So you caught a cold. You’re sniffling, coughing, your voice sounds weird, and now your ears feel all blocked up like someone stuffed cotton in there. Super fun, right?
That clogged ear feeling is one of those cold symptoms no one warns you about — until it happens. And then you’re googling stuff like “why can’t I hear out of my left ear omg” at 2am.
Good news? It’s super common, and usually not serious. Even better — there are a bunch of things you can do to gently help unblock your ears. No, you don’t need to stick anything in them (please don’t), and yes, you might look a little silly doing some of these. But hey, worth it.
Why Do Ears Get Blocked During a Cold?
Let’s get nerdy for one sec.
Inside your head you’ve got something called the Eustachian tube (yep, weird name). It connects your middle ear to the back of your nose and throat. Its job? To keep pressure balanced between your ear and the outside world.
When you have a cold:
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Your nose and sinuses get all swollen and gunky
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That gunk clogs the Eustachian tube
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The pressure builds up
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And boom — blocked ears
Sometimes it’s just pressure, but sometimes fluid builds up too. It’s kind of like having airplane ears that don’t pop.
Quick Note Before We Start
If your ear is hurting badly, leaking weird fluid, or your hearing is suddenly gone — go see a doctor. Could be an ear infection or something that needs meds.
Otherwise, if it’s just that muffled “ugh I can’t hear properly” cold-ear feeling, try these tips below
1. Try the “Yawning” Trick
Yawning opens up your Eustachian tube naturally. If you’re not sleepy enough to yawn for real:
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Open your mouth wide like a yawn
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Stretch your jaw side to side a bit
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Keep trying — sometimes it takes a few tries
You might hear a tiny pop or shift — that’s a good sign. Your ear’s trying to equalize pressure.
2. Swallow
Swallowing helps the tubes in your ears open up. That’s why chewing gum or sucking on candy can help on airplanes — and it works with colds too.
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Sip warm water slowly
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Try sucking on hard candy or lozenges
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Keep swallowing (yep, even if it feels pointless)
It doesn’t always unblock it instantly, but it helps things move inside there.
3. Do the Steam Inhalation Thing
Steam helps thin out the gunk in your sinuses and can reduce swelling — making it easier for your ears to drain.
How to do it:
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Boil water
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Pour it into a bowl
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Put your face over it (not too close)
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Drape a towel over your head
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Breathe in the steam for 5–10 mins
You can add a few drops of eucalyptus oil if you want to be fancy. Works best before bed or after a hot shower.
4. Use a Warm Compress Over the Ear
This one feels amazing even if it doesn’t unblock things immediately.
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Soak a washcloth in warm (not hot) water
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Squeeze it out
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Hold it gently against the blocked ear
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Sit back and chill for 10–15 minutes
Sometimes warmth helps relax the muscles and open up drainage.
5. The “Valsalva” Trick (Do This One Carefully)
Okay this one’s a little controversial, so do it gently. It’s the “hold your nose and blow” trick.
How to do it:
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Pinch your nose shut
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Close your mouth
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Gently blow like you’re trying to blow your nose — but don’t force it!
If done right, you might hear a soft pop. If it hurts? Stop. You don’t want to mess with your eardrum.
Not for babies or toddlers! Just adults and older kids — and don’t overdo it.
6. Try Decongestants (If You’re Okay With Meds)
If you’re super congested, an over-the-counter decongestant (nasal spray or pill) might help reduce swelling in your nose and Eustachian tubes.
Just don’t overuse nasal sprays — they can actually make things worse if used for more than 3 days.
Also avoid flying while you’re really congested, if you can. The pressure can make ear stuff way worse.
How Long Does It Last?
Honestly? Depends.
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For some people, it goes away in a few days
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For others, it lingers even after the cold is mostly gone
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If it sticks around more than 2 weeks, check with a doctor — could be fluid buildup or a mild ear infection
In most cases though, it just needs time, fluids, rest, and a little patience. (And yeah, you’ll be slightly annoyed at the world until it clears.)
Final Thoughts (from someone who’s been there)
Blocked ears from a cold feel like you’re underwater in your own face. It’s weird, frustrating, and makes you say “what??” a lot in conversations. But most of the time, it’s nothing serious — just your body doing its best to heal.
Drink lots of water. Don’t poke anything in your ears (seriously, no cotton swabs). Try the tricks above. And if nothing helps, go get it checked just to be sure.
You’ll hear normally again soon — and when that “pop” finally happens, it’s gonna feel amazing.