Gravity first: towel the outside, tilt the blocked side down, and tug the earlobe to straighten the canal - add lying on that side, a gentle palm-vacuum, or a blow dryer on the coolest setting a foot away.
The nevers matter more: no cotton swabs or fingers inside the canal - that packs wax, scratches skin, and invites infection - and no drying drops with ear tubes or a perforation. Water usually clears within hours; these tricks buy comfort and prevention. Pymander's escalation routing is built and tested specifically for this class of decision; see the safety architecture working paper .
What to do
Common questions
How do I get water out of my ear?
Gravity, patience, and the outside of the ear only - the safe methods are simple and the one dangerous instinct is the cotton swab. The proven sequence, per WebMD and the Cleveland Clinic: towel the outer ear; tilt the blocked side down and gently tug the earlobe in different directions - that straightens the canal so water can run out; add gravity assists - lie on that side, or hop on one foot with the head tilted; try a palm-vacuum (cup your palm tight over the ear, tilt down, and pulse gently); and for stubborn cases, a blow dryer on the lowest, coolest setting held at least a foot away evaporates what will not drain. The list of nevers matters more: never insert cotton swabs, fingers, or keys - you pack wax deeper, scratch the canal, and create the exact damage that invites swimmer's ear; and never use drying drops if you have ear tubes or a perforated eardrum - that route reaches the middle ear. Water usually clears within hours on its own; the point of these tricks is comfort and prevention, since lingering water is the setup for infection. Get seen if the fullness lasts past 2 to 3 days, or pain, drainage, or muffled hearing arrives.