I got a nasty infection when I used a bulb syringe--it didn't have an
opening at the top, so it was always wet, and I couldn't see the
inside. I did clean it to the best of my ability.
 One thing about neti pots--you can throw them in the dishwasher, and
they dry out well between uses.
 I just think if you use a bulb syringe, rinse/soak it with white
vinegar--because pseudomonas loves wet areas, and it hates the acid of
vinegar. The neilmed, which seems to be disliked here, but I use it
occasionally, instructs you to use vinegar to clean it.
Undiluted--unlike Dr. Grossan's 10% dilution.
 We're all searching for the perfect method of irrigation, and it's
clear there isn't one.
Judy

Only in the strictest etymological sense; in modern and common parlance, it
is gender-neutral.  Unless you continue to refer to the uterus as the
"hystera".

Rick,
 When I checked, it was your post.
 I've had a very good response to immunotherapy, and I still get
shots: I have a great allergist, who unfortunately is drifting into
semi-retirement, and we've done courses of shots for at least 5
years--starting almost 15 years ago, and periodic retesting and
changing of the serum. At this point, I just keep getting shots, and
the current ones are for mold and dander.
 I just read a NE Journal article--about 6 months old--about a 6 shot
vaccine for ragweed that was clinically effective for the next two
years. Sign me up.
 The last testing--at least 5 years ago--showed that the ragweed no
longer reacted, but clincally, ragweed season is tough for me.
 My allergist treated me for pneumonia when I got the flu a couple of
years ago--he was orginally trained as a family practioner--and
discovered that 1) although my rapid flu was negative, blood testing
confirmed influenza and 2) I have primary immunodeficiency--I'm low on
two subclasses of IgG.
 I take the low grade macrolides: biaxin 250 mg/day--and he supports
that. It was my ENT who started me on it, and continues it.
 Irrigation is helpful, and it gives us some control over our illness,
but I think you can do it too much, and as you said, sometimes if you
back off, you find the clinical benefit wasn't that great.
 Again, I read another NE Journal article about cystic fibrosis
patients inhaling 7 ml of hypertonic saline before their respiratory
treatments, and it was clinically effective at reducing lung
infections.
(Can you tell I'm re-reading them for countinuing ed credit
currently.....)
 My husband gets various electric toothbrushes to try, as he's a
dentist. The early Braun models could not be cleaned and collected foul
debris at their base--based on the green color, probably pseudomonas.
The current model snaps apart and can be easily cleaned. Any medical
device should be periodically re-evaluated for design flaws and
corrected if possible. I know Dr. Grossan must feel like we're
attacking his device: I hope he just sees us as a post-marketing focus
group.
 If we've identified that pseudomans and serratia like dark, wet
spaces, any device for irrigation should be able to be cleaned and
dried. Periodic cleansing is helpful I'm sure, but how often is
questionable. My husband brings home these articles about the biofilms
that grow almost instantly in his dental equipment tubes that carry
water. His system is set up for cleaning with bleach.
 I know we are seeming to beat this subject to death, but I think
we're all just trying to clarify safe ways to irrigate.
Judy