Wondering how to get water out of your ears? You are at the right place. The one major drawback of swimming or being inside the pool is none other than having water in the ears. It can even happen while taking a shower. You can use cotton swabs to remove water from the ear, but it will only make it worse.

Usually, water drains out of the ear if you sleep on one side but this trick might not work at times. If the fluid does not come out even after 2 days, it is time you consult a doctor because it can cause a serious ear infection known as swimmer’s ear. Luckily, a few home remedies or tricks can be applied to help get water out of ears.

Caution: Never insert a cotton bud in the ears, especially when there is water inside.

Signs That There Is Water In The Ears

Tickling sensation

Diminished hearing

Muffled sounds

Discomfort in the ear

Pain

Risks Of Leaving The Water In The Ears

Serious ear infections

Severe pain

Permanent hearing loss

Permanent ear damage

Eardrum inflammation

Formation of cyst

How To Get Water Out Of Your Ears?

Note: First, find out if the water is accumulated in the middle ear or outer ear. If the fluid has gathered in the middle ear, it needs medical attention. However, water inside the outer ear can be easily treated at home. Here are some simple ways to get rid of fluid in the ear.

1. Lie Flat On The Affected Ear’s Side

The best way to get water out of your ears is to allow gravity to do the job. You just have to lie down for a while so that the water in the ears is drained out automatically. Follow the instructions given here:

Lie down on the side in which the ear has water trapped in it.

If you want the impact to be fast, don’t use cushion or pillow.

Remain in the resting position for a few minutes.

The water will drain out.

2. The Gravity Trick

Another gravity tip to help get water out from the ears is to use your palm to create a temporary vacuum. The trick is pretty simple. Just follow the steps given here:

Tilt the head sideways.

Keep the ear parallel (the affected one) to the ground.

Hold the palm against the affected ear.

Press tightly for some seconds and quickly remove the hand. This will form a temporary vacuum and drain all the fluid.

Now use a cotton swab slightly on the outer part to soak all the water from the ear.

3. Yawn Or Chew

Instead of figuring out how to get water out of your ears, yawn or chew gum. Both help in draining the water out soon. If the fluid is stuck inside the Eustachian tubes (a part of the inner ears), chewing gum will help free it. Chewing gum engages a movement in the temporomandibular joint, which creates pressure in the middle ear. Meanwhile, the ear canal is stretched, and the water is pushed out.

Besides chewing gum, even yawning pops the water from the inner tubes. If you feel a “pop” sound or the water shifting inside, it means that the yawning trick has worked.

4. Blow Dry The Ear

A blow dryer assists in speeding the evaporation of trapped water inside the ears. The dry, warm air turns the fluid to steam, eventually helping it to drive away out of the ears. Some might be skeptical about using this trick, but it is highly effective if used in the right way.

Turn on the lowest heat option of the blow dryer.

Hold the dryer at least 30 cm or 1 foot away from the ear.

Pull the earlobe softly downwards. This will increase the effectiveness of this trick.

Blow the warm air across the ear opening instead of driving the air into it directly all of a sudden.

Set the airflow mode to “low” while the dry heat mode to “warm.”

Aim directly at the ear canal.

Keep the dryer in the same position for not more than 30 seconds.

Repeat the process again if required. This will help the water to vaporize.

Note: Never keep the blow dryer too close to the ear, as there are chances of burning. Don’t do this trick for more than a few seconds at a single time.

5. Hot Compress

Heat therapy or hot compress is yet another good answer if you want to know how to get water out of your ears. It opens the Eustachian tubes (where the water usually gets stored) and frees the fluid from the ears quickly. To try this remedy, follow the steps given below:

Dip a clean cloth in a bowl containing hot water.

Squeeze out the extra water.

Hold the hot cloth against the ear (that is trapped with water) for about 30 seconds.

Repeat the process for 4 or 5 times with a time gap of 2 minutes between each stretch.

Once done, lie down flat on the side of the affected ear to get the fluid out of the ears.

6. The Valsalva maneuver Trick

If done in the correct way, the Valsalva maneuver trick can be highly helpful in getting water out from the ears. It assists in popping the ears in a way that the Eustachian tubes are opened, and water is pushed out. To perform this procedure, follow the steps written below:

Close the mouth.

Pinch the nostrils gently with the fingers so that they are shut.

Take a deep breath and blow the air out of the nose. This will regulate the air pressure.

Now, if you have done it correctly, you should hear a slight “pop” sound from the ears, which means that the Eustachian tubes have opened.

Note: Never blow the nose hard, as this will damage the eardrum.

7. Inhale Steam

Steam inhalation is another best way to get water out from the ears. Steam plays a key role in opening the Eustachian tubes and releasing the fluid inside. Here is what you need to do:

Boil some water in a medium-sized or big vessel.

Once boiled, take the vessel from the stove or induction. Be careful while doing this.

Cover your head using a towel.

Inhale the steam coming from the boiling water.

Keep inhaling slowly for 10 minutes.

Now, tilt the head on the affected ear side.

The fluid will come out of the ear.

8. Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol

A mixture of vinegar and rubbing alcohol is one of the best home remedies for water in ears. The rubbing alcohol assists in drying up all the water from the ear while the vinegar’s antibacterial properties kill the germs inside. To prepare the solution, follow the instructions written below:

Take one teaspoon of vinegar and one teaspoon of rubbing alcohol.

Mix them together in a small bowl.

Use a dropper to pour 2 to 3 drops of the solution into the ear that is affected.

Wait for at least 30 seconds.

Finally, tilt the head on the side of affected ear so that the water is drained out.

9. Use Olive Oil

Learn how to get water out of your ears using olive oil. It facilitates the fluid flow stuck inside the ear while its antiseptic properties reduce the risk of ear infections. Here is what you need to do:

Warm some amount of olive oil in a small, clean bowl.

Lie down. Use a dropper to pour 2 to 3 drops into the affected ear.

Let the oil settle. Until then stay still in the resting position.

Turn the head sideways for the oil and water to flow out.

Soak all the fluid and oil draining out using an ear bud.

10. Use Garlic

Garlic is yet another essential home remedy to draw out water from the ears. Also, its antibacterial properties reduce pain and prevents further ear infections. To apply the tip, follow the steps given below:

Take 3 or 4 garlic cloves.

Press them using a pestle and mortar to extract their juice.

Use a dipper to pour 2 to 3 drops of garlic juice into the affected ear.

Wait for 1 to 2 minutes.

Finally, blow-dry the water-trapped-ear by keeping the dryer 30 cm away from the ear. Refer remedy no. 4 for this.

How To Prevent Water From Getting Into The Ears?

Remember, prevention is better than cure. To avoid such ear problems or complications, follow the points given below:

1. Wear Ear Plugs

Rather than figuring out how to get water out of your ears, it is better to prevent the problem by wearing earplugs before taking a shower or swimming in the pool. They help you seal the ear canals and ensure water from getting in.

2. Use Shower Cap

If you have sensitive ear canals, and you don’t like wearing earplugs, then a better alternative is to use shower cap or swimming cap to prevent the water from getting inside the ears.

3. Use Olive Oil Before Swimming

Pouring 2 to 3 drops of warm olive oil in both the ears before entering the swimming pool is one of the best ways to prevent water from getting inside the ears. Olive oil helps in lubricating the ear canal’s tissues and further, prevents the fluid from being trapped inside the ears.

What Not To Do When You Have Water In The Ears?

Do not use ear buds or Q-tips to remove or dry the water from the ears. This will injure the ear canal, eardrum, or even push the earwax deeper to the tympanic membrane, which will be worse.

Do not use fingers, pens, keys, or something sharp to insert into the ears. This will injure the ear and even cause infections.

Avoid using headphones unless you have got rid of the trapped water in the ears.

When To See A Doctor?

If the water has not drained out even after 1 to 2 days.

If you experience redness, hearing loss, or swelling in the ears, an immediate medical attention is required.

If you have severe itchiness or there is greenish-yellow pus coming out from the ear.

If there is severe pain in the ear, consult an ENT specialist right away.

Hope, the article on how to get water out of your ears has helped you giving the correct solutions. If you have some other trick, which you feel we have missed writing here, feel free to drop it in the comments section.