Humidifier for dry air

I use Simply Saline (traveling) or my Neil Med (at home) followed by a dab of Mentholatum in each nostril. It has kept me from getting nosebleeds even in dry hotel rooms.
Sue

Seconding Vicks or Katz or similar store-branded one. The fewer bells and whistles the better.

Haven't tried the Walmart brand but looks like it the reservoir part can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Warm-Steam-Vaporizer-1-25-Gallon-Capacity-HF3105A-Black/972569899?clickid=Wel3QbU-HxyPWPe3Sw2JM3FmUkFX7y2FIxO9100&irgwc=1&sourceid=imp_Wel3QbU-HxyPWPe3Sw2JM3FmUkFX7y2FIxO9100&veh=aff&wmlspartner=imp_150372&affiliates_ad_id=1285213&campaign_id=9383&sharedid=STD

When you use the NelliMed nasal wash do you use distilled water?

I use boiled filtered water. (.2 micron filter - don't ask me the brand - that is my husband's world & I stay out of it - only know he changes the filter by the calendar.)
In 2+ years it has been fine for me. But I only use the actual NeilMed saline packets - got some others once and they burned my sinuses - maybe not correctly buffered.
Going through the Simply Saline like crazy right now as I am fighting a cold.
Sue

Weighing in since I've been rinsing my nose 2x day for many years. I have used previously boiled water only, which I store in the fridge. Every 5 days I boil another batch. NeilMed specifically says to use boiled water.

My understanding about distilled water is that although the minerals have been removed from it, it is not necessarily sterile. The container may have been contaminated before filling. And once a gallon container is opened it could also become contaminated and therefore not sterile.

Thanks! Just to be clear, are you using boiled, filtered water, boiled tap, or boiled distilled? I do wish there existed a website just for all things water and NTM/Bronchiectasis!

Boiled tap water.

Recommendations for cleaning & disinfecting might be different for each person depending on their "disease state." Maybe this is why we read about differing methods for managing water for rinses and cleaning/disinfecting.

Dear Sue,
Thank you for always providing helpful information on this site.
What about Hepa air purifiers ? Are they safe to use?
My apartment is so dusty and the filters do grasp the dust.

Hi Isabella - As far as I know, there is no problem using HEPA filters. We use 2 portable room-sized 2-stage machines, with a carbon pre-filter (changed every 2 months) and a HEPA (changed twice a year). We also have a whole house HEPA filter on our central HVAC system, again changed twice a year as are the furnace filters. We also have HEPA filters on our vacuum cleaners, and vacuum instead of sweeping, or use a microfiber mop that traps dust, pet hair, etc.
I wear a mask and gloves when opening the filter cover & handling the used filters, which are immediately sealed in a plastic bag & discarded. All of this may be overkill, but we like open windows, so quite a bit of dust is trapped by all of this. I figure the less in our lungs the better.
Sue

@isabellad My experience with HEPA based air purifiers has been very positive. It cuts down on the amount of dust I see on surfaces. Instead, dust is collected in the pre-filter of our Winix air purifiers. Vacuuming the pre-filter every 2 weeks is necessary along with replacing the HEPA and carbon pellet filters every 9-12 months depending on environment.

Replacement filters are easy to find and reasonably priced for top selling brands, including Winix and Coway, both Korean made with excellent consumer support. Personally, I would look for the Winix 5500-2 or Coway 1512HH. Be aware that different retail outlets have their own model #s for these and they could be slightly different. Consumer departments at both Winix and Coway companies can help decode the various model #s you come across if buying in Walmart, Target, Costco etc.