2. Try Warm Steam or a Humidifier

Dry air can make an irritated throat feel worse.

Using a clean humidifier can add moisture to the surrounding air and may make breathing more comfortable for some people.

A warm shower can also temporarily loosen secretions and make coughing easier.

However, be careful with very hot steam.

Steam burns can be serious, particularly in children.

You don't need to put your face over a pot of boiling water to get the benefits of humidified air.

A comfortably warm shower is a much safer option.

3. Use Saline for Nasal Congestion

Sometimes what feels like mucus in your throat isn't actually coming from your lungs.

It may be postnasal drip.

This occurs when mucus from the nose or sinuses drains backward into the throat.

It can produce:

Saline nasal sprays or rinses can help clear nasal passages and reduce mucus accumulation.

If using a nasal rinse device, use distilled, sterile, or appropriately boiled-and-cooled water, not ordinary untreated tap water.

Smoking is one of the biggest things to address if you regularly have excessive mucus.

Tobacco smoke irritates the respiratory tract and interferes with normal airway-clearing mechanisms.

Smokers commonly develop chronic cough and increased phlegm.

The same general principle applies to vaping and exposure to secondhand smoke: reducing exposure can benefit respiratory health.

If you smoke and frequently cough up mucus, persistent symptoms deserve medical attention.

Constantly forcing yourself to cough can leave your throat irritated.

Instead, controlled coughing techniques may help move mucus more efficiently.