What to Do If You Have Water in Your Ear

Sometimes, while swimming, water can get into the ears and stay there. It can cause anxiety and may make you worried, so you need to know how to solve the problem.

5-Minute Crafts is going to tell you what to do if you feel like there’s water in your ears.

❗ This article is for informative purposes only and can’t replace the recommendations of an expert.

What you can do to remove the water from your ears

If you were swimming or taking a bath and water got into your ear, try doing one of these things:

• Dry your outer ear with a towel or a cloth but don’t stick the fabric into the hearing canal. Tilt your head down or lie on the ear the water is in. Pull the earlobe to straighten the ear canal and let the water get out. If you are doing this standing, you can shake your head a little.
• Turn your blow dryer on the lowest setting and blow it toward your ear. Hold it at least a foot away. Use cold air only. Again, pull the earlobe down just a bit and dry the ear for several minutes until you feel the water evaporating.
• Tilt your head to the side and push the ear to the palm. Push the palm even harder, creating a vacuum inside the ear. If you do it right, the water will come out in several seconds.
• Perform the Valsalva maneuver. Close the mouth and pinch your nostrils with your fingers. Breathe in and then slowly breathe out through the nose. You should hear a slight popping sound, which means the Eustachian tubes have opened. Tilt your head to allow the water to drain from your ear.
  ❗ Note that you shouldn’t blow your nose too hard, as it can damage your eardrum.

What you shouldn’t do

• Don’t try to use foreign objects to remove the water from the ear. Don’t use cotton swabs. This way, you can accidentally push the water further into the ear, get an infection, or damage the ear canal or eardrum.
• Don’t stick fingers into the ear in order not to scratch the ear canal skin.
• Don’t use ear drops if you’ve had ear surgery or could have a ruptured eardrum.

When it’s time to see a doctor

If you can’t get rid of the water in your ears, experts recommend staying calm. In most cases, the liquid will get out itself within 1-2 days.

But if you start noticing hearing problems, pain, drainage from the ear, redness, or itching, see a doctor.