498
For as much as I despise the pool water that comes out of my tap I can at least feel safe using my neti pot.
this post was submitted on 06 Jun 2025
498 points (95.6% liked)
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she filled a nasal irrigation device with tap water from her RV's water system at a Texas campsite
oh, that sounds gross. Way to many points of possible contamination.
Isn't precaution number one when using neti pots to never do it with plain tap water?
Yes, but precaution number one when driving or riding in a motor vehicle is putting on your seatbelt and tons of folks dgaf about that either
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So not just tap water but her RVs tap water. The attempt at scare-mongering - tap water - like it could happen to anyone is annoying.
You can’t use tap water straight for Neti pots. I’m pretty sure every single neti pot tells you to boil the water first.
I hope it tells you to let the boiling water cool, too. I feel like that's an important step.
It doesn't clean the sinuses as well. I personally run the boiled water through my soda stream, then directly into the face holes.
I'm mentally hearing the blart from my jet as it hits peak carbonation, and mentally seeing the spray of water out the other nose and my god sir, you are a dilophosaur
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What's the difference between a neti pot and taking a shower? I'm pretty sure I get water up my nasal cavity every time I shower. Is the neti pot warning a cya thing or is there a greater risk?
Big difference between a little water in your schnozz and a deep irrigation of your sinus cavities.
Use (cold) boiled or distilled water
Its the same amoeba you can get swimming in lakes. It doesn’t happen every time but it CAN happen. It is grossly ignorant to not be cautious of it
Is it more likely to come from reservoirs then it is from wells that tap the water table?
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It could, with warming temperatures the bacteria is moving north. Showing up in areas unfamiliar with it
But you’re way more likely to get it by swimming and just don’t pour water up your nose
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I'll just keep chilling out safely over here on Team Blow Your Nose With A Tissue.
You can use steam to break up mucus, making it easier to use a tissue
Apparently this is why you can’t actually go in the Roman Baths in Bath.
Just pick your nose like a normal person. Sheesh.
This wasn't the tap waters fault. This was the rv water tanks fault, most likely. Most people pretty much never clean\sanatize them.
Neti pot instructions typically state you need to use distilled or boiled water. You should follow these instructions regardless of the quality of your municipal water. It does not hurt to do so
It does not hurt to do so
Unless, like another commenter, you panic and forget to let the boiled water cool enough!
Pro tip, boil water and put it in the freezer for later! /s
Squirt ice up your nose!
But for real, boiling water and keeping it in a container for later is a common strategy in many places.
Those icicles reach places even a pinky can't hit
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I'm getting convinced kennedy's worm caused this.
Can this happen in Sweden as well? 'Cos I clean mine with shower water almost every shower.
Yep! It's the reason that every netty pot tells you to use distilled water.
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Use distilled ONLY. With good chlorinated city water systems it's still very unlikely to happen, but it's such a horrible way to go, just get some distilled from the store.
The amoeba can survive chlorination, that's why boiled or distilled is necessary
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I believe the amoeba grows in warm water, which is why hot springs in New Zealand are at risk. So hopefully you're more safe! You might want to check better info than me though!
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Neti pots and similar have very, very clear warnings that the water needs to be sterilized.
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