Water trapped in the ear is a common issue, especially after swimming or showering, and can lead to discomfort or infection if not treated. Experts share 10 effective, at-home steps to safely remove water from your ears and offer simple precautionary tips to help you avoid future problems. Here's what you need to know to protect your ear health.

It is very easy to get water in your ears, and by this, you can become very uncomfortable. Water can get in while Swimming, Showering or Washing your hairs. Many people get their ears blocked and feel very irritated. And if one doesn’t take it seriously, then it may get even worse.

Luckily, many easy and quick ways help you to get water out of your ear, and by using these tips, you may never easily get water in your ears in the future.

By reading this detailed information, you will get to know how water gets into the ears, how many ways there are to remove it easily, when you need to go to the doctor, and how you can stop it from happening in the future.

Why Water Gets Stuck in Your Ears

One of the most common reasons for water to get stuck in your ears is when it does not come out properly. This often happens because of:

Small and Round ear canals.
There is a big earwax that is blocking the way.
Swimming or Bathing is a way by which water gets in the ears more inside.
By wearing earbuds or having a hearing aid that can block the way for water.

When water gets stuck in your Ear, you can feel very irritated, you may feel like there is something weird going on in your Ear, and you can feel a kind of pressure in your Ear. Many times, water gets out from the ears on the head, but not every time.

The Negative Effects of Leaving Water in Your Ear

Not getting water out of your Ears for a long time may lead to an ear infection known as swimmer’s ears (otitis externa), which is an infection of the outer ear canal. This infection’s starting effects include:

To not get this infection, you need to remove water from your Ear on time in easy and safe ways.

Pain or redness in the Ear.

Itching

Swelling

Fluid Discharge

Short-time hearing loss

10 Easy Steps to Get Water Out of Your Ear

1.Bending Your Head

The easiest way to get water out of your ear is by gravity itself.

Bend your affected ear downside.
Slowly pinch your earlobe to make the ear canal straight.
Slowly move your head so that water gets its way out.

2.Create Pressure with a Palm

In this way, pressure gets created in the Ear, which forces water to come out.

Bend your affected Ear down.
Cup your palm over your Ear and press gently.
Flatten your palm fast and repeat this move to create pressure.
Bend your head again and give way to water to come out.

3.By Using a Hair Dryer

By using a hair dryer, water can get mixed in its hot air.

Set the dryer on its minimum heat level and speed.
Put it at least 10 to 12 inches away from the Ear.
Fix your hair dryer at your ear canal and pinch your earlobe for 30 seconds.
Repeat this process until you get relief.

Note: Do not hold your hair dryer too close to your Ear or at high speed because it can burn your Ear.

4.The Valsalva Maneuver

This method helps the Eustachian tubes to open and make way for water to be removed.

Shut your mouth.
Grab your nose close.
Slowly breathe as if blowing your nose without forcing it.

You may hear a small pop sound, by which you can understand that your ear canal is now open.

5.By Using Alcohol and Vinegar Drops

By using drops of vinegar and alcohol, your Ear gets dry, and you will not get any negative effects like any infection.

Get an equal amount of vinegar and alcohol.
With the help of a clean dropper, put 3-4 drops into your trapped Ear.
Wait for 30 seconds, then bend your head down to make way for vinegar and alcohol to remove from your ears.

Note: Only use this method when you have normal Ears without any history of ear surgery.

6.By Putting Semi-hot Compress.

A hot compress can get Eustachian tubes open and can help water to get out.

Put a clean washcloth in lucky warm water, not too hot.
Remove the cloth and put it on the affected Ear for 30 seconds.
Do these again and again 3 to 4 times while lying on the side.

7.Use Medical Ear Drops.

Many medical stores sell Ear Drops, which are made only to get water out of your Ear. Those ear drop boxes have full information on how to use them. Carefully read and follow the steps.

These ear Drops usually have isopropyl alcohol, which helps water to get mixed in the air and creates less chance of getting an ear infection.

8.Sleeping on One Side.

Water can be removed by only sleeping on your affected ear side for a while; this pressure gets created on your Ear, which leads to water coming out from the Ear. Also, put a towel under your Ear for water to get in it after it gets out from your Ear.

9.Yawning or Eating.

This action helps Eustachian tubes to get open and make water come out from the Ear when it goes further inside.

Try Yawning or Chewing gum again and again.
Move your head side by side so that water can move.

10. Hydrogen Peroxide Drops.

3% hydrogen peroxide can shatter earwax and help stuck water to remove.

Put some drops in the ears and wait for some time (1-2 minutes).
Bend your head down to remove those drops.

Note: Do not use this method if you have any past ear operation or any other ear problem rather than water stuck.

What You Should Avoid.

When you are removing water out of your Ear, do not put anything else inside your ear canal like:

Cotton sticks (Q–tips)
Metal pins (Bobby pin)
Fingers or long nails

By doing this, water or earwax may get more inside the Ear canal, damage the sensitive skin of the ear canal, and lead to infection.

When You Should Go To A Doctor.

If the water in the Ear comes out, and the Ear clears within a few hours, if your Ear doesn’t clear in some time, then you need to go to the hospital or do medical if you have something like:

When you feel pain, swelling, or fluid in the Ear.
When water does not come out in 48 hours.
When you think blurred or cannot hear properly.
When you notice any ear infection symptoms.

You can go to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) expert doctor, who will see your Ear properly and remove water or earwax, which is blocking the way of the ear canal, and get it clean.

To Do Steps for Not Letting Water Enter Your Ear in First Place.

Early precaution is better than aftercare. Here are some simple steps by which you can prevent water from getting in your Ear.

Wear Earplugs or a swim cap.

Wear a swim cap or earplugs while swimming so that water cannot get in your ear canal.

Dry Your Ear Properly After Getting Into Water Activity.

After you get out of swimming or Bathing, always bend your head side by side and clean your ear canal with a towel so that it gets dry.

Please do not enter anything else in your Ear to get it dry because it may lead to an ear infection.

Remove Earwax from Time to Time.

Earwax can block the way for water to come out; therefore, if you have excessive earwax, then you need to go to the doctor so that they can remove it safely without damaging your Ear.

Do Not Get In Dirty Water.

Water stuck in your Ear, which is dirty or has germs, is the most common and easy reason to get your Ear infected.

Last Note

When you get water in your ears, then it not only becomes uncomfortable but can also get worse and may lead to ear infections if you do not pay proper attention to it.

Luckily, there are many easy and simple steps to get water out of your ear, like a semi-hot compress, creating pressure with your palm, bending your head side down, and many other ways. Always remember not to be harsh with your Ear, and do not put any long sticks, long nails, or something like that in your ear canal to remove water.

By giving a little attention to these steps, you can stop water from getting in your Ear easily in the future, and by using these steps, you can easily get water out of your ear canal without having any problems. Also, you will not get any negative effects on your ear canal, like an infection.