When water gets inside your ears it causes a lot of discomfort. It may not sound like a serious issue but it may lead to some bigger problems if left untreated. People who spend a lot of time in the bathtub or swimming pools are generally more prone to this issue. It is not a problem for which you have to go to a specialist. You can take care of the issue by yourself and at home. There are some useful Home Remedies to get water out of ears which you can follow in order to take care of the swimmer’s ear issue.
Have a look at some of the causes of water in your ear:
- Prolonged exposure to water
- Swimming in pools
- Spending time in the tub
Now, let’s take a look at some of the symptoms that indicate that you have water in your ears:
- Loss of hearing
- Vertigo
- Fever
- Pain in head, face or neck
- Fullness in ears
- Drainage
Having discussed about the causes and the symptoms, let’s take a look at some of the best Home Remedies to get water out of ears.
Home Remedies for Swimmer’s Ear
1. Heat Therapy
It is one of the quickest ways of getting rid of the excess water inside your ear. With this method the Eustachian tube will be opened which in turn will let the fluid escape fast. Get a bowl full of hot water and have wash cloth dipped in it. Make sure you wring out all the excess water out of the cloth. Now, place the cloth on your ears and keep it for about thirty seconds. Repeat the process for about five times and then lie down on the side of the affected ear so that the fluid can drain out.
2. The Use of Vacuum
Your hands are enough in order to carry out this method. Put the affected ear facing down on your palm and with your palm, push and push out so that the water begins to come out. This will create the suction, just as a vacuum that will draw all the water out of the ear towards the palm. However, it would not be wise to go with this method if the ear is facing upwards. In that case, the water might just be pushed back into the canal.
3. The Use of Blow-Dryer
Although a little debatable, the technique can work for you if you do it the right way. However, it would be very important for you to make sure that the hair dryer is run on a lowest possible heat. Also, you must make sure that you are holding the dryer at least one foot away from the ear. The dry and warm air of the equipment will make the water become steam and eventually have it pulled out of the ear. You have to very careful not to get your ear burnt. It is recommended that you stop immediately if you feel any sort of pain.
4. Gravity Helps
This is probably the easiest of the methods in the list. You would have to stand on a foot and have your head tilted on one side. Make sure the ear that is affected faces the ground. In this position, you would need to hop on your foot so that the water can come out. You can also tug the lobe so that the ear canal opens and helps the water to come out. Another technique is to lie down on a side with the affected ear facing down and lay that for some time to get the water out.
5. Vinegar and Alcohol
Mixing vinegar along with rubbing alcohol can prove to be one of the most helpful home remedies to get water out of ears. All you have to do is apply two drops of this mixture into the area that is affected. If you have an ear infection due to accumulation of water inside your ear, this mixture will be a very helpful remedy. It will make sure that no breeding ground for fungus or bacteria is created inside the affected area. Salt water is also a very good idea to get rid of water that is trapped inside your ears.
6. Yawning or Chewing
It may sound funny or absurd but yawning and chewing actually does help when you are trying to get the fluid out. The water remains stuck in the Eustachian tube which forms a part of the inner ear. When you chew a gum, it helps in freeing up of this tube. Yawning is also helpful when it comes to popping the water bubbles inside the ear. If you can feel the water shifting inside your ear or can feel a “pop”, you should know that your yawning has had a good effect.
7. Shake that Head
Not only does it help you get rid of the excess water but it is also one of the best preventive measures as far as Swimmer’s Ear is concerned. All swimmers are advised to practice shaking their once they come out of the water as it helps in popping of the water bubble. Be gentle while you shake your head or you might feel dizzy and land up in bigger problems. However, if that does not help, you can also try pinching your nose shut with your lips tightly closed and gently blowing up. This also helps in pushing the water away from the ear canal and to get rid of water in ear after swimming or bath.
8. The Humidifier
If the skin inside the ear is infected you can prevent it from being dried up and peeling off by using a humidifier. You can place the humidifier close to your ear. The same affect can be found by taking saunas session or simply a hot shower.
9. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide will not only get the water out of your ear, but will also work as a preventive measure. It is one of the best solutions to get rid of the ear wax which traps water inside your ear.
10. Olive oil With Garlic
Olive oil and garlic are easily available in your kitchen. They are among the best ingredients that you can use to get rid of the water from your ear. Get the garlic crushed and add drop or two of olive oil to it. Heat the mixture in low fire and apply the material to the affected area. Not only will it help you get rid of the moisture but it will also kill any bacteria or fungus that may have formed because of the moisture. It is one of the most effective and easiest home remedies to get water out of ears.
11. Coconut Oil
Warm coconut oil is one of the finest remedies that you can think of in this regard. It helps you drain the excess water out of ears and at the same time, it also helps you prevent any sort of infections inside the ear. It also helps you get relief from the pain that occurs from the accumulation of water. You warm up about twenty milliliters of coconut oil and pour it in the ear drop by drop. As you tilt your head to the side of the affected ear, the water will drain out without delay. However, it is to be noted that coconut oil should be avoided by those who live in colder regions. If you live in a cold environment, mustard oil would be the best options as you try to figure out how to remove water from ears.
12. The Neti Pot
It is a simple tool for curing nasal irritation but can work wonders when it comes to getting the fluid out of the ear. You can make the saline solution with a little bit of salt and some lukewarm water. Have your head tilted to a side and inhale the neti pot so that saline steam can flow through the nostrils to your ear canal. You can blow out or split the excess liquid and find relief instantly.
13. Baby Oil or Glycerin
Get the wax softened by applying a drop or two of the baby oil. You can place a small ball of cotton at the opening of the ear to get the oil settled in. Remove the cotton after some time and the wax will be softened which will in turn make it seamier to get it removed entirely.
14. Warm Water
In this case, water can be the best medicine to get water out. All you need is a little warm water applied to the affected area. Leave it for only a few seconds before you drain it out along with the fluid that has already been there.
These are some of the easiest and very effective home remedies to get water out of ears. These techniques are inexpensive and the ingredients that you need are easily available at home. Most of them are safe and provide instant relief from the issue.
