How to Get Water out of Your Ear?

Normally our ears are not supposed to keep fluid inside. However, in a number of cases water remains inside, causing a lot of inconveniences straight away and having potential to cause even more affecting one’s hearing or leading to an infection. What are the ways to get rid of it?

Almost always the water that got into our ear leaves it without any particular problems. But if one has atypical ear structure or is susceptible to frequent water ingress, like swimmers, water may get stuck in the ear by penetrating ear canal and forming a clog. In a short time after such thing happens it results into itching, pain, ringing in the ear and decrease of ear keenness. In a longer perspective such a condition may lead to infection and even loss of hearing. Therefore it is necessary to get any water out of one’s ear as soon as possible.

Here are some ways to do it.

1. Create a vacuum in your ear. Bend your head so that the affected ear would be turned down and push in and out with your palm. This will make gravity do the rest and suction effect will get the water out. Also, you can move your head from one side to another and then, with affected ear still facing down, press or hit the other side so that the water would leave by force.
2. Lie down on the affected ear down on the pillow and remain like this till the water comes out. It is important that the ear would face it straight down, no angles other than a 90° one! If it doesn’t work at once, you may consider staying like this for longer time with a movie or something else to distract you. If possible, even a night-long sleep in such a position may be the way to go.
3. Pop your ears. Close down your nose with your fingers and blow air into the nasal cavity (you might have already done it during or after a plane takeoff). Pressure inside your ears will push fluid that is not supposed to be there out. Your hearing may reduce for a brief moment, but it will return shortly after. This method is regularly used by swimmers and has proven its efficiency.
4. Blow it dry with a hair dryer. While it may seem funny or even ridiculous, this is still the way to go with. A dryer has to be kept far enough from the ear in order to not to burn it, the air should be either of the lowest heat and the flow has to be directed at the affected ear.
5. If none of the aforementioned ways works, it is better to see a doctor.

Of course, it is always better to avoid a problem rather than have to deal with it. So earplugs are recommended to use for swimmers and people who have anomalous ear structure not letting water out. Studies have shown that earplugs have small but statistically significant effect of reducing the number of cases of otorrhea among children who swim of bathe using them. Logically that applies to adults as well. Drying ears after a bath or a swim will help a lot in avoiding water getting in there.

Generally, though the feeling of water in one’s ear(s) is far from pleasant, it is easy to both take necessary precautions and get rid of the water in case it has managed to push its way in. The only thing is to not let it be, as the longer the problem stays unsolved, the worse it becomes. Sources: