How to clean, refill and prime an empty nasal spray bottle
By Vitality Supplies · Updated
To clean, refill and prime an empty nasal spray bottle, unscrew the pump, wash every part in warm water with a drop of mild, unscented soap, pump clean water through, and air-dry completely. Refill with saline or water, screw the pump on firmly, and press two or three times, pointed away from your face, until the mist is even.
Key takeaways
- Clean the bottle and pump before every refill and whenever you change what goes in it.
- Warm water and a drop of mild, unscented soap are enough; skip boiling water, bleach and pins in the nozzle.
- Prime with two or three presses, pointed away from your face, until the mist is fine and even.
- Label the bottle with its contents and fill date: it ships unlabelled.
- For any prescription or medicated spray, follow the medicine maker's leaflet and your pharmacist.
How do you clean an empty nasal spray bottle?
Take the bottle apart, wash each part in warm water with a drop of mild, unscented soap, and pump soapy water, then clean water, through the spray head. Rinse until no bubbles appear and leave every part to air-dry fully before you refill. Do this before the first fill and before every refill.
- Wash your hands and clear a clean, dry surface to work on.
- Pull off the clear cap and unscrew the pump from the bottle. Pour away anything left inside; never top up old contents.
- Fill a bowl with warm tap water and add one drop of mild, unscented dish soap.
- Half-fill the bottle with the soapy water, close the neck with a clean finger, shake, and empty it. Swish the cap in the bowl too.
- Stand the pump's tube in the soapy water and press the pump until soapy water sprays out steadily.
- Repeat with clean warm water: pump until the spray has no bubbles, and rinse the bottle and cap until no soap remains.
- Shake off the water and leave the bottle (open end down), pump and cap on a clean paper towel or rack until completely dry.
Drying matters as much as washing, because water left in the bottle mixes with whatever you fill it with next. If you are short of time, wait rather than refill a damp bottle.
What should you clean it with, and what should you avoid?
Warm tap water and a single drop of mild, unscented dish soap are all a nasal spray bottle needs. Avoid boiling water, dishwasher cycles, bleach, alcohol and scented soaps, and never push a pin into the nozzle. Heat and harsh products can warp or mark the parts, and fragrances can linger into the next fill.
| Use or avoid | What | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Use | Warm tap water | Loosens and rinses out whatever was in the bottle last. |
| Use | One drop of mild, unscented dish soap | Lifts any film, and a single drop rinses out quickly. |
| Use | A clean paper towel or drying rack | Lets every part air-dry fully before the next fill. |
| Avoid | Boiling water or a dishwasher | High heat can warp the pump or the threads so the bottle no longer seals. |
| Avoid | Bleach, alcohol or other strong cleaners | They can leave a smell or residue that carries into the next fill. |
| Avoid | Scented soap | Fragrance can linger in the bottle and the spray. |
| Avoid | Pins, toothpicks or wire in the nozzle | They can widen or scratch the spray hole and spoil the fine mist. |
How do you refill a nasal spray bottle?
Refill only a clean, fully dry bottle. Pour in your saline or water slowly, stopping below the neck so the pump can go back in without spilling, then screw the pump on firmly and fit the clear cap. The 20 ml bottle comes unlabelled, so mark what is inside and the date you filled it.
- Wash your hands and check that the bottle, pump and cap are completely dry.
- Pour the saline or water in slowly; a small clean funnel helps. Stop below the neck.
- Lower the pump's tube into the bottle and screw the pump down firmly so it does not leak.
- Wipe off any drips, fit the clear cap, and write the contents and fill date on a label.
Filling a prescription or medicated spray? Follow the medicine maker's leaflet and ask your pharmacist before moving it into a refillable bottle. Some products are meant to stay in their original pack. We sell empty bottles only and cannot advise on what goes in them.
How do you prime a nasal spray pump?
Priming pulls liquid up the tube and into the spray head so the first real spray is not just air. Hold the bottle upright, point the nozzle away from your face and other people, and press the pump fully two or three times until it gives a fine, even mist.
- Take off the clear cap.
- Hold the bottle upright with your thumb under the base and two fingers on the pump collar.
- Point the nozzle into a sink or a tissue, away from your face.
- Press down firmly and release, two or three times, until the mist is fine and even.
- Wipe the tip and put the cap back on.
If the bottle has sat unused for a while, or the first press sputters, prime it again the same way. If it still jets or drips after cleaning and priming, it is time for a new bottle (see below).
How should you store a refillable spray bottle?
Keep the clear cap on, stand the bottle upright, and keep it somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight and out of reach of children. Use one bottle per person and do not share it. How long the contents stay usable depends on what they are, so follow the instructions that came with them.
- At home: upright in a drawer or cabinet, cap on, away from the stove and sunny windowsills.
- In a bag: cap on and the pump screwed down firmly; a small zip pouch catches any drips.
- Between fills: empty, clean and dry the bottle rather than topping up what is left.
When should you replace a nasal spray bottle?
Replace the bottle when the pump keeps jetting, dripping or sticking after a thorough clean and prime, when the bottle or cap cracks, when the threads stop sealing, or when a smell or cloudy film will not rinse out. A spare bottle is inexpensive, so there is little reason to keep using a tired one.
Our 20 ml empty nasal spray bottle comes with a fine-mist pump and a clear overcap, sold empty and unlabelled. See every option in nasal spray bottles.
Prepaid orders of ₹2,499 or more ship free across India; other orders pay a flat ₹149 shipping charge, and orders are dispatched within 48 hours. Details are on the shipping and delivery page.
Frequently asked questions
Can you reuse an empty nasal spray bottle?
Yes. A refillable bottle like our 20 ml fine-mist bottle is made to be emptied, cleaned and filled again. Wash and fully dry it before every refill, never top up old contents, and use one bottle per person. Replace it once the pump stops giving an even mist after cleaning.
Why is my nasal spray bottle not spraying?
Usually the pump is not primed or the nozzle is blocked. Press it firmly two or three times, pointed away from your face. If nothing comes out, unscrew the pump and pump warm water through it until the spray runs clear. Do not poke the nozzle with a pin; that can damage the spray hole.
Can I put a prescription nasal spray into a refillable bottle?
Ask first. Follow the leaflet from the medicine's maker and check with your pharmacist before moving any prescription or medicated spray into another bottle, because some are meant to stay in their original pack. We sell empty bottles for saline, water and similar home refills, and we cannot advise on medicines.
How often should you clean a nasal spray bottle?
Clean it before the first fill, before every refill, and whenever you switch to different contents. Empty whatever is left rather than topping it up, wash the bottle, pump and cap in warm soapy water, rinse well, and let everything air-dry completely. Wipe the nozzle tip after each use and keep the cap on.
Should you label a refillable spray bottle?
Yes. Our 20 ml bottle ships unlabelled, so add a small label or use a permanent marker with what is inside and the date you filled it. Labels prevent mix-ups when a home has more than one bottle, and they tell you when it is time to empty, clean and refill.
