# The fluid in my ears is making me crazy! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 5, 2008, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366 "2008-07-05T12:20:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/1 "2008-07-05T12:20:43Z")
I don’t have a shower, so I dunk my head back in the tub every day when I take a bath. I get water in my ears, and lately, it feels like it isn’t draining out. It’s making me a little crazy! Is there something I can take OTC that will remedy this? I don’t have any pain from it, but it is impairing my hearing a little, and I can hear it sloshing around sometimes. If there’s no home remedy, I’ll probably see a doctor, but at this point it’s more of a pain in the butt than a Serious Issue. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/2 "2008-07-05T12:28:07Z")
Two methods for removing water from the outer ear: 1. Kneel next to a bed, place your ear on the bed, and gently bounce your head on the mattress. 2: Tilt your head toward the side that is full of water, raise the the opposite foot and vigorously kick it out to the side repeatedly. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/3 "2008-07-05T12:40:25Z")
I just put a little cotton ball in my ear for 20-30 minutes. Drains it right up. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/4 "2008-07-05T13:52:14Z")
Are you sure it’s water? I had an inflammation of the Eustachian tube a couple months back. I thought it was water in my ear, and it drove me so nuts I went to a doctor. She didn’t see anything wrong, and told me it was probably something goofy in my Eustachian tubes and if it didn’t go away in a week or so to go to an Ear/Nose/Throat specialist. It went away, so I never followed up. But boy, was it annoying when it was there! ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/5 "2008-07-05T13:59:01Z")
They make this stuff called Swim-Ear. It’s 95% Isopropyl alcohol, 5% anhydrous glycerin. Will take the water right out of your ears every time. [Amazon has it.](http://www.amazon.com/Swim-Ear-Ear-Water-Drying-Aid/dp/B000RDIAXE/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1215266246&sr=8-1) ---
**Author:** ![SeanArenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeanArenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeanArenas)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/6 "2008-07-05T14:40:51Z")
I used to get this when I swam in the ocean a lot as a kid. I can’t recommend this for other people as it violates what moms have been teaching us, but once I started cleaning the wax out of my ears daily, I stopped having that problem. otoh, it could just be the shape of your ear. In my case, it was probably the shape of my ear + waxy buildup that was holding a couple of drops of water in my ear. I think it would touch my eardrum, sound loud, sometimes make me dizzy, and make sleeping odd. As someone else stated earlier this thread, if I put that ear down on the pillow and sleep, it could drain right out that ear. A cotton swab placed in there while the head is tilted that direction has also helped me in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Lavender\_Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b782af/32.png) [@Lavender\_Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lavender_Falcon)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/7 "2008-07-05T14:41:11Z")
I use a product called Auro Dri that’s the same as Swim Ear. You can get it OTC at just about any pharmacy. I buy mine at Target. You can also make the same stuff yourself. A 50/50 solution of [rubbing alcohol and white vinegar](http://www.med.umn.edu/otol/library/swimmers.htm) is often recommended. If you already have an ear infection, though, I think that has to be treated separately. The alcohol is a preventive measure to help dry your ears out before you get an infection. If the dunking is the problem, though, have you tried simply holding your ears shut with your fingers when you lean back to prevent water from getting in? That’s what I do if I take a bath. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/8 "2008-07-05T18:11:26Z")
Thanks for the suggestions. I think the OTC alcohol/glycerin products sound good. I don’t have “waxy” ears. I use a q-tip to absorb what water I can after a bath. I will also try to remember to plug my ears from now on. Duh. So obvious and I’ve never thought of it. But just for grins, I’m going to try “kicking” it out of my ears as Fear Itself suggests. I’m sure the cats will love to see mommy acting like a frog! Heh-heh… ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/9 "2008-07-05T18:16:45Z")
I just dip a q tip in rubbing alcohol and squeeze it out into my ear. The alcohol displaces the water, then evaporates. I get water stuck in there on account of the shape of my ear, I think. It is truly painful and irritating. I feel you. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/10 "2008-07-05T18:18:26Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] But just for grins, I’m going to try “kicking” it out of my ears as Fear Itself suggests. I’m sure the cats will love to see mommy acting like a frog! Heh-heh… [/QUOTE] My Dad used to do this. I saw him hopping on one foot with the other kicking out to the side, and asked him what he was doing. “Getting the water out of my ear” was his response, and I laughed, until I tried it. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/11 "2008-07-05T22:34:54Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] My Dad used to do this. I saw him hopping on one foot with the other kicking out to the side, and asked him what he was doing. “Getting the water out of my ear” was his response, and I laughed, until I tried it. [/QUOTE] Seriously? I thought that was a joke answer! Next time I get in a pool I’ll have to try that. ---
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/12 "2008-07-05T22:49:08Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] Two methods for removing water from the outer ear: 1. Kneel next to a bed, place your ear on the bed, and gently bounce your head on the mattress. 2: Tilt your head toward the side that is full of water, raise the the opposite foot and vigorously kick it out to the side repeatedly. [/QUOTE] And then videotape yourself performing both methods and post them on YouTube. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/13 "2008-07-06T11:37:15Z")
[QUOTE=SharkB8] And then videotape yourself performing both methods and post them on YouTube. 😃 [/QUOTE] Naked. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/14 "2008-07-06T12:37:41Z")
I shake my head violently back and forth until [del]centrifugal[/del] [del]centripotal motion[/del] it comes flying out my ears. OK, it doesn’t come flying, but it does trickle out. Eventually. Maybe this isn’t the best method in the world. Sometimes I can get it out by making creating suction by cupping my hand around my ear and using it like a plunger. Please tell me someone else has done one of these two things… ---
**Author:** ![Dottygumdrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Dottygumdrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dottygumdrop)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/15 "2008-07-06T13:17:01Z")
[QUOTE=BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed] I shake my head violently back and forth until [del]centrifugal[/del] [del]centripotal motion[/del] it comes flying out my ears. OK, it doesn’t come flying, but it does trickle out. Eventually. Maybe this isn’t the best method in the world. Sometimes I can get it out by making creating suction by cupping my hand around my ear and using it like a plunger. Please tell me someone else has done one of these two things… [/QUOTE] Check and check! You are not alone! ---
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fluid-in-my-ears-is-making-me-crazy/455366/16 "2008-07-06T16:25:23Z")
I sort of do the [sideways whiplash thing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yybioKLYZUY) , works like a charm. I usually try to get off of the phone when I do it though… I don’t do it as much anymore because I’m afraid of actual sideways whiplash or breaking my neck.