For many people, swimming maybe their favorite sport in summer. However, sometimes, after you swim or take a shower, you may feel that there is still water in your ears. If not treated in time, the water left in the external auditory canal can breed bacteria, causing otitis externa or swimmer’s ears. In some serious cases, it may also reduce your hearing. So how to get water out of your ears fast?
First, you can wear earplugs when swimming or bathing to prevent water from entering your ears. If water has entered the ear, you can take the following steps to remove it safely.
12 Easy Ways to Get Water Out of Ear Fast
Rely on Gravity
This is the simplest way to remove water from the ears. Learn parallel to the floor, leaving your ear on the side. Shake your head to the side. Be careful not to shake your head toward the opposite ear, as you could push the water even further into your ear canal. Repeat several times until you no longer feel the water inside. Use a cotton swab to remove the remaining water.
If you want it to be faster, you can cup your palm over your ear to create a temporary vacuum that can help remove the water from the ear. Quickly remove your hand and feel the fluid go outside your ear.
White Vinegar and alcohol
One common reason why the water does not want to go out is that the ear wax inside the ear has struck it. White vinegar has acid that can help break down the ear wax that is causing the fluid inside the ear to get stuck. This trick can also help prevent the risk of infections.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of alcohol with 1 vinegar (10 ml) and collect between 3 and 4 drops of the mixture.
- Place it in a dropper.
- Slowly drop the drops into your ear canal.
- Wait 30 seconds while gently rubbing the inside.
- Carefully drain it out by tilting your heads towards the ground until such time when you will begin to feel the fluid start to remove.
- Tilt your ear so that the liquid can come out.
Valsalva Maneuver
Created by the Italian doctor Antonio Maria Valsalva, this technique is recognized as one of the best ways to get water out of your ears.
This type of procedure helps open your Eustachian tubes and eventually pushes the fluid to come out of your ears.
- Close your mouth and pinch your ears.
- Start to exhale through your nose but keeping your nose and mouth shut.
- This will allow the air to come out of your ears, open your Eustachian tubes, and release the water.
- You will hear a popping sound if you can do this correctly.
Blow Dryer
Some people are scared to try this out mainly because they are not sure how this can help. But many say it is a very effective way to remove water from the ear. This will help the liquid dry and evaporate. You’ll only need a hairdryer to complete your task! Set the device to the lowest intensity and heat. Place it at least 30 cm from your ear. This will help prevent burning yourself.
- Hold a dryer about 1 foot away from your affected ear.
- Ensure that you will set the blow dryer to blow warm air to let the air penetrate the ear faster.
- Hold the dryer in place while it blows warm air for about half a minute.
- You should quickly feel the water begin to come out of your ear.
- Check to see if the water has disappeared from your ear; if not, you may have to try again.
Heat Therapy
You have to remember that it is in the Eustachian tubes where the fluid usually gets stuck. This process will allow the Eustachian tubes to open up and release the fluid that might be causing the discomfort that you are feeling in your ear.
- Make sure that you will heat water. If you have a heater, you can use the warm water from the faucet.
- Dip a clean cloth on the warm water and remove the excess water.
- Place the cloth over the ear area for about half a minute.
- You can do this several times until the fluid becomes dislodged from the ear.
Chewing Gum
When you start gnawing on something, your jawbones will move around, and this can, of course, affect the ears.
- You can chew with your head tilted towards the side of the ear that has water in it.
- You may want to do this until such time when you begin to feel that you do not have fluid stuck inside your ear anymore.
Steam
Do you know that steam can be very effective in getting rid of the buildup of fluids inside your ear? You have to remember that steam will help the Eustachian tube become open, and this will eventually get rid of the fluids inside the ear.
- Place hot water in a bowl.
- Ensure that you will cover your head with a towel to allow the steam not to escape.
- Inhale the steam slowly.
- Do this for about 5 – 10 minutes.
- Tilt your head to the side that is affected and feel the fluids start to come out.
Salt
Salt is known for its moisture absorption capacity and can be safely used to eliminate water from the ears. The heat will also help eliminate the discomfort you may feel because of the stuck fluid.
- Heat 1 tablespoon (10 g) of salt in the microwave.
- Place the salt inside a clean cloth and tie it up.
- Place the cloth with salt near the ear’s opening and leave it there for at least 5 minutes.
- Repeat, if necessary.
Yawn
Yawning can remove the pressure inside your ear because of the fluid that has gotten stuck in it. When you release the tension, this might start to remove the water inside your ear already.
- If you feel the need to yawn, you will do proper yawning not to hurt your jaw.
- You can then begin to feel the Eustachian tubes open especially when you hear a popping sound.
- This will help remove the fluid that might have gotten stuck inside the ear.
Olive Oil
If you want to get rid of the fluid inside your ear, this will help remove the fluid effectively. At the same time, olive oil has antiseptic properties that can help reduce inflammation inside the ears.
- Make sure to warm olive oil a bit.
- When it is warm enough, use a dropper to place a few drops of olive oil inside the ear.
- Wait 10 minutes for the olive oil to settle down.
- Turn your head sideways and wait for the olive oil with water to be removed.
- You may use a cotton bud to remove the excess ones.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide has effervescent properties, which can eliminate the water inside the ears very easily. It is also effective for removing earwax and any other residue that may be inside the ear canal.
- Using a sterilized dropper, insert 4 to 5 drops of hydrogen peroxide into the ear.
- Wait at least two minutes.
- Then tilt the ear to allow the liquid to come out.
Garlic
Garlic can help effectively remove water from the ear canal. It also has antibacterial properties that can help prevent possible ear infections. In addition, you will be able to reduce the pain significantly.
- Choose a clove of clean and healthy garlic to extract the juice.
- Insert 3 to 4 drops of the juice into your ear.
- Please wait at least a minute for the garlic to perform its function.
- Let the ear dry naturally.
- Repeat after 2 hours if necessary.
How to avoid ear damage when taking water out of the ear
- Try not to use cotton swabs, which will destroy the natural bacteria in the ear canal and bring earwax into your ear canal. In addition, cotton swabs may damage the ear canal or eardrum.
- If you have a wound on your ear tube or eardrum, do not use hydrogen peroxide or dry drops, as this can cause wound infection.
- If you have had ear surgery recently, do not put any drops on your ears.
When to see your doctor
If you have any of the following symptoms, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
- Redness, swelling, and pain of the skin of the ear canal
- High fever and severe pain inside the ear
- Temporary or persistent hearing loss
- Yellow, green, white, or foul-smelling excrement appears inside the ear
It is important to get the water out of your ear as quickly as possible; otherwise, it could cause an infection. If the above symptoms occur, it is important to visit a doctor as soon as possible.
