Can you make your own saline solution at home?

Saline solution is a type of sterile salt water that people with sinusitis symptoms can use to remove excess mucus or allergens from their nasal passages. In addition to what is now a popular allergy, infection, or inflammation relief method in the West, nasal irrigation (often with a neti pot) is a practice that got its start in India and Southeast Asia.

When done safely and with properly sterilized water, saline nasal irrigation is considered safe to do (and make) at home. It is important to follow health guidelines for mixing the solution. Although rare, deaths from sinus irrigation are caused by using tap water that has not been sterilized. Water that is safe to drink can cause serious infections if it enters the nasal passages.

Here’s what you need to know about nasal irrigation and making your own saline solution. As always, it’s best to check with your doctor before trying this to see if it’s right for you.

How do you make a saline solution for your nose?

Before you make a nasal rinse at home, you will need a device to administer it. Some container examples To do this, use a neti pot, a rinse bottle or a rubber ear bulb syringe.

If you want to try it yourself, follow these steps steps and tips collected by the CDC, Cleveland Clinicthe US Food and Drug Administration and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology to make your saline solution safe:

Step 1: Find sterilized or distilled water, or boil your own water

You can buy water that is safe for nasal irrigation at the store if it says “distilled” or “sterile” on the label. This means that the water has been through a process that is expected to kill most things that can cause infection.

You can also sterilize tap water by boiling it, although advice on how many minutes seems to vary slightly. The FDA recommends boiling water for three to five minutes before letting it cool, and the Cleveland Clinic recommends five minutes. The CDC says to boil water for one minute; people who live at elevations above 6,500 feet should boil water for three minutes. (The boiling point of water changes with altitude, influence on some cooking rules.)

If you’re really in a rut and can’t disinfect your water by boiling it, the CDC also has a solution: offers tips for filtering and then disinfecting water with (small amounts of) unscented household chlorine bleach. If you go this route, be aware that this mixture is not safe to drink.

The FDA says that previously boiled water can be stored in a clean, sealed container for use within 24 hours (one day).

Step 2: Mix salt and baking soda

In a clean container, mix three teaspoons of non-iodized salt (the kind you use for pickling or brining) with one teaspoon of baking soda.

Step 3: Mix the dry ingredients with sterilized water

Add one teaspoon of dry mixture per eight ounces of lukewarm water. You may use slightly less to minimize burning or side effects of nasal irrigation.

Ensure all containers that come into contact with the solution are clean

Your neti pot, nasal irrigation device, or other container should always be clean and disinfected before using your solution. Follow the directions on your nasal irrigation, if they are provided.

Should you use boiled or distilled water for your nasal solution?

Yes, always. It may be safe to swallow and digest, but our digestive system is set up to receive and neutralize pathogens that are not safeto have in our nose or sinuses.

The rare deaths linked to neti pot use or nasal irrigation have come from people using tap water or unsterilized water, the CDC says. Specifically, using unsterilized water for nasal irrigation linked to rare cases (PDF) of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, in which an amoeba travels to the brain through the nose.

Even if you use an irrigation system equipped with a pre-mixed saline solution, you should still use sterilized water, the Cleveland Clinic says.

Is it safe to make contact lens solution at home?

No. The solution that people use the most to store their contact lenses overnight is a specific blend of saline and disinfectant — made in a sterilized facility in a specific formula that is safe for the eyes — that works to keep your contact lenses not only moisturized, but also free of buildup or contaminants that cause eye infections. The FDA says to avoid exposing your contact lenses to watereven if it is distilled, as it has been linked to a type of eye infection that is resistant to treatment and cure.

In general the eyes are relatively vulnerable to serious infections compared to other parts of the body. They are close to the brain and have little protective barrier, which is why recalls or potential contamination of eye drops (or anything else you put in your eye) are taken very seriously. While one person may not develop symptoms, or may have a milder infection that stays localized in the eye and goes away on its own, another person’s infection could cause permanent eye damage or blindness.