Overview

Water plays an essential role in our life, not only to hydrate our body, but also to help us wash impurities. Since the dawn of human history, people have used water to make their body clean. Sometimes, it even goes beyond a normal activity, becoming a ritual. However, most of us will have to experience water getting inside the ears at least once in our lifetime. It can easily happen when you are swimming, taking a bath or a shower. This might sound too normal to be concerned about; nevertheless, it is much more serious than you thought.

Many people hold a belief that only swimmers or babies may have trouble with water in ears. But the fact is that anyone might be the victim.

The Consequences

Getting water in the ear can make you feel uncomfortable and feel like you are hearing from a bottom of a well. Generally, water can go in and then go out without any problems. But in some cases, water is trapped in the ear canal, thus it can decrease your hearing. Furthermore, when if you leave the condition untreated for a long time, there is likely to have a potential risk of you developing more serious problems like ear pain and infection ^{[1] [2]} .

Swimming may enable the bacteria, namely, staphylococcus or pseudonoma, to enter the ears and lead to terrible problems, ranging from eczema to psoriasis. In many ways, not only water but also other things, like sand or debris, are responsible for such ear problems. Even though you might not be aware, your ears will face trouble if you clean them too much.

Symptoms

Pain is one of the most obvious symptoms of water in the ears. Besides, you might experience a series of others, such as itchiness or swelling. In some worse situations, there will be yellow discharge from your ears.  

Luckily, with a few tricks, you can remove water from your ear easily. The most vital advice for you is to stay away from polluted water. If you suffer from some skin problems, it is better to swim in any public area. Moreover, swimming cap or ear plugs are recommended items to help you prevent this problem.

But if home treatments don’t work, you should visit the doctor as soon as possible before you experience ear pain.

How to Get Water Out of Your Ear

Here are top 17 tips on how to get water out of your ear that you should take into consideration to prepare yourself for annoying conditions. You should bear in mind all of them and make them daily habits for the sake of your ears.

1. Salt

Salt can absorb water easily so you can use this ingredient to remove water from your ear. You can also relieve pain and make the fluid evaporate by using the heat from the hot salt compress.

• Take ¼ glass of salt and heat it in the microwave
• Next, put the salt in a cotton cloth and then tie it tightly
• Take this near the opening of the ear that the water went into and hold it for 2 to 3 minutes

Besides, garlic is also used in various treatments of health and beauty problems. You can find out more at Home Remedies for Oral Thrush.

2. Olive oil

Olive oil has a lot of good benefits and one of them is facilitate the flow of fluid that trapped in the ear. Moreover, Olive Oil can reduce the chances that you get ear infection because of its antiseptic properties ^[3].

• Slightly boil some olive oil and put it in a bowl
• Put a few drops of warm olive oil into the ear
• Wait for 10 minutes
• Remove the oil and the fluid by a soft ear bud. Remember to turn your head sideways before removing the oil

You can also put some drops (2 to 3) of olive oil in both of your ears before you go swimming so that it will prevent water from getting trapped in your ears.

Also, olive oil is a trusted friend helping women with several different issues like Home Remedies for Stretch Marks.

3. Hydrogen Peroxide

Another remedy is hydrogen peroxide. It can get the water as well as ear wax and debris from the ear canal easily because of its effervescent property ^[4].

• Use a dropper to put three percent hydrogen peroxide (4 to 5 drops) into the ear that water got in
• Wait for it to settle for 1 to 2 minutes
• Take the water out by tilting you head downwards

4. Garlic

One more effective way to remove water from your ear is garlic. It can also dislodge water out of your ear. In addition, garlic can reduce pain and prevent ear infection because it has antibacterial properties ^[5][6].

• Extract the garlic juice by pressing some garlic cloves
• Put garlic juice into the affected ear (2 to 3 drops)
• Wait for 1 minute then use a blow dryer to dry the ear

Note: Remember to hold the Blow Dryer 12 inches away from your head.

5. Blow Dryer

You can use a blow dryer to dry your ear so that the water will be gone from your ear. Water will steam and then dissipate out of the ear thanks to the warm, dry air from the blow dryer.

• Pull you ear lobe away from your body
• Keep the blow dryer away from your ear for at least 10 to 12 inches
• Set the airflow to low and the dryer heat to warm
• After turning on the blow dryer, aim it directly into your ear
• Hold the blow dryer still for about 30 seconds
• Repeat this again if you haven’t seen the result

Note: Do not do this remedy for more than a few minutes each time.

6. Gravity

This is one of the best ways to get water out of the ear. You just let the gravity do its work.

• Tilt your head sideways
• Hold the ear that the water got into parallel to the ground
• Place the palm of your hand against your ear
• Press it hard for a couple of seconds
• After that, remove your hand quickly. The fluid will be dislodged by a temporary vacuum that has just formed.
• Remove the water draining from the ear by a cotton ear bud very carefully

Note: Do not insert the ear bud in the ear.

7. Heat therapy

Heat therapy can help you remove water from your ear quickly. The Eustachian tube, which the water builds up in, will be opened by the help of the heat compress in order to let the water escape.

• Take a hot water bowl and dip a washcloth into it. After that, wring out the excess water
• Place the washcloth against the affected ear and wait for 30 seconds
• Repeat this again after waiting for 1 minute
• Lie down on your side so that the water will get out easily

Do this 4 or 5 times.

8. Valsalva Maneuver

This way can pop your ears in order to open the Eustachian tubes. As a result, you can push water out of your ears

• Pinch your nostrils closed with your fingers and close your mouth
• Take a deep breath
• Regulate the air pressure by blowing air out of your nose slowly
• You will hear a slight popping sound if you’ve done it correctly. That means the Eustachian tubes are open again

Note: Do not blow your nose too hard because your ear drum might be damaged.

9. Rubbing Alcohol and Vinegar

Rubbing alcohol and vinegar is an age-old but effective home tip to get the water out of your eat. The germs present in the ear will be killed because of the antibacterial properties of vinegar. In addition, rubbing alcohol will help you dry up your ear.

• Take rubbing alcohol and vinegar (1 teaspoon each) and mix them together
• Use a dropper to put this mixture into your ear (2 to 3 drops)
• Rub the opening of the ear canal in a gentle way
• Wait for 30 seconds
• Drain the water out by tilting your head

10. Steam

Another tip to get the water out of your ear is inhaling steam. Like Valsalva maneuver, steam can also open Eustachian tube to encourage the release of water trapped in the ear ^[7][8].

• Take a large bowl and pour hot steaming water into it
• Use a towel to cover your head
• Inhale the steam slowly (5 to 10 minutes)
• Tilt your head to one side so that the water can get out of your ear
• Another way to get the water out of the ear is taking a hot shower