Safe & Effective Ways to Remove Water from Your Ear

After a long day at the beach or pool, your ears may become clogged with water. It is important to remove this fluid from your ears because the moisture can cause bacteria growth. In turn, this bacteria may lead to an infection called swimmer's ear. To drain the water from your ear, you can use home treatments like rubbing alcohol. If you develop an ear infection, however, you will have to see your doctor for antibiotic treatment.

Things You'll Need

• Hair dryer
• Rubbing alcohol
• Medicine dropper
• Towel

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Instructions

• 1

  Clear out your ears after swimming. Once you get out of the water, tilt your head to one side and shake it gently. Tilt your head to the other side and shake it again. This should remove most of the water from your ears.

• 2

  Use a hair dryer. Set the dryer on the lowest setting and hold it at least 6 inches from your ear. Blow dry each ear for about 20 seconds.

• 3

  Place rubbing alcohol into your ears. If you still have water stuck in your ears, use rubbing alcohol to dry out the fluid. Tilt your head to one side with the affected ear facing upward. Then, use a medicine dropper to put 4 to 5 drops of rubbing alcohol into the ear.

• 4

  Allow the rubbing alcohol to travel down your ear canal. Pull on your ear lobe and yawn to let the rubbing alcohol spread throughout the canal. Keep your head tilted for at least 30 seconds.

• 5

  Drain your ear. Turn your head over so your affected ear now faces the ground. Use a towel to catch any rubbing alcohol that comes out.