How to Get Water Out of Your Ears

Written by Beth Axtell

Medically Reviewed by Zilpah Sheikh, MD on July 27, 2026

Just finished a swim or shower? Do your ears feel clogged or do sounds seem muffled? You may have water trapped in your ears.

You can even get sweat trapped in your ears from wearing earbuds. If you don’t take care of it soon, you can end up with an infection known as otitis externa, or swimmer’s ear. When water sits in your ear canal, bacteria that live there all the time can multiply and cause an infection.

But you have to get the water out safely. Do it wrong, and you might boost your odds of swimmer’s ear. If you have a ruptured eardrum or tubes in your ears, you have to be extra careful about how you dry your ears.

Dos for Getting Water Out of Your Ears

If you have water in your ears, take these steps to get it out safely.

Dry your outer ear with a soft towel or cloth. Don’t stick the cloth into the canal.
Tilt your head to one side and gently pull on your earlobe. This will straighten your ear canal and help the water flow.
Turn your blow dryer on the lowest setting and blow it toward your ear. Hold it at least a foot away.
Try over-the-counter drying drops.
To make drying drops at home, mix one part white vinegar and one part rubbing alcohol. Pour one teaspoon of the solution into each ear; tilt your head and let it drain out.

Don’ts for Getting Water Out of Your Ears

Don’t use wrong methods to get water out of your ears. They can damage your ear canal or push earwax deeper, making you more likely to get an infection.

Avoid cotton swabs. They can pack earwax and dirt down in your ear canal, remove the wax that protects your ear, disrupt the natural bacteria in the ear canal, or irritate the thin skin of the ear canal.

Don’t stick your finger or fingernails in your ears. You can scratch the delicate skin of the ear canal.

Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or drying drops if you have ear tubes or a ruptured eardrum. These products can enter the middle ear and cause problems.

How to Spot an Infection

Look out for these symptoms of swimmer’s ear — just in case the drying tips didn’t work:

Itching in your ear canal
Redness inside your ear
Discomfort or pain that gets worse when you pull on your outer ear or push on the little bump in front of your ear
Clear, odorless fluid that drains from your ear canal

If you do have these symptoms, your doctor may prescribe eardrops. The drops will kill the bacteria or fungus causing the infection and will ease your pain, swelling, and inflammation.

How to Keep Water Out

Sometimes the best offense is a good defense. To stop moisture from building up in your ears, try these tips.

Remove earbuds if you’re sweaty.
Coat a cotton ball with petroleum jelly and slip it into your outer ears during a bath.
Block your ears with cotton balls when you use hair spray or hair dye.
Use earplugs and a swim cap when you go into the water.
Have your doctor remove earwax if you think you have a problem with wax buildup. Earwax protects your ears, but too much can trap water in the canal. Always check with your doctor. Never try to get it out yourself.
Use hydrogen peroxide with your doctor’s approval (unless you have tubes in your ears). If you have wax buildup, they may suggest you clean your ears with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with one part water, and put about half of an ear dropper full in your ear. Let it bubble up. Then turn your head to the side, gently pull on the top of your ear, and let it drain.

Takeaways

If you get water or sweat in your ears, you can get an infection known as swimmer’s ear or otitis externa. Bacteria in your ear can multiply and cause an infection when water is sitting in your ear canal. If that happens, you may feel itching, discomfort, or pain.

To treat swimmer’s ear, your doctor may prescribe eardrops.

FAQs About How to Get Water Out of Your Ears

Here are some commonly asked questions about how to get water out of your ears.

Can I use ear drops if I have a perforated eardrum?

No. You should never use ear drops if you have a perforated or ruptured eardrum.

Can shaking or jumping help get water out of the ear?

A better way of getting water out of your ear is to tilt your head to one side and gently pull on your earlobe. This straightens your ear canal and helps water drain out.