Water in the ears can annoy you in several ways that include ticklish feeling, distort hearing, and sometimes it may even be painful. If the water doesn’t drain on its own, it can further aggravate the problem as it can foster an infection in the external auditory canal of the outer ear. You can use various methods to remove water from your ears.
The Vacuum Method
To remove water from your ear using the vacuum method, you just need to tilt your head sideways and cup your ear into the palm of your hand to make a slight seal. Then, push your hands in upwards and downward direction rapidly, flattening the palm against the ear and pulling it away. This movement will create suction to help remove the water. In the end, tilt your head to the side to allow the water to drain out.
The Valsalva Maneuver
This is an ancient trick swimmers use to remove water from their ears. The method is quite simple: just breathe in deeply, then close your mouth and gently pinch your nostrils shut. Slowly and steadily blow the air through your nose. You should hear a popping sound in a few seconds, and if you do, it is working. Lastly, tilt your head to the side to allow the water to drain out. The important thing is you do not need to blow too hard, as it can damage your eardrums.
Fight Water with Water
Though it may look somewhat ineffective, using water to remove water from your ear works indeed in some cases. Tilt your head in a way that the problematic ear faces up, and use an eyedropper to fill your ear with water. Later, you just have to wait for ten seconds and then flip over so the water plugged ear faces down. This will drain out the stuck and added water out of the ear.
Vinegar and Alcohol Method
Using vinegar and alcohol is more beneficial as it keeps bacteria from growing in the ears, which further helps in preventing ear infections. Add one part rubbing alcohol to one part vinegar and apply this liquid to the inside of the ears with an eye dropper. However, it is advised not to use more than three or four drops at a time. Gently rub the outer ear. Wait for at least 30 seconds before tilting your sideways to allow the ear to drain. The alcohol helps in evaporating the water while the vinegar keeps bacteria at bay.
Jiggle it a Little Bit
It may sound absurd but jiggling can break any seal the stuck water may have formed and allow the water trapped inside to drain out. After you tilt your head to the side, jiggle the earlobe. If this is still inadequate, shake your head careful from side to side to drain the water out.
Use Gravity
When nothing works, give gravity a try. Lay on your side with the water plugged ear facing down. Remain in this position until the water is drained out of your ear.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is not only helpful in draining water from the ears but also removes earwax, bacteria and debris. Put four drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide into the ear canal. Wait for about three minutes and after that tilt your head to the side with the plugged ear facing down to allow the water to drain. However, do not use this method if you have or you doubt that you have a perforated eardrum, an ear infection, or tympanostomy (ear) tubes.
Olive Oil
Similar to hydrogen peroxide, olive oil could help both remove water from the ear and prevent infections. Warm olive oil until it is lukewarm. Ensure that the oil is not hotter than this, and then place a few drops in the plugged ear. Lay down on your side, affected ear up, and allow 10 minutes for the olive oil to work. Lastly, tilt the ear down to allow the water to drain.
Hot Compress
Sometimes the water gets trapped in the Eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear to a cavity just behind the nose, in such a case a hot compress can provide relief. Soak a washcloth in warm water and squeeze out the excess water. Keep the cloth to the plugged ear and leave it in place for about 30 seconds before removing it. Do this for five to six times. Later, sit up and lay down on the opposite side to help the water drain.
Yawn or Chew
Another alternative to drain out the water trapped in eustachian tubes is by chewing or yawning. These activities resolve the problem by reducing the tension in these tubes. Yawning is the best alternative but if that doesn’t work, you can try chewing some gum. Then, tilt your head to the side to help the water drain out of your ear canal.
