Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Home remedies
• Method 2 of 2: Prevent future problems
• Tips
• Warnings

Many people get water in their ears after swimming or bathing. While it usually just feels annoying, it can also cause inflammation if it doesn't come out on its own. This is also called a swimmer's ear. Fortunately, it is usually not that difficult to get the water out of your ear with the help of a few quick tricks. If you can't fix it at home and you get an earache, see your doctor as soon as possible.

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Method 1 of 2: Home remedies

1. Make an ear drop solution from 1 part white vinegar and 1 part alcohol. In addition to drying the ear, this also prevents infections. Gently drip 1 teaspoon / 5 ml into the affected ear. Then carefully let it out again.
   • The acid in this solution dissolves the wax, which may prevent water from flowing out of the ear canal. The alcohol dries quickly and takes the water with it.
   • The alcohol will make the water in your ear evaporate faster.
   • Don't do this if you have a hole in your eardrum!
2. Create a vacuum in your ear. Point the affected ear down and press the palm of your hand on your ear with a pumping motion so that the water comes out. Do not do this with the ear facing up as this can cause the water to enter even deeper.
   • Alternatively, you can point the ear down, put your finger in, and create a vacuum with your finger by quickly moving your finger back and forth. The water will quickly come out of your ear. Note that this is not the ideal method, as damaging your ear canal can cause infections. In any case, make sure you don't have long nails when doing this.
   • In addition, during the "in" phase of the vacuum method, it may be good to gently massage the ear clockwise or counterclockwise while the pressure is high. This can help release the damp wax. This can be especially helpful if your hearing has been compromised.
3. Blow dry your ear. While this may sound a bit strange to you, it often works very well to blow-dry your ear. Set a hair dryer on the lowest setting, hold it at least 12 inches from your head, and blow dry your ear. Just make sure it's not too hot and that you don't hold the hair dryer too close to your ear as you could burn yourself.
   • Alternatively, you can use the warm air for the opening along instead of blowing directly there in. The moment warm, dry air blows over water, the moisture evaporates.
4. Buy ear drops designed to get water out of your ears. These are available in the pharmacy and usually contain alcohol, which evaporates quickly. Put the ear drops in your ear as indicated and tilt your head so that the water can flow out.
   • As with the homemade remedy, you can ask someone to help you with this.
5. Rub your ear with a cloth. Slowly and gently rub your ear with a soft cloth while tilting your ear towards the cloth. Make sure you don't press the cloth into your ear, because then you can push the water in further.
6. Tilt your head to the side. An alternative method is to stand on one leg and turn your head with the specific ear towards the floor. Hop on one leg until the water flows out. If you pull on your earlobe or the top of the auricle, you can widen the ear canal a bit so that the water comes out more easily.
   • You can also omit the hopscotch and simply tilt your head to the side.
7. Lie on your side on the floor with the ear facing down. Gravity then ensures that the water slowly flows out. Simply lie down with the affected ear on the floor, or on a pillow if you prefer. Stay like this for a few minutes. You can watch TV or do something else to while away the time if you wish.
   • If you have water in your ear at night, make sure you go to sleep on that ear. This increases the chance that the water will come out when you sleep.
8. Pretend you're chewing some food by moving your jaws around your ears. Tilt your head to the side where there is no water and then quickly tilt your head to the other side. You can also chew some gum to loosen the water that is trapped. The water in your ears is trapped in your Eustachian tube, part of your inner ear, and the chewing motion can help loosen it.
   • For a double effect, you can chew gum while keeping your head tilted.
9. Yawn. Sometimes you can pop the "bubble" with water simply by yawning. Any movement that can relieve tension can loosen the water. If you feel a "pop" or feel the water moving, that can help a little. Just like chewing gum, you can use this to open the Eustachian tube.
10. See your doctor if necessary. You should go to the doctor if you get pain in your ear. Know that an ear infection can feel like water trapped in your ear, and you should get that treated as well. There is a chance that the pain may be caused by irritation or inflammation known as swimmer's ear. If you experience the following symptoms you should see a doctor immediately:
    • Yellow or yellow-green pus, or foul-smelling discharge from your ear.
    • Ear pain that gets worse when you pull your ear.
    • Hearing loss
    • Itching of the ear canal or the outer ear

Method 2 of 2: Prevent future problems

1. Dry your ears well after swimming. When you get out of the water, whether you have been in the sea, in the pool or simply in the bath, you should dry your ears thoroughly. Wipe the water off the outside of your ears with a clean towel and pat the area closer to the ear canal dry as well. Make sure to turn your head to either side and shake any excess water out of your ears.
   • It is true that some people are more sensitive to water in their ears than others, because it has to do with how your ears are shaped. If you often have water in your ears, you have to be extra careful.
2. Avoid using cotton buds to clean your ears. You may think you can empty your ears with a cotton swab, be it water, wax or something else in it. But a cotton swab can actually backfire because you push it deeper into your ears. You can also damage the inside of your ears, causing even more pain.
   • You can also damage the inside of your ear with the tip of a tissue.
3. Do not use earplugs or cotton wool in your ears if there is water in them. If you put in earplugs when you go to sleep, you can push water or other things deeper into your ears. If you have an earache or feel like water is in your ear, don't use earplugs for now.
   • Also, don't put in ear earbuds in your ears if you have an earache.

Tips

• Do not pick or scratch your ear, it can get infected.
• There are remedies that you can buy at the drugstore that are specifically designed to get water out of your ear, based on alcohol.
• Be careful not to damage your ear.
• Blow your nose. The change in air pressure can sometimes help.
• Tilting your head quickly from side to side can also work.
• Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol into your ear, with your ear turned upwards. Then turn your head so that it points down. The water will come out immediately.

Warnings

• With these methods, a mixture of warm wax and water flows out of your ear.Be careful not to stain precious surfaces.
• If these tips don't work, see your doctor.
• Be careful not to fall while playing hopscotch. Hold on to a chair or armrest.
• Rubbing alcohol should only be used externally. Don't swallow it. If this does happen, call 112.
• Alcohol can sting if it comes into contact with the skin.
• Don't push things further into your ear. Cotton swabs and other things push it deeper into your canal and can damage the skin, which can cause infections.