How to Get Water Out of Your Ear

Are you wondering how to get water out of your ear? Worried about it leading to fungal infection?

Having water stuck in your ear can be extremely infuriating. It’s another thing to clog your ears with wax or debris. You can always clear it with a q tip or by pouring some ear drops in the earlobe. The sensation of having water stuck in your ear usually runs from your jawline to the neck region. This is what makes it so annoying. It gets in the way of your work and keeps you distracted all day long.

Furthermore, when you feel your ear getting plugged by a fluid and also it obstructs your hearing, generally, it is water trapped inside but in some cases it can be something else(ear wax or fungal infection) as well. So, don’t come to any conclusion beforehand. Having said that, the simple and easy solutions I am going to share below have no side effects. You can give it a try without worrying about anything. 

Here are the best ways to get water out of your ear

1) Create a vacuum in your ear with your finger

The easiest way to unclog your ear–filled with water–is to create a vacuum with your fingertip. To try this method, you first need to make sure your nails are cut short and your hand is also reasonably clean. Also, avoid using any pointy items instead of your finger.

Take your index finger and slowly insert it in your troubled ear. You might have to rock and wiggle it a few times to insert it properly. Once you feel the pressure build up inside your earlobe, pull it out quickly. With the release of pressure, the water should also come out with your finger.

2) Yawning

Yawning is an involuntary movement of breath caused mainly by drowsiness and fatigue. When we yawn, it not only changes the position of our jawline but also impacts the natural position of your earlobes.

According to a research paper by the Hospital of Saint Antoine, Paris, there is a strong connection between yawning and stretching. Both activities may seem independent of each other but in actuality, they are tightly linked. They also concluded that it is natural for infants and animals to stretch their entire body along with a yawn. 

But adults do no stretch along with a yawn. It is considered a bad social habit. So, if you are wondering how to get water out of your ear, do not hold back the next time you feel like yawning. Let your entire face stretch and your earlobes will effortlessly get rid of the fluid stuck inside.

3) Jump back in the pool

If the water is stuck in your ears while swimming in a pool then it might be wise to either stay in the pool or jump back in. Many times, people forget about the water stuck in there ears after a second swimming session. Being in the water is the best way to get the water clung in your ears to roll outwardly. 

This is how it works. If your right ear is clogged up, tilt your head–while staying still in water– towards the right side and slide down into the pool. Wait for a few seconds and jump back up quickly. The surface tension of the pool will suck the water out of your ear. Most often, water stuck in ears is sucked out casually while swimming but sometimes you have to do it manually.

4) Jumping up and down

This might seem silly but sometimes the easiest way to get water out of your ear is to simply get your body moving. If you have been home since your last swimming session, then you might want to consider taking a walk or jumping up and down a few times. The impact will definitely unclog your ears and throw the water out of your ear sockets. Some people also try smashing their head on a pillow. 

5) Use hydrogen peroxide ear drops

A hydrogen peroxide solution is generally used to clean wax from the ears and also to fight infection like Swimmer’s Ear or also known as Otitis Externa. As I discussed this in one of the sections above, sometimes the water can get stuck in your ear due to a build-up of wax or debris. 

This build-up obstructs the outward flow of water. In such a case, no matter what you do, you will never get the water out of your ear. More often, the situation gets worse due to constant prodding and twitching the area around the eardrums. Hence, you need to pour a few drops of Hydrogen Peroxide solution to unclog your ears.

Does it matter whether I swim in natural freshwater or a swimming pool? Which one is safer?

As long as you are swimming in a private pool or a well maintained public pool(in gym, hotels, clubs, etc), you don’t have to worry about earaches or ear infections(like Swimmer’s Ear). Chlorine immediately kills all the bacteria from water. Some public pools also implement the latest water purification procedures.

However, you need to be extra cautious while swimming in natural fresh and marine waters. There was a survey done with 50,000 beachgoers who regularly swam in natural waters somewhere in their hometown.

They were asked to swim for a few days in one of the nine beaches across the United States and Puerto Rico. 

In just 10–12 days, 1.6% of participants after regular visits to one of the nine beaches reported to have earaches. The study also concludes that each year, in the United States, $4 million are spent(collectively by the beachgoers) just to treat ear infections. So, make sure you take precautionary measures before heading out to a nearby beach. Particular, if you are a “head-immersion swimmer”.

Conclusion

I hope the tips provided in this post will help you get water out of your ear. All the water removal techniques mentioned above are simple and painless. You don’t need to visit a physician unless you are unable to solve this issue yourself. In the comments below, let me know how you were able to get water out of the ear.

Also Read- 3 Important Reasons to Filter Your Water