Neti pots can be useful for sinus pressure relief and removing excess mucus

Using a neti pot may look silly, but these teapot-like contraptions can do wonders for nasal congestion. They’re a quick way to get relief without taking medicine. But if you don’t use neti pots correctly, you could end up making yourself feel worse.

Ear, nose and throat specialist Raj Sindwani, MD, explains what neti pots are, what they do and how to use one safely.

What is a neti pot?

A neti pot is a device that sends a saline solution (a mixture of salt and water) through your nasal passages, clearing out built-up mucus and trapped allergens.

It may seem a bit scary, but Dr. Sindwani says using a neti pot shouldn’t hurt. As long as it’s prepared properly, the sodium in the saltwater solution will reduce inflammation and keep the delicate tissue inside your nose from getting irritated.

Benefits

Neti pots are a quick and medication-free way to rinse out your nasal passage, reducing congestion and easing the discomfort of allergies, colds, sinus infections and more.

They’re beneficial because they:

  • Work immediately
  • Remove mucus, allergens and debris from your nasal passage
  • (Temporarily) clear stuffy and runny noses
  • Improve breathing
  • Relieve sinus pain and pressure
  • Spare you from side effects, like drowsiness, that are common with nasal decongestants

These kettle-like devices may be brimming with benefits, but Dr. Sindwani recommends that you consult with a healthcare provider before using them.

Depending on your health, the risks may outweigh the benefits. For example, if you’re immunocompromised or have recently had surgery on your nose, share that information with your provider before using a neti pot.

Learn how to use a neti pot safely and effectively.

How to use a neti pot

If you’re using it correctly and following proper cleaning and safety advice, there are few things as refreshing as rinsing your nose out with a neti pot when you feel crummy. Dr. Sindwani breaks down the process.

Step-by-step instructions

There are two procedures involved in using a neti pot: preparing the saline solution and flushing out your nasal passage.

Preparing the saline solution

It’s common for solution packets to come with your neti pot. You can also buy them online. These are great options because they make striking the perfect balance between salt and water easy. Adding too much — or not adding enough — can cause irritation.

Dr. Sindwani recommends mixing together:

  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1 cup (8 oz) of clean (boiled or distilled) lukewarm or room-temperature water

Using the neti pot

Now that you have your saline solution prepared, it’s time to team up with gravity! To start:

  1. Position yourself over a sink to avoid the splash zone.
  2. Place the tip of the spout inside one nostril, creating a seal.
  3. Tilt your head forward, looking down at the sink, and lift the neti pot at an angle, sending half of the saline solution into your nose. Gravity carries the solution through your nasal cavity and out your other nostril.
  4. Allow the solution and any excess mucus to drip out from your nostril.
  5. When the flow stops, use a tissue to blow your nose and clear the nasal passage.
  6. Switch nostrils and use the second half of the solution to perform steps 1 thru 5 in the opposite nostril.

Take care not to bump the middle part of your nose (septum) while using the neti pot to avoid nosebleeds.

How to clean it

It’s important to clean and disinfect your neti pot thoroughly to avoid infections. Rinse the irrigation device after each use with filtered, distilled or boiled water.

“I recommend using hot water and antibacterial soap to clean your neti pot,” says Dr. Sindwani.

Once it’s been thoroughly cleaned, leave the device out to air-dry completely before storing it for future use.

Dos and don’ts

While there are several benefits to using a neti pot, there are important tips to keep in mind to get the best possible results and prevent infection. Dr Sindwani recommends that you:

  • DON’T use tap water: Use distilled, filtered, bottled or boiled water at room temperature — never tap water. Putting contaminated water in your nasal passage can cause serious infections.
  • DO replace plastic and silicone neti pots every three months:Think about neti pots the same way you think about your toothbrush. The materials degrade over time, so even thorough cleaning can only do so much for so long. Avoid this problem by using a ceramic neti pot.
  • DON’T use a cold solution: “Always allow the saline solution to come to room temperature before using it,” Dr. Sindwani stresses. This is extra important if you recently had sinus surgery: Cold solutions could lead you to develop bony growths called paranasal sinus exostoses (PSE).
  • DO use it sparingly:If you’re grappling with a cold, it’s OK to use your neti pot twice a day. But it shouldn’t be a daily practice when you’re feeling well. Use it once or twice a week, max. “Overusing your neti pot can irritate your nasal passage,” cautions Dr. Sindwani.
  • DON’T use on infants or small children before consulting their pediatrician:Neti pots are a great option for some babies and children — emphasis on “some.” Always ask your kiddo’s provider first. If they’re pro-neti pot, ask them to demonstrate the proper technique.
  • DO know when to stop:Neti pots aren’t a “no pain, no gain” type of thing. Don’t use one if it hurts, causes ear pain or you aren’t noticing an improvement. See a provider instead.

Alternatives

As the use of neti pots has grown. So has the range of nasal care tools offering similar treatments. Alternatives include:

  • Bulb syringes and squeeze bottles:These popular substitutes for traditional neti pots allow you to customize the speed and pressure of the flow. But that can raise the chance of human error — which, in this case, could mean a big mess. You also need manual dexterity to use them.
  • Prefilled nasal irrigators: You can now buy disposable syringes that are prefilled with a saline solution. They’re a great option for relieving congestion on the go.
  • “Automatic” irrigators: These devices use suction to regulate the flow of water through your nasal passage. They’re easier to use and create less of a mess than regular neti pots, but they can be pretty darn expensive and require more cleaning and upkeep to be safe.

If the idea of putting any water up your nose makes you queasy, try humidifiers and steamy showers instead. The relief they offer isn’t as impressive, but it can make nasal congestion a little easier to tolerate.

Final thoughts

If you find yourself needing to use your neti pot a lot, it’s time to put it down — and pick up the phone.

“Stop using your neti pot if your symptoms aren’t improving, it hurts to use it or you’re showing signs of infection, like fever or vomiting,” Dr. Sindwani urges. “Those are all signs that the congestion you’re having needs medical attention.”