How to Pop Ears With Fluid in Them

Many people have had the uncomfortable experience of clogged ears because of airplane flights, allergies or colds. When ears become clogged because of swelling membranes, fluid can drain from the inner ear to the middle ear and cause muffled sounds and sometimes even pain. People off all ages can experience fluid in the ears, including infants. If the clog is minor, you likely can relieve your ears with some simple home remedies.

Things You'll Need

• Towels
• Hot water
• Rubbing alcohol

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Swallow and yawn as much as you can. This quickly can resolve minor blockages caused by fluid in your ears.

• 2

  Press a hot towel to your ear to ease pain and help reduce swelling. Place a dry towel in between the hot towel and your skin to avoid burning.

• 3

  "Pop" your ears by holding your nose shut, closing your mouth and blowing gently through your nose. If this does not work after a few tries, wait until your ear membranes are less swollen. Blowing too hard without result could possibly damage your eardrums.

• 4

  Clear swimming-pool water from your ears by putting a few drops of rubbing alcohol in the ears. The alcohol will dry up the excess water.

• 5

  Chew gum during takeoff and landing if you are on a plane. This makes you swallow often. Try not to sleep during ascent or descent because you won't swallow enough during the rapid changes in pressure.

• 6

  Help relieve an infant's discomfort on a plane by giving him a bottle or a pacifier to suck on. Do not let the child sleep when the plane is taking off or landing.