After-Swimming Ear-drops to prevent infections

Here is a simple way to get all of the water out of your ears after swimming! This is not expensive to do and you should have all of the ingredients in your home. This idea came from my doctor and I thought that I should share the idea. I use it every time I go for a swim. I would not use this product if you have an already existing ear infection.

"This trick is also good to use before/after wearing earplugs for an extended time (i.e. on a plane flight, all night in a noisy hotel). I think it helps by creating a sterile environment, preventing nasty bacterial activity that could otherwise occur in a sealed environment. Also kills bacteria on your fingers that you use to roll up the earplugs.Be sure the drops in your ear have evaporated completely (wave your hands) before inserting earplugs." - comment submitted by jaime9999.

With that out of the way, let's get going!

Step 1: Gather the Materials

Here are the materials that you need to create this wonderful product:

1 small bottle of Vinegar
1 small bottle of Alcohol
1 eye drop container (or anything with the ability to distribute drops)
1 Funnel (make sure it fits the eye drop container)

Step 2: Combine the liquids

Fill the bottle with 1/2 Vinegar
Fill the bottle with 1/2 Alcohol

secure the cap back onto the bottle.

Shake well to mix.

Step 3: Finished!

Now you are all set to use this!

All you have to do is put four drops in each ear after swimming. (then tilt your head on to a towel to get rid of the water)

Go on to the next step to see a label that you can add to it.

Step 4: Label your Bottle

Now you can just add a label giving refill and application instructions so you can't forget. I would also black out any old instructions on the bottle to remove confusion.

The vinegar is a good preventive since it restores the ear canals acidity. The vinegar is mainly to water down the alcohol so there is less or no discomfort younger children's ears. The alcohol is the main ingredient to flush out the water and help with the evaporation of any water left over. Be sure to replace the formula every now and then with a new batch. I'm sure you don't have to worry about it, but I'm sure it gets old eventually.

Thanks for looking and I hope you have found this Instructable useful!

Lukethebook333

Comments

[froghaven]

I found out my ear canals are "deformed" about 35 yrs. ago and used to get horrible swimmers ear even after showers. The Dr. told my mother to use this formula and the reason he told us that it works is that the alcohol helps to dry the water and the vinegar kills infection.

[~BenDover~]

I have 99% alcohol will it work>

[lukethebook333]

A lot of people use only alcohol, it is fine, the vinegar even better.

[jaime9999]

My Ear, Nose, Throat surgeon specifically recommends alcohol combined with white vinegar. The vinegar is also anti-bacterial (as is the alcohol). I add a few drops of generic Debrox (the earwax removal drops), to avoid the excess drying effect of the alcohol on earwax. Remember, earwax amounts & issues are genetic and vary racially, so your mileage may vary.

[kmurphy83]

Hi! My 4 year old daughter recently has been complaining of water stuck in her ear after her bath. She FREAKS out because it makes her dizzy. We have been using a blowdryer on low to dry up the water. But would love to have this solution on hand too! So, my question is..This will help dry up that water? She also has a couple deep black heads in one of her ears..I don't know why, her ears are clean and always dried after bath. But I am thinking the anti-bacterial properties in both Alcohol and Vinegar may help..Any thoughts? Thank You!

[traceykirkman]

my daughter complained of water in her ear - she went to bed hoping it would go away, but it was still there when she woke up. I searched my trusty instructable site, tried this trick this morning and voila! all better!!.

[lukethebook333]

Glad it helped!

[spudling9]

thanks so much for this 2 days ago me and my friends went swimming and i put that in and everyone got an ear infection but me!!!!!!

[FunkNattidelic]

This would have been a big help a few weeks ago when i went swimming in my friends pool and got an ear infection :P Thanks for this.

[lukethebook333]

Glad it helped! (or will help...)

[jaime9999]

This trick is also good to use before/after wearing earplugs for an extended time (i.e. on a plane flight, all night in a noisy hotel). I think it helps by creating a sterile environment, preventing nasty bacterial activity that could otherwise occur in a sealed environment. Also kills bacteria on your fingers that you use to roll up the earplugs. Be sure the drops in your ear have evaporated completely (wave your hands) before inserting earplugs.

[Mitten]

I'm guessing it breaks the surface tension that keeps the water trapped in the ear canal?

[Cyberscann54]

yes it is the alcohol bonds with water releasing the surface tension allow it to flow freely out of the ear.

[jaime9999]

The alcohol doesn't just make the solution flow better, but evaporate readily. You can wave your hands at your ears and feel the evaporation in your ears. This is the same reason why you rinse your just-cleaned beakers in Chemistry Lab with Acetone.

[lukethebook333]

I am not sure how it works. I am assuming you are correct. The vinegar is a good preventive since it restores the ear canals acidity.

[HuxBear]

I first read about this "natural" treatment for swimmer's ear several years ago after suffering through more than a decade of on-again/off-again earaches in one ear or the other after our twice-weekly swimming sessions. I use this after baths and showers, too, and haven't had an earache for any reason in several years. Just straight rubbing-alcohol is really harsh on the skin and risks irritating it quite a lot, especially in normally "untouched" areas like the ear-canal. The vinegar not only helps dilute it, but also helps -- as someone else has noted -- the natural "acid balance" of the area. I put a drop or two of Tea Tree oil into every batch as well, "just in case". Have turned several people onto this one, and am regularly asked to make someone a batch since I always seem to have an extra dropper bottle lying around. Great instructable! :o)

[nightninja87]

great idea to stop urself from getting ear infections if u clean the wax out ur ears the day u swim could make the possiblite of infection more if u kno ur going swimming dont clean them yea sounds gross but the wax is there for a reason great instructable

[!Andrew_Modder!]

ouch? lol idk this sounds odd, acid and alcohol in the ear =P. but idk, iv never had an infection or an ear problem after all my years of swimming (grew up w a pool =). so lol idk

good instructable tho!

[NE-Phil]

Yes, it really works. My daughter used to get swimmer's ear and then her doctor told us about the alcohol/vinegar combination and we've been using it for the last 10 years or so. And we have our friends use it, too. Our daughter will still get swimmer's ear but its only because she forgets to use the drops. After she starts using the drops again, the swimmer's ear goes away. Excellent, simple Instructable. Nice work.

[DIY Dave]

You could just use rubbing alcohol instead

[lukethebook333]

As I had just said, the vinegar is a good preventive since it restores the ear canals acidity. The vinegar is mainly to water down the alcohol so it doesn't discomfort younger children's ears.

[katz_lizz]

My mom's a nurse and always did this for us kids before swimming in a pond. We had swimmer's ear for the first half of summer but after she learned this trick none of us got anymore the rest of the year. Definitely works.

[mspark400]

this is good! i will take your word on the vinegar because i usually use just alcohol but still great. keep it up, mspark400