How to Clean Nostrils

Cleaning your nostrils daily will keep them clear to facilitate breathing and help you to avoid infections that can spread to your sinuses. It takes only a few minutes a day to keep you nose clean and clear.

Instructions

1. Start by blowing you nose each morning, especially after a shower or bath. The steam loosens mucus, making cleaning more effective.

2. Use saline nasal sprays to lubricate the inside of your nose and loosen any buildup. Blow your nose after the treatment.

3. Make a solution of ¼-teaspoon non-iodized salt, ¼-teaspoon baking soda and 8 ounces of water. Heat the solution to make it more comfortable to use by holding it under hot tap water or letting the container sit in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes.

4. Suck some of the solution into a baby aspirator and slowly squeeze the solution into the nostril. Don't squeeze too hard and quick, as the pressure can hurt the sinuses.

5. Fill a ceramic nose irrigation or neti pot with the homemade solution. Tilt the head to one side and slowly pour the solution into one nostril until it pours out the other side. Don't breath during the process and close the back of your throat so the solution doesn't drain into it.

6. Blow your nose several times after irrigation until all of the water is gone. Repeat the irrigation or other cleaning methods daily or more often when you have a cold.