| Saline solution: How to prepare at home | 3040.00000000000 | Saline solution: How to prepare at home | Saline solution: How to prepare at home | S | English | Other | Child (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | NA | NA | Non-drug treatment | Adult (19+)
Caregivers | NA | | 2021-09-16T04:00:00Z | | | | | | 7.70000000000000 | 62.9000000000000 | 663.000000000000 | | Health (A-Z) - Procedure | Health A-Z | <p>Learn how to make a salt rinse (saline solution) at home.</p> | <p>Saline is a mixture of salt and water. A normal saline solution is called normal because its salt concentration is similar to tears, blood and other body fluids (0.9% saline). It is also called isotonic solution. A homemade saline solution can be used to:</p><ul><li>rinse the nasal passages (nasal irrigation)</li><li>rinse the mouth to alleviate a <a href="https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=748&language=English">sore throat</a></li><li>cleanse <a href="https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=1046&language=English">cuts and scrapes</a></li><li>rinsing the mouth after the loss of a tooth</li><li>Cleansing a new a piercing</li></ul><p><strong>Warning! Do not drink homemade saline solution and do not use it to:</strong></p><ul><li>cleanse the bladder or a urinary catheter (bladder irrigation)</li><li>rinse your eyes or contact lenses, as this could lead to corneal abrasions</li><li>treat dehydration</li></ul> | | <h2>Key points</h2><ul><li>Saline solution can be made at home and has several useful purposes.</li><li>It is generally safe to make at home, as long as you wash your hands and the container in which you plan to store the solution.</li><li>It is important to only use a fresh saline solution and to throw it away if it looks cloudy or dirty.</li></ul> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <h2>How to make a saline solution at home</h2><p>Saline solution is easy to make at home. Always wash your hands with soap and water before preparing saline at home.</p><p>You will need:</p><ul><li>one clean, air-tight glass bottle or jar with lid</li><li>pot with lid</li><li>table salt (it is best to use non-iodized salt, which does not have iodine in it)</li><li>baking soda (optional, but will make the solution less irritating)</li></ul><h3>Instructions</h3><p>Option 1:</p><ol><li>Put one cup (250 mL) of tap water into a pot and boil for 15 minutes with the lid on.</li><li>Remove from heat and cool until the water reaches room temperature.</li><li>Add ½ teaspoon of salt into the pot and stir to dissolve. <em>Optional: Add a pinch of baking soda.</em></li><li>Carefully pour the salt-water solution from the pan into the jar or bottle and put the lid on.</li><li>Refrigerate solution and use within 24 hours.</li></ol><p>Option 2:</p><p>You can used distilled water purchased from most drug and grocery stores to make sterile and longer-lasting saline without boiling water. This is an easy and less time-consuming process.</p><ol><li>Mix eight teaspoons of salt into 1 gallon (4 L) of distilled water.</li><li>Refrigerate solution and use within one month.</li></ol><p>If you plan on using the saline solution as a nasal saline rinse, follow this recipe:</p><ol><li>Put one cup (250 mL) of tap water into a pot and boil for 15 minutes with the lid on.</li><li>Remove from heat and cool until the water reaches room temperature.</li><li>Add three teaspoons of salt and one teaspoon of baking soda into the pot and stir to dissolve.</li><li>Carefully pour the solution from the pan into the jar or bottle and put the lid on.</li><li>Refrigerate solution and use within 24 hours.</li></ol> | <h2>Saline solution: A few important points</h2><ul><li>Bacteria can grow in saline and cause infections, so it is very important to only use a freshly made saline solution.</li><li>Use a clean glass jar or bottle that has been recently washed in a full-cycle dishwasher or boil-sterilize for 10 minutes. This will help prevent bacteria from contaminating the solution.</li><li>Boiling tap water will sterilize the water by removing bacteria and chemicals.</li><li>Do not swallow the saline solution.</li><li>Never use homemade saline for eyes or contact lenses.</li><li>Keep the saline made from boiled tap water in a bottle or a glass jar for a maximum of 24 hours. Keep the saline made from distilled water for a maximum of one month. Throw away any unused solution, wash the container, and make a new solution.</li><li>Throw away the solution if it grows cloudy or looks dirty.</li><li>Keep the saline solution sterile by not dipping anything into the container. Rather, pour the amount needed into another container/cup and then draw up the saline with a syringe.</li></ul> | | | | | | | | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/Gargling_Saline%20Solution.jpg | | | | | | | Saline solution: How to prepare at home | | False | | | | | | | | |
