How much snot can one nose produce during one cold cycle?

We need an engineer for this question. Where’s LuckyGuy?

Yes – he’d be the man!

Gobs.

Ewww. Feel better penguin. No wiping your nose on your flippers.

I think the best measure is buckets of used tissues, or snot rags. My guess is three bucket loads.

@Earthbound_Misfit Think I should keep and weigh them?

I’m sure that the number is nothing to sneeze at.

Oh yes. And report back. I swear by hot toddies, and especially if I drink enough of them. At worst I get tipsy and sleep like a baby.

I’m going on a plane today. Give it three days and I’ll probably be able to start a comparative study.

@Earthbound_Misfit Safe travels and germ-free landings!

More than a flu but less than a snot…probably.

All of it.

Tons.

How much snot would a penguin snot if a penguin could snot snot?

A gazzilions.

How much snot would a penguin stop if a penguin could stop snot?

So sorry you caught a summer cold, Penguin. I hope you feel better soon.

Most of that runny-nose stuff is water, so copious amounts. Headcolds are such miserable ordeals.

More of a question for @rarebear

I think hydration would play a factor. A dehydrated person would probably produce more concentrated, and less overall snot, than someone who was properly hydrated.
Sick people often drink less, and are more likely to be dehydrated.
It takes liquid to make snot. The amount of snot may slow down as the person gets sicker, and more dehydrated.

Allergens would also play a role.

As well as a person’s immune system.

It takes some getting used to, but washing out your sinuses with a neti pot is a wonderful thing.

In the warm months when I bicycle commute 20+ miles a day, I seem to blow a quart or two out my nose.on the way to and from work.

But in the off season I get a clogged nose. I discovered that a neti pot clears that up.

I feel better during the day. I sleep better at night. Highly recommended. Two thumbs up. Five stars.

@Hawaii_Jake Ha! I clicked on this question to leave exactly the response that you did.

1.5 toilet paper rolls worth. I have scientifically proven this many times.

Take an antihistamine decongestant at least once a day for some relief. Unless you have some sort of health reason you can’t.

We’ll weigh yourself before, during and after. Then subtract!

5.6 gallons.

 
 
Anecdotal only, I confess. Personal experience sometimes argues for measuring in barrels.

Ok.. ok…. I know you’re all dying to know…

I measured a couple of moderate nose blows using a high end Mettler.

I used 2 tissues typically weighing a total of 2.74 grams and tared the scale before each blow.
A moderate sized nose blow averaged 0.85 grams. A healthy, sloppy one after using the NeilMed sinus rinse was about 2 grams. (Post sinus rinse, it was not possible to get a higher resolution reading with confidence due to the thin viscosity and the tendency to soak through the tissues and get on my hands. )
From this experience I would estimate a serious, sinus infection like blow to be in the 1.5 to 2.5 gram range. I leave it up to you to decide how many times per day you do it.

You’re welcome. Bleeech!!!

I guess that is one way to lose weight.

@LuckyGuy – you have only just begun. Your measurement sample was far too small and cannot be used to extrapolate universal snotification levels.

At a minimum, a good research project would call for:

1) gender snot levels – do women produce more than men for the average cold?

2) age snot levels – who produces more? 5–10 year old? 10–20? 20–30? and so on.

3) the effect of over-the-counter drugs on snot levels

4) color and quantity? Are they related?

I think this should be written up as a grant proposal and submitted to the Kleenex Corporation for funding.

OMG @LuckyGuy! You crack me up!