“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.
Here are the best neti pots on the market today.
Price at time of publication: $12
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
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
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
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
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
“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.”
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While a neti pot can be a beneficial tool, using one too often can cause nasal irritation.
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.
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 storeTap 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.
