Here is how to get water out of your ear: tilt your head so the wet ear faces down, gently pull your earlobe in different directions, and let gravity drain it. If water is still trapped, dry the outer ear with a towel and use a hair dryer on its lowest heat and fan setting, held several inches away. These are the steps the CDC lists for drying ears after swimming or showering. Never push anything into the ear canal, including a cotton swab.
Most trapped water drains on its own. The reason to bother is swimmer’s ear: water left in the ear canal can let bacteria grow and cause an outer ear infection. We went through the CDC’s guidance, the American Academy of Otolaryngology’s patient pages, Cleveland Clinic, the NHS and the FDA, and put the safe methods in order, from the gentlest to the ones you should check with a doctor first.
How to get water out of your ear: 6 safe steps
- Tilt and tug. The CDC says to “tilt head back and forth so that each ear faces down to allow water to drain out of the ear canal,” and to “pull earlobe in different directions when ear faces down to help water drain out.” Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Richard Freeman, a head and neck specialist, recommends pulling the ear up and back with your head tilted, which “usually allows the water to run out.”
- Towel the outer ear. The CDC says “use a towel to dry ears well.” Dry only the outside and the opening. Do not twist a corner of the towel into the canal.
- Use gravity for a few minutes. Lie on your side with the wet ear facing down on a towel. This is the same principle as tilting, with more time for the water to move.
- Try the hand-cup method or move your jaw. Cleveland Clinic suggests cupping your palm tightly over the ear, flattening and cupping it again to create gentle suction, then tilting your head to drain. Chewing gum or yawning can also help by moving the jaw.
- Use a hair dryer on the lowest setting. The CDC says: “If water remains, you can use a hair dryer on the lowest heat and speed/fan setting. Hold the hair dryer several inches from ear.” Keep it moving and stop if it feels hot.
- Ask about drying drops before you use them. The CDC says to “check with your healthcare provider about using ear-drying drops after swimming.” Cleveland Clinic gives the same advice for store-bought and homemade drops. See the next section for who must never use them.
Are ear drops safe for getting water out of your ear?
For many adults, yes, but not for everyone. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation says that if you have never had a perforated eardrum and do not have an ear tube, drops of rubbing alcohol, or half rubbing alcohol and half white vinegar, can be used to dry the ear. The alcohol helps the water evaporate.
The CDC is clear about who should not use drying drops: “Don’t use these drops if you have ear tubes (tympanostomy tubes), punctured ear drums, swimmer’s ear, or ear drainage.” If your ear already hurts or anything is coming out of it, skip the drops and see a doctor.
What should you never put in your ear?
- Cotton swabs and other objects. The CDC says “don’t put objects in ear canal,” and lists “cotton-tip swabs, pencils, paperclips, or keys.” The NHS says the same about fingers and cotton buds. Cleveland Clinic warns that digging in your ear can cause infections and a punctured eardrum.
- Tools to dig out earwax. The CDC says “don’t try to remove ear wax” because “ear wax helps protect the ear canal from infection.”
- Ear candles. The FDA warns consumers to stay away from ear candles. It has received reports of burns, punctured eardrums and ear canal blockages that needed outpatient surgery, and says children of any age are at increased risk.
How to get water out of your ear after swimming
The steps are the same, but swimming is when trapped water most often turns into swimmer’s ear. A CDC study found that acute otitis externa, the medical name for swimmer’s ear, led to an estimated 2.4 million U.S. health care visits in 2007, with direct costs of up to $0.5 billion a year. Visits peaked in summer, with 44% between June and August, and the highest rate was in children aged 5 to 9.
Prevention is mostly about keeping water out in the first place. The CDC recommends “a bathing cap, ear plugs, or custom-fitted swim molds when swimming,” then drying the ears thoroughly afterwards. Pool water quality matters too; our guide to why water smells like chlorine explains what chlorine is doing in treated water.
Can’t get water out of your ear? Signs it is turning into swimmer’s ear
Trapped water usually feels like fullness, muffled hearing or a sloshing sound. If those symptoms change, it may be an infection. The CDC lists these signs of swimmer’s ear:
- “Pain when the outer ear is tugged” or when you press the small flap in front of the ear canal
- “Itchiness inside the ear”
- “Drainage from the ear”
- “Redness and swelling in the ear”
The CDC says to “check with your healthcare provider if you have ear pain or drainage from the ear,” and that “swimmer’s ear can be treated with antibiotic ear drops.” Home methods will not clear an infection.
When should you see a doctor?
Do not wait if you notice any of these. Cleveland Clinic says to call a provider for a fever, difficulty hearing, drainage from the ear, or redness or swelling of the outer ear. The NHS says to see a GP if an earache “does not get better after 3 days,” and to get an urgent appointment if fluid is coming out of the ear or there is swelling around it.
Also see a doctor before trying drops if you have ear tubes, have ever had a perforated eardrum, or have diabetes or a weakened immune system. AAO-HNSF notes that those groups are at higher risk of complications from outer ear infections.
What about children?
The same gentle methods work: tilt, tug, towel. Do not use drops in a child’s ear without asking their doctor, especially if the child has ear tubes, and never use ear candles; the FDA says children are at increased risk of injury from them. Earplugs or a swim cap help children who get swimmer’s ear often.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get water out of your ear fast?
Tilt your head so the wet ear faces down and pull the earlobe up and back or in different directions. Cleveland Clinic says this usually lets the water run out. If not, towel the outer ear and use a hair dryer on the lowest heat and fan setting, several inches away.
Why can’t I get water out of my ear?
Earwax, a narrow ear canal or swelling can hold water in. Do not dig at it. If you have pain, itching, drainage or redness, it may be swimmer’s ear, which needs antibiotic drops from a provider.
Can water stuck in your ear go away on its own?
Usually, yes. Gravity, body heat and movement clear most trapped water. The risk is when it stays long enough for bacteria to grow, which can lead to swimmer’s ear.
Is it safe to use a cotton swab to get water out of your ear?
No. The CDC says not to put cotton-tip swabs or other objects in the ear canal, and Cleveland Clinic warns it can cause infections and a punctured eardrum.
Can I use alcohol and vinegar to get water out of my ear?
Only if you have no ear tubes, no history of a perforated eardrum and no ear pain or drainage. AAO-HNSF describes rubbing alcohol or a half-and-half alcohol and white vinegar mix for drying the ear. The CDC says to check with a provider first.
Do ear candles remove water or wax?
No. The FDA warns against ear candles and has received reports of burns, punctured eardrums and blocked ear canals that needed surgery.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have ear pain, drainage, fever or hearing loss, see a health care provider.
Sources
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preventing Swimmer’s Ear.
- CDC, Estimated Burden of Acute Otitis Externa, United States, 2003 to 2007, MMWR 2011.
- American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, Swimmer’s Ear (Otitis Externa).
- Cleveland Clinic, How to Get Water Out of Your Ear.
- NHS, Ear infections.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Don’t Get Burned: Stay Away From Ear Candles.
