Best Ways to Get Water Out of Ears: Learn How to Unclog Your Ears

Water in ear may only seem like a slight annoyance, but leaving it untreated can cause serious damage and it can also impact your hearing as well. Usually, water can get into your ear while swimming or bathing. Wax located in the ear canal typically prevents water from entering too deeply into the ear canal but sometimes the fluid can get trapped inside. It is not difficult to get water out of ears and in this article I’ll look at the best natural ways for doing it.

You need to know that water in the ear can result in pain or reduced hearing. If left untreated, it can cause inflammation, sharp ear pain, hearing loss, crackling or popping sounds, and cyst formation. Fluid that is trapped in the outer ear can be treated without involving a doctor.

However, water that is trapped in the middle ear must be treated by a doctor in order to prevent further damage or infection.

Let’s have a look at some easy and effective ways to remove water from the ear.

How to Get Water Out of Ears

1. Create a Pressure Change

Before putting anything in your ear, try to get the water out of your ears by manually forcing the water out with pressure change.

You may be able to remove the water out of your ear canal by simply chewing gum. Another approach is to cup your hand over your ear and pump inward while tilting the ear toward the ground – this can help you drain the water out of your ear canal.

The change in pressure may release the water naturally. Or you may get lucky and find the perfect angle to let the water escape.

You can also create a pressure change by using the Valsalva maneuver and opening up the Eustachian tubes which can help you to push water out of your ears.

Here’s how to do the Valsalva maneuver:

• Close your mouth and pinch your nose with your fingers like you were trying to hold your breath while going under water.
• Gently blow into your nose while keeping your fingers pinched on your nose.

You should hear a slight popping sound, which means your tubes are open again.

Valsalva maneuver is also one of the ways to naturally get rid of clogged ears.

2. Change the Temperature of the Water

Warm water may be easier to get out than room (or ear) temperature water.

Try loosening up the ear wax in attempt to clear a path for the water by holding a washcloth with warm water to the ear (be careful not to burn your ear – use only warm water). Be sure to repeat this action several times while keeping the washcloth warm. After several attempts, try tilting your head or lying down to see if the water runs out of your ear.

You can also try various steaming methods to heat the liquid in your ear – this can help it dissipate out of the ear.

• Sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running may loosen up the ear wax and allow the water to run out of your ear.
• Another technique is to pour hot water into a bowl, place a towel over your head, lean over the bowl and inhale the steam. After 5 to 10 minutes, tilt your head to see if the fluid comes out the ear.

Steam inhalation (combined with essential oils) is also one of the natural ways to treat ear infection.

3. Use Rubbing Alcohol and Vinegar

Vinegar has a lot of surprising household uses but did you that vinegar can also help you get water out of ears?

The mixture of the alcohol and vinegar can remove ear wax blockage which can trap the fluid inside your ear.

In a bowl, mix together one teaspoon each of rubbing alcohol and vinegar. Then, using an eye dropper, place 2-3 drops of the mixture into your blocked ear. Rub your ear gently with a warm washcloth to incorporate the mixture.

Tilt your head to the side or lay down on your bed with the blocked ear facing down to help the water run out.

Dr. Robert Wilson, ENT, suggests that flushing the ear canal every few weeks with this mixture will often clean the ear and prevent wax impaction. This can potentially help prevent water from getting trapped in the ears.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide for Blocked Ear

I have already mentioned the large number of uses of hydrogen peroxide and one of them is clearing wax and fluid out of the ear.

In a bowl mix together one teaspoon each of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water. Using a dropper, place two to three drops of the mixture in your plugged ear. This can help flushing wax buildup which traps the water in ear. Wait a few minutes for the liquid to settle before trying to run the water out of the affected ear.

5.  Salt can Absorb the Water from your Ear

I’ve already mentioned that salt can help you get gorgeous skin and it can also help you to get rid of water trapped in ear.

To use this method, heat a small amount of salt in the microwave and place it on a cotton ball. Tie the cotton ball tightly so that no salt comes off. Then place the cotton ball near the opening of your blocked ear for several minutes. As salt absorbs water, this method should be able to draw the water out of your ear.

Be very careful not to put any salt directly in your ear.

6. Olive Oil and Garlic

Olive oil has a large number of health benefits and it may even reduce the risk of developing cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and hypertension.

According to an article published in Health Technol Assess, olive oil can be used to remove ear wax buildup which can help you to drain the water out of your clogged ear.

To use olive oil to drain the fluid out of your ear, heat some olive oil in a small bowl over the stove. When it’s slightly warm (be careful as oil becomes hot quickly), place a few drops of olive oil into the blocked ear, using a dropper. Wait a few minutes before attempting to drain the water that is trapped inside the ear.

Or you can add garlic to the olive. Garlic contain antiseptic properties that may help prevent an ear infection if water is trapped inside.

Here’s how to make your own garlic oil which you can use to pour a few drops into the clogged ear.
– Mash two cloves of garlic.
– Add two tablespoons of olive oil.
– Heat it together in a saucepan for a few seconds.
– Let it cool down a bit.
– Using a dropper, place 2 to 3 drops of garlic oil into the affected ear and wait several minutes.
– Then tilt your head to the side or lie down and see if the fluid runs out.

Getting Water Out of Ears – A few Precautions

It is worthwhile to note that these ear cleaning procedures are not recommended if you suffer from an ear infection or ear pain.

Keep in mind that the inner parts of the ear are delicate and you should be careful not to poke the inner ear with the dropper, cotton swab or other objects. This is one of the reasons you should never ever clean inside your ear.

Finally, if these procedures do not help you to get the water out of your ear, seek professional help from an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor.

The Most Effective Ways to Naturally Get Rid of Clogged Ears

Having clogged ears is an annoying condition that can cause discomfort and pain and even affect your hearing. Usually, your ears feel clogged when the ear canal gets blocked or there is an imbalance of pressure in the Eustachian tubes. Thankfully, there are effective home remedies for getting rid of clogged ears.

Clogged Ears – Overview

There are many reasons why your ears can feel plugged. For example, ear congestion can be due to a wax buildup in the ear canal, an infection in your ear, an accumulation of water, or congested sinuses. The feeling of a blockage in the ear canal could also be due to changes in air pressure, like when landing or taking off in an airplane.

This ear blockage can make your ears feel full, cause sounds to be muffled, interfere with your hearing, and even make you dizzy. Some people also have a sensation that there is water in their ear. When your ears are blocked you may also notice popping, clicking, or crackling sound in your ear.

Some of the best home remedies for clogged ears involve softening the ear wax with olive oil, using a warm compress, or applying some hydrogen peroxide. You can also relieve the feeling of a plugged ear by yawning, chewing gum, or using the Valsalva maneuver method.

Before looking at some natural ways to unclog your ears, it’s important to understand the connection between your ears and your sinuses.

Clogged Ears – The Sinus-Ear Connection

One of the most common causes of clogged ears are colds and allergies which affect your respiratory system. Your nose and ears are connected via the Eustachian tubes and infections in your nose and throat can affect your ears and cause ear and neck pain.

The Eustachian tubes keep air pressure in your ears at the right level and are usually closed but they open when we swallow, yawn or chew. These tubes help fluid to drain from the ear and help to prevent the ears from becoming infected. When you swallow, yawn or chew you can sometimes hear your ears popping as the tubes open to let air in and keep the pressure in your ears at an equal balance.

When you get a stuffy nose and congested sinuses, this also disturbs your ears and makes you less able to equalize air pressure. The result is a feeling of one or both ears being congested. The most common culprits behind plugged ears are viral infections, bacterial infections, and allergies. However, people with Eustachian tubes that are too narrow can also feel that their ears are constantly full.

Natural Ways for Getting Rid of Clogged Ears

How to prevent clogged ears due to sudden pressure changes

The best way to prevent the feeling that your ears are plugged due to sudden pressure changes is to keep the pressure in your ears equal. So, if you are planning to fly or drive up and down mountains, here are some tips to equalize the pressure in your ears:

• Chew gum
• Swallow
• Yawn

This will open up your Eustachian tubes and relieve stuffiness and pain in the ear by normalizing the pressure in your ears.

There are other natural ways to deal with any sudden change in pressure around the eardrum – read about them in my article about the best natural ways to unpop your ears.

Valsalva maneuver

A great way to get rid of the feeling of a clogged ear and to relieve pressure is to use the Valsalva maneuver. You can do this anytime and anywhere and it is effective in equalizing the pressure in your middle ear. The Valsalva maneuver involves gently breathing out while your nose and mouth are closed to relieve the sensation of fullness in the ears. To unclog your ear using the Valsalva maneuver, do the following:

• Pinch your nose tight to close the nostrils and keep your mouth closed.
• Breathe out as if trying to exhale through a closed nose. Don’t do this too forcefully as you might hurt your eardrum. There should be no pain involved.
• You might hear a popping sound, which means the pressure has been relieved.

The Valsalva maneuver method is also one of the best ways of relieving pressure from your ear caused by water in the ear.

Adopt a good sleeping position

Adopting a good sleeping position can also help ease ear congestion by allowing fluid to drain easier from the ears. Many health conditions deteriorate overnight and we wake up feeling groggy and run down. To help prevent your ears becoming congested while you are sleeping, you can do the following:

• If you sleep on your back, use a few pillows to prop your head up and sleep in a semi-upright position. This will help the ear canals to drain properly to prevent clogged ears.
• Some people find relief from blocked up ears by lying on their side. Lay down for about an hour with the congested ear facing down. This can help to reduce pressure and enable your ears to unclog easier.

If you have trouble falling asleep, use this special technique to fall asleep in less than 1 minute.

Other Natural Remedies to Treat Clogged & Stuffy Ears

You may have congested ears because of an infection or sinus pressure in your ears. In that case, there are many natural remedies that can help to loosen mucus in your nasal passages, clear ear wax, and drain fluid from the ear canal.

1. Warm compress

Placing a warm compress on the blocked ear is a great natural way to help relieve a clogged ear caused by a cold or an ear infection. The heat from the compress helps to loosen the blockage and soothe the pain and discomfort.

How to do it

• Soak a clean washcloth in warm water and wring it out.
• Place it over the blocked ear for 10 minutes to allow the heat to unblock the congestion.
• Alternatively, you can also wrap a hot water bottle in a towel and place it over the painful ear to relieve the pain and pressure in the ear.

2. Saline nasal rinse

Another great way to unclog a plugged ear is to rinse your nasal passages with a saline water. Salt is a well-known antibacterial agent and it can help to rinse your sinuses, kill infections, and reduce inflammation in your nasal passages. Washing your nasal passages can relieve the feeling of congestion by removing and softening mucus which is blocking the Eustachian tubes.

The easiest way to rinse your nasal passages is to use a neti pot. Dr. Luqman Seidu on WebMD says that a neti pot helps to clear the nasal passages. It’s an effective home remedy to get relief from a sinus blockage or allergy symptoms.¹

You can also use a bottle called NeliMed Sinus Rinse (like this one) to rinse your sinuses. The bottle uses the same principal of a neti pot but it is much easier to use.

Please read my article on the best home remedies for a sinus infection for detailed instructions on how to do a saline rinse to clear your sinuses and relieve congested ears.

3. Gargling warm salt water

Gargle with a warm salt water is another home remedy to get relief from a congested ear caused by an ear infection. Surprising as it may seem, gargling a saline solution to treat a throat infection can actually help clear your ears.

Dr. Dan Brennan on WebMD says that the salt water helps to soothe a sore throat and actually helps to unblock the Eustachian tubes.²

Here is how to use a salt water gargle to get rid of clogged ears and relieve the symptoms of a sore throat:

• Mix one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water.
• Swish it around your mouth and gargle for 15 to 20 seconds.
• Spit it out.
• Repeat as often as possible until you feel that your ears are no longer clogged.

Gargling with salt and water is also one of the best home remedies for chest congestion and it is also an effective remedy for clearing throat mucus.

4. Tea tree oil combined with steam inhalations

If a cold is causing your ears to feel clogged, use a tea tree inhalation to get rid of the infection quickly to relieve the congestion. Combining tea tree oil with a simple steam inhalation technique can naturally relieve blocked ears, cure congestion, sore throat, chest infections, and clear up mucus.

Tea tree oil has amazing healing properties which can help to treat viral and bacterial infections in the respiratory system. You can read about the 75 extraordinary uses for tea tree oil.

The journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews reported that tea tree oil contains powerful natural compounds called terpenoids. These have been proven to have an antimicrobial effect against various infection-causing pathogens. For example, tea tree oil can effectively kill off the Streptococcus pyogenes strain of bacteria which is responsible for strep throat.³

How to do it

• Pour boiling water in a bowl.
• Add a few drops of tea tree essential oil – you can also use lavender or eucalyptus oils.
• Inhale the steam, but be careful not to get burnt. The steam can also help thin and loosen the mucus in your nasal passages, which in turn will give you relief from clogged ears.

Use the tea tree oil inhalation regularly to get rid of clogged ears that are due to a cold, the flu, or a sinus infection.

5. Garlic oil

Another natural antibacterial remedy for unclogging ears is garlic oil. The warm garlic oil can help to loosen the congestion in your ear and the garlic properties can destroy any infection-causing germs.

A study published in the journal Microbes and Infection found that garlic contains a compound called allicin. This natural antibiotic and antibacterial agent can be used as a natural remedy for treating various infections. It is powerful enough to also kill off antibacterial-resistant strains of infections.⁴

To make your own garlic oil to unclog your ears naturally, this is what you should do:

• Mash two cloves of garlic and let them stand for 10 minutes to allow the allicin to form.
• Put the crushed garlic in a saucepan with 5 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Warm for 10-15 minutes over very low heat to let the beneficial properties of the garlic infuse into the oil.
• Let it cool down to skin temperature and then put it in your ear for 1 minute to help loosen any blockage or wax that is causing your ears to feel full. The warmth and the oil often offers fast pain relief as well.
• Drain the oil out.

If you prefer not to heat garlic, you can mince the raw garlic and keep it in olive oil without heating for 2-3 hours before straining and using.

To increase the efficacy you can add to the olive oil garlic and mullein flowers that work very well for relieving ear infections. Mullein has been used in traditional medical systems due to its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

Garlic Mullein Oil to Treat Ear Infection

2-3 tbsp chopped garlic
2-3 tbsp mullein flowers
Extra virgin olive oil

Place the garlic and mullein flowers in a small saucepan and add just enough oil to cover the herbs. Warm for 15-20 minutes over very low heat. Strain well and store in tightly covered glass jar in the refrigerator.

How to use? warm the oil in a teaspoon over a candle or stove-top burner. Warm only to body temperature (about room temperature). Use a dropper and apply 3-4 drops into the ear. Apply the warm oil every 30 minutes or as often as needed.

Ear Wax Removal

If your ears are clogged due to wax accumulation, there are many easy ways to get rid of it naturally and safely to relieve the blockage. Be very careful when cleaning inside your ears especially when using cotton swabs or Q-tips as there are many good reasons not to stick anything inside your ear.

One word of warning: do not use any of these treatments if you have a hole in your eardrum.

Here are some of the best home remedies to remove ear wax.

1. Olive oil

To get rid of the wax that is clogging your ears, use warm olive oil. The soothing properties of olive oil will remove any discomfort from your ear and help the wax to drain quickly and clear the blocked ear.

Here is how to do it

• Warm some extra-virgin olive oil.
• Put a few drops in the blocked ear using a dropper.
• Keep your head sideways to help the oil settle.
• Let the oil go to work for a few minutes to soften the ear wax.
• Using a cotton bud, gently and carefully remove the loosened wax from the outer part of the ear.
• Use the remedy as often as necessary to get rid of all the excess wax from your ears.

2. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) and alcohol

Apple cider vinegar has amazing health benefits and using it together with rubbing alcohol is a great way to unclog ears naturally. The ACV mixture also has antibacterial properties that can help to reduce any ear infection that is causing clogged ears. The low pH content of ACV also helps to reduce any itching in and around your ear canal.

Pediatrician Dr. David Hill says that this concoction will soften the troublesome ear wax, allowing it to flow out of the ear more easily.

To use apple cider vinegar and alcohol to remove excess wax from your ears, this is what you should do:

• Mix equal amounts of ACV and rubbing alcohol.
• Put a few drops of this solution in your ear.
• Keep your head sideways, so the ear wax remedy stays in.
• You can also put a piece of cotton ball over your ear to prevent the fluid from dripping out.
• Let it work for 10 minutes to soften the wax buildup.
• Remove the wax carefully from the outer part of your ear with a cotton bud.

You can repeat this remedy 2-3 times if you have a large blockage of ear wax.

3. Food Grade Hydrogen peroxide

Food grade hydrogen peroxide can help you get rid of a buildup of ear wax quickly and effectively which can help you to unplug your ear. Hydrogen peroxide has an antiseptic effect that can help to prevent skin infections. According to doctors at WebMD, the bubbling action helps to bring up dirt and loosen it.⁵

Researchers from Harvard Medical School recommend using 3% hydrogen peroxidefor ear wax removal.⁶

If you want to get rid of a congested ear using hydrogen peroxide, this is what you should do:

• Put two drops of 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide in your clogged ear. Don’t exceed that amount or you could damage your eardrum.
• Wait until you hear a fizzing sound (it should take a few minutes).
• Let it fizz for few minutes until it stops.
• Tilt your head to the side, so that the solution and ear wax can drip out.

Do this every time you need to unclog your ears from excess ear wax.

Hydrogen peroxide can also treat ear infections due to its antiseptic properties, and you can read more about in my article on how to use hydrogen peroxide for an ear infection.

For more ideas on how to use hydrogen peroxide – read my post about 11 amazing uses for hydrogen peroxide.

Some More Tips for Unplugging Your Ears

Sometimes, making a few changes around your home and making some different lifestyle choices can do much to prevent your ears becoming clogged. Here are some of my best tips for unplugging your ears naturally.

Use a humidifier in your bedroom. This will provide your sinuses with the much-needed moisture and might relieve the pressure that is in your Eustachian tubes.

To alleviate the pain of plugged ears, sit in the bathroom with a hot shower running. The steam helps clear the ear canals and prevents them from drying out. Dry ears can make the body over-produce ear wax which can lead to a buildup of excess wax in your ear canals.

If you suffer from an ear infection, read my post about the best home remedies for getting rid of ear infection.

Sinus-related problems can be made worse by temperature extremes. If you feel your nose and ears are playing up, skip the morning jog on a freezing day. If you have a sinus infection read my post about the best ways to treat sinus infections naturally.

Avoid sudden changes in body position (this can cause dizziness) and keep your head up. Don’t shake your head or stand up fast.

Drink plenty of fluids to thin the mucus in the nasal passages and prevent ear congestion. Avoid alcohol, too much tea and coffee, tobacco, and overly salty foods. They can affect your blood circulation and further worsen the condition of your ears.

The Best Home Remedies For Getting Rid of Ear Infection

An ear infection (acute otitis media) is a painful condition that can affect any part of the ear. Depending on the severity of the infection in the ear, you may also experience itchiness in the ear, discharge or fluid draining from the ear or a slight loss of hearing. Because infections of the ear develop in children more often than adults, it can be difficult to find the best treatment to cure ear infections. In fact, the pain and discomfort from ear infections can be especially distressing for a child. Ear infections in children can cause ear irritation when lying down and sleeping, increased crying and irritability, drainage of fluid from the ear, and headaches.

After a crying infant is brought to the doctor’s office following a sleepless night, the doctor often quickly prescribes some antibiotics to ease the painful symptoms of the ear infection. But, antibiotics might not be the best choice when it comes to ear infections and you may also want to consider home remedies for treating the infection (but consult with your doctor first).

The American Academy of Pediatrics published revised guidelines in 2013 to advise medical personnel on the best practices to diagnose and treat ear infections in children. In many cases, they recommend a ‘wait- and-see’ or ‘watchful waiting’ approach to see if the ear infection symptoms go away by themselves. They reported that around 66% of children with earaches and ear infections were cured without the need for antibiotics.¹

You don’t want to be unnecessarily contributing to a growing antibiotic resistance. What is usually needed is some good rest, symptom control, careful observation and a bit of patience. Of course, ear infections might be unpleasant and exhausting for kids and adults alike, so there are many natural home remedies to treat the symptoms of ear infections.

Ear infection symptoms

Common symptoms of ear infection include:

• Earache (often severe ear pain)
• Diminished hearing
• Drainage of fluids from the ear
• Popping, clicking or crackling sound in ear

In children with ear infection, you may also observe:

• Pulling at the ear
• Difficulty sleeping
• Irritability and crying
• Loss of balance
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• An ear infection can also cause lump or bump behind ear or swollen occipital lymph nodes.

 Is it really an Ear Infection?

Dr. Allan Lieberthal, the lead author of the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, believes that ear infections are a highly over-diagnosed condition. If the child is acting funny, the ear hurts, and there is some redness of the inner membrane, it doesn’t automatically mean that he or she has an ear infection. It might just be that the fluid from the ear is not draining well.

Prescribing antibiotics won’t always solve the problem. Ear infections can be caused either by bacteria or viruses. In viral cases – which are very common – antibiotics won’t work as viruses don’t respond to them.

According to a research, the ‘watchful waiting’ approach is much more advisable, especially in children over the age of two. Dr. Lieberthal suggests waiting for 48 to 72 hours to see if the pain, swelling, redness, and discomfort caused by infections in the ear go away by themselves.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that antibiotics are prescribed only if there is ‘moderate to severe’ bulging of the tympanic membrane (the eardrum). Also, to make sure the infection in the inner, middle, or outer ear is caused by a bacterial infection, a swab should be taken first.

Natural Ear Infection Remedies

While you’re waiting for your (or your little one’s) infection to clear, there are many natural home remedies that can help you alleviate the symptoms and reduce the discomfort and pain.

1. Garlic

Garlic works as a natural antibiotic and it helps to soothe the ear pain associated with ear infections. It contains powerful aromatic compounds that have an antiseptic effectto kill off bacteria and viruses that cause infections. It is also an effective natural anti-inflammatory agent which will reduce swelling in the ear canal and discomfort in the ear. You can use garlic in different ways to help treat ear infections:

Make garlic oil to get rid of ear infection:

• Crush 2 garlic cloves and wait for a few minutes to let the allicin form. Then cook in a few tablespoons of sesame oil or mustard oil or olive oil for several minutes.
• Strain the solution.
• Pour two to four drops of the garlic oil remedy into your painful ear. The temperature should be warm.
• You need to lie on your side for at least 30 seconds to let the garlic oil disappear in the ear canal.
• Repeat 3 to 4 times daily to treat the ear infection and to alleviate the pain.

Make garlic compress to relieve ear infection pain faster:

• Boil 2 to 3 fresh garlic cloves for a few minutes.
• Crush them and add some salt.
• Wrap the mixture in a clean cloth and press it against the painful ear to relieve the ear pain.

Eat raw garlic to cure your ear infection faster:

Two to three crushed cloves a day will boost your immunity and may help to speed up healing process of the infection in the ear.

2. Olive oil

Olive oil is a natural medicine and it can help clear the ear infection by softening the ear wax. One of the main causes of an ear infection is wax in the ear that catches fungal or bacterial growth. Use olive oil as a natural ear infection remedy to help clear the wax blockage from your ear.

• Warm the olive oil slightly.
• Pour a few drops of the remedy into the infected ear.
• When the ear wax has softened, gently remove it from the outer ear with cotton-tipped swabs, but be careful not to go too deep and cause an injury (I’ve previously mentioned why it’s not good to clean inside your ears).

Tip: To increase the efficacy you can add to the olive oil garlic and mullein flowers that work very well for relieving ear infections. Mullein has been used in traditional medical systems due to its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

Garlic Mullein Oil to Treat Ear Infection

2-3 tbsp chopped garlic
2-3 tbsp mullein flowers
Extra virgin olive oil

Place the garlic and mullein flowers in a small saucepan and add just enough oil to cover the herbs. Warm for 15-20 minutes over very low heat. Strain well and store in tightly covered glass jar in the refrigerator.

How to use? warm the oil in a teaspoon over a candle or stove-top burner. Warm only to body temperature (about room temperature). Use a dropper and apply 3-4 drops into the ear. Apply the warm oil every 30 minutes or as often as needed.

3. Steam inhalations with Eucalyptus and lavender essential oils

Essential oils are an excellent remedy to treat ear infections naturally. You can use essential oils for ear infections by inhaling steam which will help to kill off infections in your nose and ear canal (both of which are connected together).

In fact, essential oils are an extremely effective home remedy to help soothe ear discomfort and pain. To use essential oil as a home remedy for ear-related infections, this is what you should do:

• Boil some water and pour it in a non-plastic container.
• Add a few drops of eucalyptus and lavender essential oils. You can also add tea tree oil for its powerful antimicrobial effect. This is also a natural home remedy for treating sinus infections.
• Cover your head with a towel and inhale deeply to soothe the earache.

4. Basil

Holy basil has shown to be effective for treating minor earaches and ear infections. There are a few different methods to use basil to relieve the symptoms of a painful ear infection.

Basil juice for treating ear infection

• Crush four to five fresh basil leaves to extract the juice.
• Apply the basil juice around the painful ear, but make sure it doesn’t leak into the ear canal.

Basil oil for soothing ear pain

• Mix a few drops of basil oil with carrier oil (such as coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil).
• Pour the natural remedy on a cotton ball and wipe around the infected ear, just inside the ear (but not into the ear canal) and behind the ear.
• Repeat twice daily until the pain in your ear has gone.

5. Diluted tea tree oil

There are conflicting references regarding the use of tea tree oil for curing an ear infection. According to a study published in the journal Audiology & Neuro-otology short exposure to tea tree oil in the ear can help kill off bacteria and viruses that cause ear infections. Tea tree oil has long been used as an alternative treatment for ear infections due to its antiseptic properties.

However, according to WebMD website, it is not recommended to use tea tree oil in the ears, because it may cause damage to the inner ear.³ Doctors from Mayo Clinicadvise to avoid adding tea tree oil into the middle ear, as toxicity of the ear has occurred with large doses. Therefore always dilute tea tree oil and consult with your doctor before using it inside your ear.

To use tea tree oil to help cure an ear infection quickly, you should do the following:

1. Dilute few drops of tea tree oil with ¼ cup of warm olive oil prior to use.
2. Tilt your head to one side and use a small dropper to add a few drops to the painful ear.
3. Keep your head tilted for one minute, so the liquid can slide into the ear canal to treat the infection.
4. Return to an upright position and gently dab the ear with a clean cotton ball.
5. Repeat three times a day for two days to relieve the pain and speed up the healing process of the infection in your ear.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

Apple cider vinegar can help to treat the discomfort in your ear caused by an ear infection. Raw ACV has antimicrobial properties that can kill bacteria and viruses and also soothe itchy inflamed skin in the ear.

Apple cider vinegar changes the pH of the ear canal, creating an environment where bacteria and viruses cannot thrive, so this makes it an effective home remedy for curing ear infections. Studies on the medicinal use of vinegar say that acetic acid (apple cider vinegar contains a high amount of acetic acid) is effective in treating earache and ear infections.

You can make your own homemade remedy to treat ear infections by warming a 50/50 mixture of raw unprocessed organic ACV and water. Before putting the ACV mixture in your ear, test the heat of the liquid on the inside of the wrist to make sure the temperature is not too hot. Soak a cotton ball into the apple cider vinegar ear remedy and leave it plugged onto your ear for several minutes to treat the infection. Repeat this a few times daily to get relief from the uncomfortable feeling in your ear and fight the ear infection. Lie on your side so that the vinegar will soak deeply into the ear canal.

7. Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide 3%

Apart from being an effective home treatment for excess earwax and ear infections, hydrogen peroxide has many other uses around the home.

Because hydrogen peroxide has antimicrobial properties, it can treat ear infections of the outer or middle ear.

At the first sign of an ear infection, you should use food grade 3% hydrogen peroxide in your ear to prevent an infection from developing. In many cases, this can alleviate the need for using antibiotics.

Although 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide is generally safe and non-toxic for ear infections, you shouldn’t use it if you have a perforated or punctured eardrum. Inner ear infections also shouldn’t be treated with hydrogen peroxide.

You can find detailed information on this subject in my article about how to use hydrogen peroxide for an ear infection.

Ear Infection – When to see a doctor

In some cases, medical assistance is required if you or your child has a severe ear infection. According to pediatric Dr. Susan C. Kim,⁶ you should see a doctor if:

• Your child has a fever of over 39°C (102°F).
• He or she has severe symptoms of a cough, runny nose, and ear pain.
• You observe a discharge of pus or blood from the ear.
• The pain in your ear is severe and doesn’t diminish.
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How to Use Hydrogen Peroxide for Ear Wax Removal and Ear Infection

Hydrogen peroxide is an antimicrobial agent that you may already have in your medicine cabinet. It is scientifically known as H2O2 and can come in different forms and concentrations. Most people have a bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide in their house because it is useful to get rid of stains, kill germs in the kitchen, get rid of mold, and treat toenail fungus. You can also use food grade hydrogen peroxide in your ear to remove ear wax and to get rid of ear infections.

When using it around the house, you should always use “food grade” hydrogen peroxide. The term food grade means that there are no additives in the hydrogen peroxide. Food-grade hydrogen peroxide comes in many concentrations, but for household use, I always recommend using 3% concentration as it’s safe and non-toxic to use, but just remember that you shouldn’t ingest it.

According to the National Capital Poison Center, swallowing small amounts of household (3%) hydrogen peroxide is not poisonous to humans. It can cause some irritation and cause a lot of foam in the mouth. If your child swallows some hydrogen peroxide, usually giving a small drink of water or milk is enough to remove the irritation. However, ingesting concentrated hydrogen peroxide (more than 10%) can result in severe injuries like ulcers, internal burning, vomiting, or intense abdominal pain.

In this article, I am going to look at how to use 3% hydrogen peroxide to remove earwax and treat ear infections.

Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide for Ear Wax Removal

Ear wax, also called cerumen, is a natural substance that the body produces to keep the ear moist, lubricated, and free of bacteria. Usually, it doesn’t require anything special to get rid of earwax because excess wax gets washed out of the ear canal naturally. However, you may need to remove the ear wax if the body produces too much wax and your ear becomes blocked and I’ve already mentioned a few natural ways to remove wax from your ear.

The Mayo Clinic recommends using the hydrogen peroxide as an ear cleaning method to soften earwax and get rid of the discomfort of having a blocked ear or an ear infection.³ So how can you use hydrogen peroxide to unclog ear due to excess ear wax at home?

Removing earwax using hydrogen peroxide is a fairly simple procedure that you can easily do at home. For this, you will need 3% hydrogen peroxide and a 3-5 ml syringe or medicine dropper. To soften and remove earwax using hydrogen peroxide, do the following:

• Put 1 – 3 ml 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide in the medicine dropper.
• Place your head on its side and fill your ear with the hydrogen peroxide solution. You will only need a few drops.
• Using the ear flap that covers your ear canal, ‘pump’ the hydrogen peroxide solution in the ear canal. Do this for 10 – 15 seconds
• You should start to hear a bubbling sound which is sometimes called Rice-Bubbles.
• Turn your head round so that the hydrogen peroxide can drain from your ear.
• At this point, you can use a cotton swab to carefully remove any earwax from your outer ear (you should never clean the inside of your ears).
• Leave the ear to dry.
• Repeat with the other ear.

Please remember that you should never place any object like a cotton swab, Q-tip, bobby pin or toothpick into your ear canal to remove earwax and unclog your ear. This can push earwax further into the ear causing a blockage, infection, or even serious damage.

If you find that hydrogen peroxide irritates the skin in your ear, you can actually try using distilled water to remove excess wax from your ear. A study published by the British Journal of Nursing found that distilled water was actually more effective than hydrogen peroxide for unblocking earwax.

One reason why excess earwax needs to be removed regularly is that a buildup of wax can lead to ear infections. You can also use hydrogen peroxide as an effective home remedy to get rid of ear infections.

How to Treat Ear Infections with Hydrogen Peroxide

External ear infection (otitis externa), also known as swimmer’s ear, is an inflammation of the outer ear and it usually causes itching, pain, redness and a discharge of clear fluid. According to the Mayo Clinic, the ear infection is caused by a bacterial or viral infection and can get worse in humid conditions or if there is too much moisture in the ear.

Because hydrogen peroxide is antimicrobial, it is an effective home remedy to treat ear infections of the outer or middle ear.

At the first sign of an ear infection, you should use 3% hydrogen peroxide in your ear to prevent an infection from developing. In many cases, this can alleviate the need for using antibiotics.

To treat an ear infection with food grade hydrogen peroxide, do the following:

• Tilt you head to one side and put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide into the infected ear.
• Leave for 10 – 15 seconds then tilt your head to the other side to allow the hydrogen peroxide solution to drain out from the ear.
• Using a cotton swab, gently remove any excess earwax from the outer ear.
• Repeat this 2 or 3 times a day until your ear infection has gone completely.

Remember to thoroughly dry your ears after swimming to prevent further ear infection and a buildup of bacteria. Read my article on how to remove water out of ears to learn about the best ways to get rid of fluid that is trapped in the outer ear.

Ear infections can also cause the ear to feel very itchy. However, if you suffer from an itchy ear, but don’t have an ear infection, please read my article on the causes and natural home remedies of an itchy ear to find out the reason why your ear itches without an infection.

Remember that in some cases, medical assistance is required. See a doctor if:
– You have a fever of over 102°F (39°C).
– You have severe symptoms of cough, runny nose and earache.
– You observe a discharge of pus or blood from the ear.
– The pain is severe and doesn’t diminish.

If you have any doubt see your doctor as soon as possible.

Cautions When Using Hydrogen Peroxide for Ear Infections

Although 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide is generally safe and non-toxic for ear infections, you shouldn’t use it if you have a perforated or punctured eardrum. Inner ear infections (otitis interna) also shouldn’t be treated with hydrogen peroxide. If the blockage is severe or if the earwax blockage is affecting your hearing, you should visit your medical practitioner.

Hydrogen peroxide shouldn’t be used to clean cuts or wounds. Many people mistakenly think that the foaming action of hydrogen peroxide when it is put on wounds is the bacteria being killed. However, this is not the case because this is only the oxygen being released in the chemical reaction. According to Dr. Laura J. Martin on WebMD, hydrogen peroxide can damage the delicate tissue and hinder the wound healing process.⁶ To prevent an infection developing in wounds or cuts, you should rinse cuts and wounds for 5 minutes in clean, running water.

Other Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide

Apart from being an effective home treatment for excess earwax and ear infections, hydrogen peroxide has many other uses around the home. For example, you can fill a spray bottle with 3% hydrogen peroxide and spray on kitchen surfaces to disinfect your surfaces. After spraying on the kitchen surfaces, wipe off with a damp clean cloth.

The antimicrobial effect of hydrogen peroxide can also destroy mold and mildew in your bathroom. Spray 3% hydrogen peroxide onto areas affected by mold and leave for a few minutes to kill the germs. Wipe off with a clean damp cloth.

You can also safely disinfect fruit and vegetables by spraying them with 3% hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and remove pesticides. Leave the solution on the fruit and vegetables for a few minutes before rinsing with clean water.

So, hydrogen peroxide has many great uses around the home. Its antimicrobial properties and cleansing action can help to keep surfaces free from viruses and bacteria and it also makes for an effective home remedy for earwax and ear infections.