How often can you use a neti pot?

It depends on whether you’re using it to relieve allergies, prevent or recover from a sinus infection, or recover from ENT surgery, says Dr. Abbas Anwar: “A neti pot can be used twice per day, maximum, but after certain surgeries we may have patients use it more often than that to help clear out the nasal passages.” While a neti pot can be a beneficial tool, using one too often can cause nasal irritation.

How often should you clean your neti pot?

You may feel the need to thoroughly cleanse your neti pot after every use, but Dr. Abbas Anwar says a full scrubbing isn’t necessary every time. Instead, you can rinse the neti pot with your neti pot-safe water of choice after every use, and wash it well with soap and hot water after every three to four uses. If you want to give your neti pot a full cleaning after each use, you can, though it could shorten the lifespan of a cheaper, plastic neti pot by wearing it down.

What type of water should you use in your neti pot?

First, let’s start with what type of water you should not use: tap. While the risks of introducing rare, harmful bacteria from tap water into your nasal passages is low, says Dr. Abbas Anwar, that’s still not a risk you want to take. You have three choices when it comes to water that’s safe for your neti pot, he adds, which also align with the FDA’s recommendations on safe water for nasal irrigation: Distilled water, like the kind you can buy at the store Tap water that has been boiled for three to five minutes and then cooled: The FDA says this water can be kept at room temperature and used for up to 24 hours. Water that is filtered to remove the Naegleria bacteria , a waterborne amoeba that can make you sick: Your filtration system should include “NSF 53” or “NSF 58” designations.

How much solution should you use in your neti pot?

Many neti pots on the market will come with instructions on how to use it properly, including how much water to put in the reservoir and how much rinse to use in each nostril. Generally, neti pots usually hold around 8 ounces of water. You should use half of the solution in one nostril, and the other half in your other nostril. However, read the instructions on your neti pot to guarantee you're using the correct amount.

The 6 Best Neti Pots of 2023

A neti pot, which is a nasal irrigation device in the shape of a small teapot, is used to clear mucus, allergens, and debris from your nasal passages. This can be helpful both when you’re sick and when you’re trying to avoid sickness, particularly sinus infections, which often happen as a result of seasonal allergies or lingering sinus inflammation due to respiratory viruses.

“By performing saline irrigations with a neti pot, you can flush out the nasal particulates on a regular basis, [and] by decreasing inflammation and mucus production inside the nose, you can decrease the chances of getting a sinus infection," says Mas Takashima, MD, chair of the department of otolaryngology at Houston Methodist.

When shopping for a neti pot, you’ll want to keep an eye out for the types of materials they’re made of, how easy they are to clean, and their general ease of use. We researched dozens of neti pots and evaluated them for materials, reservoir size, additional features, and price. To ensure accurate medical information around hygiene practices and safe water for nasal irrigation, a family physician from our Medical Expert Board reviewed this article.

Here are the best neti pots on the market today.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

SinuCleanse Soft Tip Neti Pot at Amazon

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Best Disposable:

Squip Nasal Rinsing System at Amazon

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Best Portable:

NeilMed NasaFlo Neti Pot at Amazon

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Best Reusable:

Himalayan Chandra Neti Pot at Amazon

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Best for Kids:

Dr. Hana's Nasopure Nasal Wash at Amazon

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Best with Large Water Reservoir:

Baraka Ceramic Neti Pot at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Verywell Health

4.8

Amazon

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Pros

Clear, BPA-free, latex-free plastic construction
Soft silicone tip for comfort

Cons

Saline packets can be too strong for some
Can’t be put in dishwasher

We chose the SinuCleanse as our best overall choice because it's easy and comfortable to use to rinse mucus from your nasal passageways. We like that this neti pot is clear, making it easy to see how much you’re filling up the reservoir. While most neti pots have a firm or hard tip, the SinuCleanse has a soft one, allowing you to get a good fit inside your nostril without any discomfort. It's not dishwasher safe but the device can be cleaned manually between uses. Bonus? It comes with 30 premade saline rinse packets and has an inexpensive price tag, making it the perfect starter kit for anyone new to neti pots.

Price at time of publication: $12

Material: Plastic | Reservoir Size: 8 ounces | Added Features: Includes 30 saline packets

iHerb

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Pros

Portable and disposable
Prevents backflow during use
Easy to control the pressure and flow

Cons

Wears out more quickly than a traditional neti pot

When you only need nasal irrigation occasionally (for example, while recovering from a sinus infection), you might understandably not want to invest in a neti pot that you have to clean and store once you’re feeling better. The Squip Nasaline Nasal Rinsing System is like a mini nasal irrigation device, blending the short-term use of a flush syringe with the comfortable, contoured tip of a neti pot.

Since the syringe isn’t meant to last through months of use—Squip recommends tossing and replacing every three months—it’s the perfect disposable solution for boosting your recovery from an illness or a bad bout of allergies. Not to mention, its small, portable design makes it perfect for travel.

Price at time of publication: $15

Material: Plastic | Reservoir Size: 2 ounces | Added Features: Includes 10 saline packets

Amazon

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Pros

Durable enough for travel or daily use
Reduces spills and messes during use

Cons

Plastic seams can make it uncomfortable

Between the stale air on planes and the environmental changes of a new locale (e.g., different pollen, temperature, and humidity levels), traveling may cause allergy flare-ups and leave you vulnerable to respiratory viruses.

When you need a neti pot you can toss in a suitcase and bring with you to your destination, we suggest the NeilMed’s NasaFlo Unbreakable version: Not only is it made with hard, durable plastic, it’s designed not to crack. It also comes with 50 premade saline packets, so you can get plenty of uses out of this neti pot.

Price at time of publication: $16

Material: Plastic | Reservoir Size: 8 ounces | Added Features: Includes 50 saline packets

Amazon

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Pros

Durable, porcelain design
Includes high-purity salt and soothing herbal rinse
Dishwasher safe

Cons

Inflexible tip may cause discomfort
Does not include a lid

If you want to get a little fancier with your neti pot use, we recommend the porcelain neti pot by Himalayan Chandra. Not only does it look nice on your bathroom shelf, but it’s also made to last through dozens of uses and is dishwasher safe. If a neti pot is as essential your well-being as a reliable thermometer, then this one's for you.

This neti pot also comes with customer-approved accessories, such as 99.99% USP-grade neti pot salt ready to be mixed in your water of choice and a bottle of Neti Wash Plus, an herbal extract formula made with peppermint and eucalyptus that is designed to soothe your sinuses while eliminating extra impurities.

Price at time of publication: $35

Material: Porcelain | Reservoir Size: 8 ounces | Added Features: Includes neti pot salt and herbal rinse

Amazon

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Pros

Gentle saline formula reduces discomfort
No need to tilt head over sink
Safe for children over the age of 2

Cons

Can be messier than a traditional neti pot

Designed to be used while your head is upright, rather than tilted like with a traditional neti pot, the Nasopure Nasal Wash by Dr. Hana’s is the perfect choice for a kid.

It would be easier for an older child to use this by themselves or for a parent to assist a younger child—no acrobatics are needed here, and no screaming in panic will occur when your child feels like their sinuses are filling up with water!

The Nasopure Nasal Wash can be used in children over age 2, per the manufacturer’s instructions, and has custom saline formula, which is developed to reduce stinging or burning.

Price at time of publication: $20

Material: Plastic | Reservoir Size: 8 ounces | Added Features: Includes 20 saline packets

Amazon

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Pros

Larger, 10 ounce water reservoir
Made of solid ceramic material
Several bright colors to choose from

Cons

Saline packets not included
No lid or rubber tip attachment

If you’re looking for a neti pot that combines form and function with total ease of use, you’ll find it in the Baraka Premium Handcrafted Ceramic Neti Pot, which looks like a piece of art but offers maximum efficiency with its large-size reservoir.

Holding 10 ounces of water, the ceramic neti pot can easily flush out both sides of your nose. Many users note that the size of the spout is perfect, allowing just enough water to flow through for comfort and effectiveness.

Since mold is a frequent problem with neti pots, we love that this one is dishwasher safe for optimal cleaning and sanitizing, and that it comes in more than a dozen gorgeously glazed colors to match your bathroom.

Price at time of publication: $27

Material: Ceramic | Reservoir Size: 10 ounces | Added Features: More than a dozen color options

Final Verdict

If you’ve never used a neti pot before, we recommend starting out with something that’s durable, comfortable, and easy to clean, like the SinuCleanse Soft Tip Neti Pot (view at Amazon). With a soft tip and 30 premade saline packets, it couldn’t be easier to get started on nasal irrigation with the SinuCleanse neti pot.

If you’re looking for something more long lasting, the porcelain Himalayan Chandra Neti Pot (view at Amazon) gets stellar ratings for being durable and easy to clean.

If you’re looking to help a child use a neti pot to combat colds and allergies, the Dr. Hana’s Nasopure Nasal Wash (view at Amazon) is a simple and gentle—but effective—way of introducing nasal irrigation to younger kids.

What to Look for in a Neti Pot

Material

There are a few different types of neti pots, says otolaryngologist Abbas Anwar, MD, head and neck surgeon at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, though plastic and ceramic are the most popular. The kind you choose depends on what you’re looking for as far as durability.

“A ceramic neti pot will be more expensive but sturdier, and will last longer through washes,” Dr. Anwar explains. “But I usually tell my patients to get the plastic ones—they’re easy to use and won’t break, and they tend to last a good amount of time before you get mold in them that you can’t get out with cleaning.”

Cleaning and Hygiene

You need to be able to thoroughly clean your neti pot on a regular basis, so choose one that’s easily washable—or a cheap one that can be replaced frequently.

“Typically, during an active sinus infection, I recommend to my patients that they change out the [neti pot] at least on a weekly basis just to prevent re-infecting the sinus with bacteria,” Dr. Takashima says. “It is extremely difficult to completely sterilize a neti pot.”

He also adds that when using any type of nasal irrigation device, including neti pots, that allows you to squeeze the saline out into your nasal passages, you should make sure there is a one-way valve that prevents water from the nose and sinus from being sucked back into the device itself.

If you don’t think you’ll have time to regularly give your neti pot a thorough washing, we recommend investing in a dishwasher-safe model so you can ensure you’re staying healthy and preventing any mold growth.

Ease of Use

At the end of the day, the best neti pot is the one you’ll use regularly, since it can be an important part of your nasal care routine—especially if you have a sinus infection.

“There is a lot of research that supports the use of neti pots, and although it seems like a simple thing, it does help a lot,” says Dr. Anwar. “I’ll give patients a regimen of antibiotics and nasal spray, but I’ll also give them a neti pot and tell them not to ignore that part of the regimen.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How often can you use a neti pot?

It depends on whether you’re using it to relieve allergies, prevent or recover from a sinus infection, or recover from ENT surgery, says Dr. Abbas Anwar: “A neti pot can be used twice per day, maximum, but after certain surgeries we may have patients use it more often than that to help clear out the nasal passages.”
While a neti pot can be a beneficial tool, using one too often can cause nasal irritation.
How often should you clean your neti pot?

You may feel the need to thoroughly cleanse your neti pot after every use, but Dr. Abbas Anwar says a full scrubbing isn’t necessary every time. Instead, you can rinse the neti pot with your neti pot-safe water of choice after every use, and wash it well with soap and hot water after every three to four uses.
If you want to give your neti pot a full cleaning after each use, you can, though it could shorten the lifespan of a cheaper, plastic neti pot by wearing it down.
What type of water should you use in your neti pot?
First, let’s start with what type of water you should not use: tap. While the risks of introducing rare, harmful bacteria from tap water into your nasal passages is low, says Dr. Abbas Anwar, that’s still not a risk you want to take.
You have three choices when it comes to water that’s safe for your neti pot, he adds, which also align with the FDA’s recommendations on safe water for nasal irrigation:
- Distilled water, like the kind you can buy at the store
- Tap water that has been boiled for three to five minutes and then cooled: The FDA says this water can be kept at room temperature and used for up to 24 hours.
- Water that is filtered to remove the Naegleria bacteria, a waterborne amoeba that can make you sick: Your filtration system should include “NSF 53” or “NSF 58” designations.
How much solution should you use in your neti pot?

Many neti pots on the market will come with instructions on how to use it properly, including how much water to put in the reservoir and how much rinse to use in each nostril. Generally, neti pots usually hold around 8 ounces of water. You should use half of the solution in one nostril, and the other half in your other nostril. However, read the instructions on your neti pot to guarantee you're using the correct amount.

Why Trust Verywell Health

Sarah Bradley has been writing health content since 2017—everything from product roundups and illness FAQs to nutrition explainers and the dish on diet trends. She knows how important it is to receive trustworthy and expert-approved advice about over-the-counter products that manage everyday health conditions, from GI issues and allergies to chronic headaches and joint pain.