Are nasal Spray Bottles or Pressurized Spray Cans considered a nasal wash, nasal rinse or nasal lavage system?

The answer is simply NO. One can compare the effectiveness of using a garden hose to clean sticky mud off a windshield to cleaning it with a small spray bottle. There are various spray products on the market, and in our opinion, they are just moisturizers and cannot be considered as nasal wash systems by any means. It is just not possible to get a sufficient volume lavage using a spray system. You can also check with your doctor. For a true nasal lavage, wash or douche, one needs volume. Also, when one instills the solution up in one nasal passage, the flow should continue upwards, go over the septum and start the down flow through the other nasal passage. If you do not achieve this then you will not have thorough cleansing job.

With a few seconds squeeze on NeilMed’s SINUS RINSE™ bottle, you get at least 30 mL (1 oz.) to 60 mL (2 oz.) or even a higher volume of rinse. With a few seconds spray from a pressurized can or a few sequential squeezes on spray bottles, you may get a minuscule volume of 0.5 mL to 5 mL at the most. Certainly, it will have a good moisturizing effect, but will not wash out the excessive mucus or allergens. They definitely have a place for applying moisture to the nasal passages, but will not do the required nasal hygiene or cleansing NeilMed’s SINUS RINSE™ or any other manufacturer’s large volume irrigation system can provide. In our opinion, one needs 4 oz. (120 mL) to 16 oz. (480 mL) for proper irrigation. Please do not forget the cost difference. One regular packet of NeilMed’s SINUS RINSE™ makes 8 oz. of solution and box of 100 packets will make 800 oz.