.

Safety tips

Neti pots can effectively relieve congestion, but nasal irrigation requires care. Follow these recommendations to use a neti pot safely:

• Use only distilled water, tap water that has been boiled for several minutes then cooled to lukewarm, or water filtered with a specially designed filter. There have been cases of dangerous infections after nasal irrigation, so ensure your water is free of pathogens.
• Replace your neti pot as often as you replace your toothbrush (the CDC suggests about every for plastic pots) to prevent bacterial and microbial accumulation. Ceramic neti pots can last for many years if well cared for.
• Avoid water that is too hot or too cold. Lukewarm or room-temperature water is ideal for nasal irrigation.
• Always wash and dry your neti pot after each use. Clean it with hot water and antibacterial soap, then dry it thoroughly with a fresh paper towel or allow it to air dry.
• Stop using the neti pot if it causes stinging in your nostrils, ear pain, or does not improve your symptoms.
• Consult a pediatrician before using a neti pot on a young child.
• Do NOT use a neti pot on an infant.

If you have small children and prefer an alternative, other nasal irrigation options include:

• NeilMed Sinus Rinse Pediatric Starter Kit
• Fridababy’s NoseFrida
• The Nozebot

Making your own solution

You can prepare a saline solution for a neti pot at home.

When doing so, choose the correct type of water and an appropriate temperature. Some water sources can contain organisms that may pose a health risk.

Water guidelines

These water types are safe for neti pot use:

• Distilled or sterile water. Available in stores or online.
• Boiled tap water. Safe only if boiled for several minutes and then cooled to lukewarm. You can store boiled tap water prepared this way for up to 24 hours.
• Water filtered with a purpose-built filter. The filter should have an absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller to trap potentially infectious organisms.

Do not use untreated surface water or plain tap water in a neti pot. If you are unsure about water safety, opt for distilled water.

The bottom line

Using a neti pot is a generally safe and effective at-home method to ease upper respiratory congestion. Be sure to make your saline safely and clean your neti pot after every use.

Only continue with neti pot irrigation if it alleviates your symptoms. If the device doesn’t help or causes nasal irritation, consult your physician about other choices.

Neti pots aren’t suitable for everyone. Squeeze bottles for nasal irrigation work on the same principle but require leaning forward rather than turning your head to the side; some people prefer them. Either way, you’ll have an affordable, accessible option for relieving a stuffy nose.