Best Methods for Cleaning Your Neti Pot
We are often asked about sanitizing our neti pot, so we decided that a Clean Your Neti Pot blog was probably long overdue. We have included some basic tips and more importantly our personal experience! Ultimately you can decide on what works best for you.
Since a neti pot is used to maintain healthy sinuses and mucus flow, it is a good idea to clean your pot often.
This is what I do:
Before and after I use my neti pot, I rinse it with hot water and flush out the spout. I tend to use my hand while I’m doing this to ensure any lingering salt or dust is removed. I hand-wash my neti pot with warm, soapy water only about once a month, and every three months or so I put it into the dishwasher. This is what is comfortable for me, but you may find that you want to do a soapy wash more or less often. There’s no right way. Just be sure to rinse out any remaining soap as it can irritate your sinuses. It is also important to ensure that the pot dries completely, as water left in the pot can allow bacteria to grow. Use a towel to dry the neti pot as much as possible.
If you rinse daily, your neti pot will tend to be cleaner than someone who only rinses once a week or less. Where you leave your neti pot will also play a part in how often you need to clean it. If you leave your neti under the sink and one day see mold growing next to it- wash it thoroughly before using!
Cleaning your Neti Pot when you are Sick
Another important time to take extra care in washing your neti pot is when you are dealing with a cold/flu or other type of infection. Sometimes mucus can get into the pot and adhere to the inside. I recommend washing your neti pot with warm soapy water after each rinse when dealing with an infection. You can also pour boiling water into your pot and let it sit for a few minutes before pouring it through. Do this a couple of times in a row before or after washing it with soap for a very thorough germ-fighting clean.
Some people have asked about using the microwave as a tool to sterilize the pot- we feel that handwashing with soapy water or running the pot through your dishwasher are more effective ways to clean your pot. Microwaving it can also harm the glaze.
Above all, if you feel it is time to clean your neti pot then it probably is. A nasal cleansing device can never be too clean!
How often do you clean your neti pot? We always love to hear any feedback from fellow neti pot users- so please share with us!
When I got my plastic neti pot it said to put baby shampoo in it to clean it. Does that sound right? The way I read the instructions it sounded like you were to clean it every time you used it. I first put brita water in a pan and I boil it. Then I put some brita in my neti pot and clean it with the shampoo. Then I make sure I rinse all that out. Then once the water is boiled I pour that into it and clean it out to serialize it. About 2 times a week I nuke it also to kill anything else. Am I going to far? I thought that was what the directions said to do. I see people on youtube and they hardly do anything.
Wendy, it sounds like you are doing a lot to ensure that your neti pot is clean- which is great. Baraka believes that the baby shampoo is suggested to clean your neti, because it is often more gentle than other cleaning solutions. Check out natural/plant based cleaning solutions since even baby shampoo can contain chemicals. I would caution you about putting your plastic neti pot in the microwave as that can break down the plastics which can then leach into your water and some plastics can absorb chemicals. Drying your neti pot completely after cleaning is important, as bacteria can grow in small amounts of water left behind. Baraka thinks you must have the cleanest neti pot ever! Thanks for your question!
hi I just started using neti pots can you wipe around after cleaning it with a paper towel
Ensuring that the neti pot is dry after use is an important part to keeping your neti pot clean. Yes, you can use a paper towel to dry the neti after using it or cleaning it. Happy Rinsing!