Knowing the ways to remove water from the ear can be a priceless piece of knowledge in a survival scenario. Not knowing how to is very frustrating when you have to.
Water in the ear is a far-from-pleasant event. No?
You can hear, right?
Being in a situation like this when SHTF can effectively limit your chances of survival. This is because the feeling of a water body creeping around in your earbuds can be disturbing. And in a situation that involves surviving, you know you have to be in a very sound state.
In this article, we’ll be looking at the various methods of getting water out of your ear without difficulty. Here we go.
Highlighting 5 Ways To Remove Water From The Ear
Vinegar or Alcohol
This technique is quite straightforward. Even doctors practice it in their corridors (although under appropriate supervision & far more professionally). Here is what you have to do.
Prepare vinegar & rubbing alcohol, and mix both in a little glass of water. Ensure that the two substances (alcohol & vinegar) are equal amounts – 50% alcohol & 50% vinegar. Fill a dropper with the solution.
Proceed to drop a few drops carefully in your ear & tilt your head downward, so the water can seep out. In case you wonder why this works, this is how:
Vinegar will break down any wax in your ear due to its acidity. Your earwax, meanwhile, is what is stopping the water from leaking out. On the other hand, alcohol combines well with water & dries much quicker. So, even if the water doesn’t come out instantly, it will evaporate.
Besides, the mixture of alcohol & vinegar will keep infection and inflammation at bay by the way.
Here’s a word of advice, though – don’t perform this method if your eardrum is punctured. It will be painful.
The Vacuum Method
By knowing that you don’t even have to put any item in your ear in the vacuum method, it is clear that it is very simple. To perform, bend your head sideways so the affected ear is facing downward. Then place your palm on the ear, as if you wanted to sleep, and press the palm up & down in an attempt to create a vacuum.
Another option is to use your fingers only for this. Remember to always tilt your head in the direction of the defective ear when trying this out. Failure to do may cause the water to go even deeper into the canal, leading to extra damage.
Imagine that gravity has to pull the water out; you’ll have to tilt the ear down, isn’t it? Except if you’re in space. Ensure your nails are short & fingers neat if you’re using fingers for the vacuum.
You may infect yourself if your nails hurt your earbuds while trying to remove the water. This is why I prefer the palm. However, suppose you’re sticking to your fingers while creating the vacuum. In that case, it is advisable to attempt rotating your finger in a clockwise direction, so the ear surface is moved slightly, thus disturbing the water’s balance in the ear pockets. This action will also lead to movement in the earwax.
Your hearing might be improved too if the earwax was causing auditory problems before.
A Blow Dryer
Obviously, you need a blow dryer to try out his technique. Calm your fears: you don’t even know what you’re doing yet. Besides, this method has worked on several occasions.
To start, turn on the dryer & place about one foot to the affected ear. The dryer should be working on its lowest setting. What you need is hot air rushing into the ear, so evaporation occurs & the pocket is dis-balanced.
Hot air shooting your ear is the goal. However you deem fit, either by blowing the dryer straight into the ear or across it, is acceptable.
PS: Really, do not use the dryer at a higher setting, nor should you bring it too close to your ear — except if you have a lot of hair you’d like to style in the hair. I’m sure you don’t. Bringing a dryer working at full power close to your ear will lead to burning & can be particularly damaging to the inner ear.
Ear Drops
Are you thinking of your ear dropping?
If yes, that’s not what I mean.
There are over-the-counter solutions for removing water from the earbuds. They are called ear drops. These drops are made with alcohol — remember our first remedy? They work by evaporating the water in the ear. Meanwhile, ensure your head is tilted so you can drop the appropriate drops in the ear, after which you need to maintain the position so the water leaks out.
There are instructions to follow on the bottle of this medication. If you’re having problems performing the action, anyone can help you do so.
Wipe (Out) With Cloth
This is also another simple method to drain water out of the ear. If you’d rather not any of the methods previously mentioned, then this shouldn’t be a problem.
To perform, find a soft, clean cloth to place on the affected ear, and then tilt the head in the direction of the ear. After waiting for a while, you may find that water has leaked out of the ear onto the cloth. You will have to clean the inside of the ear with the cloth, provided it is clear to avoid inflammation & infections.
This method may take time, but it eventually does the job.
Another option is to make use of hot, wet cloth. If you remember the blow dryer concept, heat helps to open up the Eustachian tubes & relax the tissues. Note that the former is where water collects in the ear. So, make hot water & get a clean towel. Soak the towel in the water & then drain it.
When done draining, place the cloth gently on the affected ear. As always, your ear has to be facing downward. Remain in this position for at least 30 seconds. Continue doing this until you are sure the water pocket has been dislodged.
Concluding the Ways to Remove Water From the Ear
Glad that you now know some of the simplest ways to remove water from the ear. All methods shortlisted above are easy & safe — provided they are done with common sense. With this knowledge in hand, dive in the deepest waters, swim through the Atlantic & collect rainwater through your ears. Tell no one your secret; you won’t hear them telling others.