How to Get Water Out of Your Ear: Safe Methods That Actually Work

You tilt your head after a dip in the pool, give it a few shakes, and assume the water will drain on its own. Most of the time it does. But when water gets trapped deep in the ear canal, that muffled, sloshing feeling can stick around for hours or even days.

If water in your ear won’t come out, you are not imagining things. The ear canal has a slight curve and a narrow diameter, and water can settle into pockets along the canal wall or get held in place by earwax. Edmonton swimmers deal with this all summer long, from laps at Kinsmen Sports Centre to afternoons at Mill Creek Pool to weekends at the lake.

The good news is that most trapped water clears up with simple, safe techniques you can do at home. The important part is knowing which methods work and which ones make things worse.

Safe ways to remove water from your ear

Tilt and gravity

Start with the simplest approach. Tilt your head so the affected ear faces the ground. Gently pull your earlobe down and back to straighten the ear canal and let gravity do the work. Hold this position for 30 seconds to a minute. You can also try lying on your side with a towel under the affected ear and letting the water drain out naturally.

Sometimes a gentle hop on one foot while tilting your head is enough to shake the water loose. It looks ridiculous. It also works surprisingly often.

Create a vacuum with your palm

Cup the palm of your hand flat against your ear and tilt your head to the affected side. Press your palm firmly against your ear to create a seal, then quickly pull it away. This creates a brief suction that can draw the water outward. Repeat a few times if needed.

The key is pressing and releasing, not pushing inward. You want to pull water toward you, not push it deeper.

Use a blow dryer on low heat

Set a hair dryer to its lowest heat setting and weakest airflow. Hold it at arm’s length, roughly a foot from your ear, and aim the warm air toward the ear canal. The gentle heat helps evaporate trapped water without burning the sensitive skin inside your ear.

Move the dryer back and forth rather than holding it in one spot. Two to three minutes is usually enough. If you feel any discomfort from the heat, move the dryer further away.

Rubbing alcohol and vinegar drops

A 50/50 mix of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar is a well known home remedy for trapped ear water. The alcohol helps the water evaporate faster, and the vinegar creates a mildly acidic environment that discourages bacterial growth.

Tilt your head with the affected ear facing up. Use a clean dropper to place three or four drops of the mixture into the ear canal. Wait 30 seconds, then tilt your head the other way to let everything drain out.

Do not use this method if you have a perforated eardrum, ear tubes, or any open wound in your ear. If you are unsure about the condition of your eardrum, skip this one and try the other methods first.

Over the counter drying drops

Pharmacies in Edmonton carry ear drying drops specifically designed for water removal. Most contain isopropyl alcohol as the active ingredient and work the same way as the home mixture above, just in a more convenient package with a built in applicator.

These drops are affordable, easy to use, and a good option to keep in your swim bag for the season.

Chewing, yawning, and jaw movement

Your eustachian tubes connect your middle ear to the back of your throat. Chewing gum, yawning, or moving your jaw in exaggerated chewing motions can help open these tubes and equalize pressure, which sometimes releases water that feels stuck deeper in the ear.

This method works best when combined with tilting your head to the affected side. The jaw movement shifts the shape of the ear canal slightly, which may be enough to free the water from whatever pocket it settled into.

What not to do

Some of the most common reactions to water in the ear are also the most damaging.

Do not use cotton swabs. A cotton swab pushes water and wax deeper into the canal instead of pulling it out. It can also scratch the delicate canal lining, creating tiny wounds that are perfect entry points for bacteria. If you have water trapped in your ear, a cotton swab will make the situation worse, not better. For more on why cotton swabs cause problems, see our guide on ear cleaning in Edmonton.

Do not insert your finger or any sharp object. Tweezers, bobby pins, pen caps, and keys have all been found in emergency rooms after ear canal injuries. The canal is short and the eardrum is fragile. Nothing rigid should go inside your ear.

Do not use ear candles. Ear candling has no scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness. It does not create enough suction to pull water or wax from the ear, and it introduces the risk of burns, dripping hot wax, and canal obstruction.

When trapped water leads to swimmer’s ear

Water that stays in the ear canal for too long creates a warm, moist environment where bacteria thrive. The result is otitis externa, commonly called swimmer’s ear. This is an infection of the outer ear canal, and it is one of the most frequent summer complaints at walk-in clinics across Edmonton.

Signs that trapped water has turned into swimmer’s ear include:

• Increasing pain in the ear, especially when you pull on the earlobe or press on the small flap in front of the ear canal
• Itching inside the ear that gets worse over time
• Redness or swelling of the ear canal
• Clear fluid or pus draining from the ear
• Muffled hearing on the affected side
• A feeling of fullness or blockage that does not improve with the methods above

Swimmer’s ear needs medical treatment. Left untreated, the infection can spread deeper and cause more serious complications. If you want to understand how ear infections affect your hearing long term, our post on ear infections and hearing loss covers that in detail.

When to see a hearing professional

Most trapped water clears up within a day using the techniques above. But some situations call for professional help.

See a hearing specialist if:

• Water has been stuck in your ear for more than two days
• You are experiencing pain, swelling, or discharge
• You notice a significant drop in hearing on the affected side
• You have a history of ear surgery, ear tubes, or perforated eardrums
• Home methods are not working and the sensation is getting worse

At Medicine Place Hearing Care, we can examine your ear canal with a video otoscope to see exactly what is going on. If wax buildup is trapping the water, we can remove it safely using microsuction or irrigation. If an infection is developing, we can identify it early and refer you for treatment before it gets worse.

Prevention: stop the water before it gets in

The best way to deal with water in your ears is to keep it from getting trapped in the first place.

Custom swim earplugs are the most effective prevention tool for anyone who swims regularly. Unlike generic silicone or foam plugs, custom swim plugs are molded to the exact shape of your ear canal. They seal completely, stay in place during laps and dives, and are made from soft waterproof silicone that floats if it comes loose. They last for years with basic care.

Custom swim plugs are especially important for children with ear tubes, anyone with a history of chronic ear infections, and regular swimmers who deal with trapped water after every session. Learn more about the types and process in our custom earplugs guide.

Dry your ears after every swim. Tilt each ear toward the ground, gently pull the earlobe, and let the water drain. A quick pass with a towel over the outer ear helps too.

Avoid swimming in untreated water when possible. Lakes and rivers carry more bacteria than chlorinated pools, which increases the risk of infection when water gets trapped. Edmonton’s outdoor pool season is short, but the lakes around the city see heavy use from June through September.

Keep your ears healthy this summer

A little water in your ear after a swim is usually nothing to worry about. The simple techniques above will clear it out in most cases. The key is acting early, using safe methods, and knowing when home remedies are not enough.

If you are tired of dealing with trapped water every time you swim, or if you think you might be developing swimmer’s ear, come see us. Medicine Place Hearing Care offers professional ear cleaning, custom swim earplugs, and full hearing assessments at our Edmonton locations.

Book an appointment or call us to get your ears checked before your next swim.