Everyone who has been on an airplane or has had a cold, sinus infection or allergies knows how frustrating clogged ears can be. No matter the cause, the feeling of congestion and fullness makes you even more uncomfortable. While there’s no single cure-all for a condition with many possible causes — including illness, allergies and sensitivity to air pressure — there are ways to alleviate clogged ears.

• Ears can get clogged for a variety of reasons: illness, allergies, air travel, ear wax buildup and more.
• There are some simple at-home methods you can use to naturally unclog your ears.
• If home remedies don’t work, try an over-the-counter treatment, like ear drops, decongestants or a saline mist.
• If you have clogged ears for more than two weeks or experience any concerning symptoms along with your clogged ears, talk to your doctor right away.

At a physiological level, clogged ears are caused by swelling or a blockage in the Eustachian tubes that connect the middle ear to the back of your nose, or from wax (cerumen) impaction in the ear canal. That’s what leads to the stuffy and full sensation. Before you can find out how to unclog ears, you need to understand what may be causing the blockage. That way, you can target your treatment and resolve the clogged ear at its source. It could be:

• Allergies
• An ear or sinus infection
• Air travel
• Earwax buildup
• Side effects from ear surgery
• Water in ear
• Postnasal drip due to an illness like the common cold and COVID-19

All of these can lead to blockage and swelling in the Eustachian tubes.

When you know what’s causing the problem, you can explore different ways to unclog ears. It’ll vary by cause, but some possible solutions include:

• Removing and/or dissoving earwax
• Popping your ears to relieve pressure
• Treating allergies, illness or infection
• Clearing nasal passages

Below, we’ll review the methods behind these approaches and detail your treatment options for how to unclog an ear.

If symptoms worsen or last longer than two weeks, make a doctor’s appointment. If you have concerning symptoms such as ear discharge, dizziness, hearing loss and ringing, make an appointment as soon as possible.