Water in the Ears: 7 Easy Tips to Get It Out and What to Avoid

Article by Hearing Partners, contributed by Megat Ikmal, Clinical Audiologist at Hearing Partners

Water can get trapped in the ear canal during everyday activities like swimming or showering. When water remains in the ear, it creates a moist environment that encourages bacterial growth, which can lead to an outer ear infection commonly called swimmer’s ear or otitis externa. If left untreated, this condition may cause discomfort and even temporary hearing loss.

In this article, we’ll walk you through what happens when there’s water in the ears, what you should and shouldn’t do during this time, and answer some common questions about removing water from the ears.

• What Happens When There Is Water in the Ears?
• How to Get Water Out of the Ears
• What to Avoid When Getting Water Out of the Ears
• How to Prevent Water From Getting Into the Ears
• FAQs About Water in the Ears

What Happens When There Is Water in the Ears?

Water trapped in the ears is a normal and common occurrence, especially after swimming or bathing. Most of the time, the water drains out on its own without causing any issues. However, if water remains trapped, it can lead to an ear infection known as otitis externa, or “swimmer’s ear”.

Otitis externa (swimmer’s ear) is an infection or inflammation of the outer ear canal. Some common signs of this condition include:

• Itching in the ear canal
• Redness
• Ear pain
• Swelling of the ear canal or outer ear
• Drainage from the ear, which may be clear, yellow, or pus-like and sometimes foul-smelling
• Fullness in the ear or blocked ears
• Muffled hearing or temporary hearing loss
• Swollen lymph nodes around the ear or in the upper neck
• Fever (in severe cases)

Swimmer’s ear is usually mild at first, but can worsen if not treated promptly. If you experience persistent discomfort, severe pain, or discharge, it’s best to consult a doctor or ENT specialist to prevent complications.

How to Get Water Out of the Ears

In this section, we’ll explore various techniques to safely and efficiently get water out of your ears.

1. Tug on your earlobe

To help drain water from your ear, tilt your head toward your shoulder before gently tugging on your earlobe and shaking it. This movement can facilitate the flow of water out of your ear canal.

2. Lie on your side

Lay down on the side with the trapped water and remain in this position for a few minutes to allow gravity to drain the water from your ear.

3. Yawn or chew gum

Yawning or chewing gum can help to open the Eustachian tube, allowing water to drain away from your middle ear. This method works if water enters through your nose and is stuck in your Eustachian tube.

4. Create a suction to draw water out

Water can be drawn out from your ear by creating a suction with your hands. Tilt your head to the side of the affected ear and place your ear against your cupped palm to form a tight seal. Then, gently press and release your hand quickly to create a vacuum to draw the water out.

5. Use a hairdryer

Set your hairdryer to the lowest setting to avoid burns and hold it about 30cm away from your ear. Move the dryer back and forth while gently pulling on your earlobe. This technique aids the evaporation of water in your ear canal.

6. Use over-the-counter eardrops (only if you do not have a perforated eardrum or ear infection)

You can use two types of over-the-counter eardrops to address water trapped in your ears: alcohol-based eardrops or hydrogen peroxide eardrops. 

Alcohol-based eardrops help evaporate water from your ear canal and inhibit bacterial growth, reducing the risk of infections. On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide eardrops can help dissolve earwax, which may be the source of trapped water in your ears. 

When it comes to using eardrops, always follow the instructions on the packaging for best results. However, avoid using them if you have an ear infection, ear tubes, or a perforated eardrum, as this could lead to further complications.

7. Use warm olive oil (only if you do not have a perforated eardrum or ear infection)

Apart from preventing ear infections, warm olive oil can help remove water from your ear. You can purchase over-the-counter olive oil ear drops and dip the entire bottle in a bowl of warm water to warm the oil.

Alternatively, if you have olive oil in a large bottle, warm a small amount in a bowl and check that it isn’t too hot by placing a few drops on your inner wrist. 

Using a sterile dropper (or the dropper that comes with the ear drops), drip three or four drops of warm olive oil into your affected ear. Then, lie on your side with the affected ear facing upwards for approximately 10 minutes. Once the time is up, sit up. Tilt your affected ear downward, and let the oil and water drain out.

What to Avoid When Getting Water Out of the Ears

Avoid using Q-tips, cotton swabs, fingers, or other objects to dig your ears. This practice can introduce bacteria into your ear canal. It can also drive earwax deeper, leading to impaction, or push water further into your middle ear. There is also a risk of leaving foreign objects in the ear, such as small amounts of cotton wool.

Moreover, inserting objects into your ears can accidentally puncture your eardrum, which can cause pain, hearing loss, and other complications. You could also scratch the protective layer of your eardrum, which can increase the risk of infections.

How to Prevent Water From Getting Into the Ears

To prevent water from entering your ears while swimming or participating in water activities, wear earplugs or cover your ears with a swimming cap. We recommend using custom swim plugs over over-the-counter earplugs as they’re tailored specifically to fit the unique shape of your ear canal, effectively preventing water from becoming trapped in your ear.

After your water activities, remember to dry the outer ear canal gently with a towel.

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FAQs About Water in the Ears