The Plastic Neti Pot - A Beginner's Guide

Back then, I was a nervous neti newbie, and not particularly thrilled with the idea of using anything -- no matter how cute or harmless-looking -- to gravitate water up my nose.

But after weeks of sinus headache pain, we all know you're willing to try just about anything, and I mean anything. For my first time, I chose the plastic neti pot. But was it a good choice?

Meet my first neti pot. Nervous netti newbies might find a plastic neti pots to be just what the sinus doctor ordered. Photo Credit: www.neti-netti-pot.com. Ok to use with attribution and link back to this site.

This is why I chose plastic for my first neti pot. It was cheap and easy, much like my most-memorable post-college roommate.

But unlike "Kelly," the overly friendly bimbo, your basic plastic neti pot should make you feel safe, confident, and economical. My first neti in particular, was cheap enough to make nasal irrigation worth an economical try, and easy enough to make it comfy for my first time.

This neti pot also came with 50 pre-measured neti pot salt packets. This meant I didn't have to agonize over what kind of salt to use, or how much salt to add, or wonder whether or not I should add anything else to the sinus irrigation pot.

Quick Tip: Regardless of which neti pot you choose, you can buy sinus rinse packets separately. These individual packets are a little more expensive than buying pure, non-iodized salt in bulk. But with the packets, you don't need to worry about measuring out individual servings, or checking the labels with a magnifying glass. With packets, you're basically trading money for convenience. (These are the sinus rinse packets I use when neti-potting on the go.)

What to Look for: Good Plastic Neti Pot Features for Newbies. In the case of my first neti pot (the little blue plastic model pictured above), aside from the pre-measured salt packets, there were several features that made it a good choice for a neti newbie like I was at the time.

First of all, you've got the shape of the spout. Sure, it's funny looking (and trust me, it will look even funnier once you stick it up your nose), but that funny shape is designed that way for a reason -- to help make the, um, nasal insertion easier. Plus, it seals the nostril so the water-flow goes only the way you want, meaning into your "snout," not out over the countertop.

Plus, there's the fact that this plastic neti pot is, well, plastic. I know there are some downsides to plastic, especially if you don't recycle.

And face it, these models aren't as pretty as their ceramic counterparts. And, they certainly can't take the heat like stainless steel. But plastic sometimes feels a little softer inside the nose than other options, especially if you're a little nervous about trying sinus irrigation for the first time.

See, it's a classic! Aha! They still sell the neti pot I used for my first time. *sniffle* This brings back so many fond memories. It's still blue, it's still cheap, and it still has that comfy spout. Do I have great taste or what?

Plus, plastic pots are lightweight, unbreakable, and easy to pack. Of course, there's the usual downside, plastic doesn't look new forever, like something made from ceramic does.

And unlike ceramic, plastic neti pots aren't exactly works-of-art. Cute, yes. Fashionable, no. You might want to keep it hidden away from company, especially when you're in the process of using it.

The Bottom Line
In summary, plastic neti pots are good for nervous nellies (like me on my first time) who want to give neti a try without breaking the bank. Unlike their ceramic "designer" counterparts, they seem more likely to come with prepackaged sinus irrigation salt packets, which also make them a good choice for people just starting out. And, if you're concerned about sticking something hard up your nose, the plastic might make you feel just a little less nervous. Or not.