When a cold clogs your ears, the fastest way to pop them is to pinch your nostrils shut and gently blow through your nose. This is called the Valsalva maneuver, and it forces a small puff of air up the narrow tubes that connect your throat to your middle ears, equalizing the pressure. But if your cold has caused significant swelling, you may need a combination of techniques, decongestants, and patience to get full relief.
Why a Cold Blocks Your Ears
Your middle ears are connected to the back of your throat by small channels called eustachian tubes. These tubes open and close throughout the day to equalize air pressure and drain fluid. When a cold virus inflames the tissue lining your nose and throat, that swelling extends to the eustachian tubes, narrowing or blocking them entirely. Fluid and mucus build up behind your eardrum with nowhere to go, creating that familiar plugged, muffled feeling.
This type of blockage is called obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction. It’s the most common reason your ears feel full during a cold, and it can affect one or both sides. The good news: as cold symptoms fade, the swelling typically resolves on its own. Most people find their ears clear up within a week or two of the cold ending.
Physical Techniques to Try First
These cost nothing and work instantly when the tubes aren’t too swollen to respond.
Valsalva maneuver: Pinch both nostrils closed and gently blow through your nose with your mouth shut. You should feel a soft pop or click as air pushes into the middle ear. The key word is gently. Blowing too hard can damage your eardrum, so use only light, steady pressure. If it doesn’t work on the first try, wait a few minutes before trying again.
Toynbee maneuver: Pinch your nostrils closed and swallow. Swallowing pulls the eustachian tubes open while the pinched nose compresses air against them. This is a good alternative if the Valsalva feels too forceful, and you can repeat it several times in a row safely.
Simple swallowing, yawning, or chewing gum: All three actions engage the muscles that pull the eustachian tubes open. Chewing gum keeps those muscles working continuously, which is why it’s a go-to trick on airplanes. During a cold, these milder approaches sometimes aren’t enough on their own, but they’re worth trying throughout the day.
Decongestants That Reduce the Swelling
When physical maneuvers don’t work, the tubes are likely too swollen to open mechanically. Decongestants shrink that inflamed tissue so air and fluid can pass through again.
Nasal decongestant sprays (like those containing oxymetazoline) act quickly because they deliver medication directly to the swollen tissue near the tube openings. Use one spray per nostril, up to twice a day. Do not use a nasal decongestant spray for more than three days in a row. Beyond that, the spray itself can trigger rebound congestion, leaving your nose and ears more blocked than before.
Oral decongestants (like pseudoephedrine, sold as Sudafed) work more slowly but treat swelling throughout the nasal passages and throat. They’re a better choice if you need relief over several days, since they don’t carry the same rebound risk. Follow the dosing on the package, and be aware that oral decongestants can raise blood pressure and cause jitteriness in some people.
Home Remedies for Extra Relief
A warm washcloth held against the affected ear can ease pain and discomfort while you wait for other methods to take effect. If you use a heating pad, keep it on its lowest setting and place a cloth between the pad and your skin to prevent burns.
Staying hydrated matters more than most people realize. Drinking plenty of water thins out mucus, making it easier for your eustachian tubes to drain. Thick, sticky mucus is harder for inflamed tubes to clear, so keeping fluids up throughout the day gives your body a better chance at resolving the blockage naturally. Hot liquids like tea or broth can be especially helpful because the steam adds moisture to your nasal passages at the same time.
Steam inhalation on its own is another option. Breathing in steam from a hot shower or a bowl of hot water can temporarily reduce nasal swelling and loosen mucus near the tube openings, making physical maneuvers more likely to succeed afterward.
Nasal Balloons for Stubborn Cases
If your ears stay blocked for more than a few days, a nasal balloon device (sold under the brand name Otovent) offers a more controlled version of the Valsalva maneuver. The kit includes a small nosepiece attached to a balloon. You press the nosepiece against one nostril, hold the other closed, and inflate the balloon by blowing through your nose until it reaches about the size of a grapefruit. Then you repeat on the other side.
The forced air opens the eustachian tube and helps fluid drain down the back of your throat. You may hear a click or feel a pressure shift when it works. The recommended starting routine is three times a day for the first week, then twice a day, for a total of two to three weeks. These devices are available without a prescription and are commonly used for persistent fluid buildup after colds and upper respiratory infections.
What Not to Do
The biggest risk is blowing too hard during the Valsalva maneuver. Excessive force can rupture your eardrum. Signs of a ruptured eardrum include sudden sharp pain that fades quickly, fluid or blood draining from the ear, hearing loss, ringing, and dizziness or nausea. If you experience any of these, stop all ear-popping attempts and see a doctor.
Avoid inserting anything into your ear canal. Cotton swabs, ear candles, and similar objects won’t help with middle ear pressure because the blockage is behind the eardrum, not in the ear canal itself. You’ll only risk irritating or damaging the canal.
When Pressure Means Something More
Simple cold-related ear congestion feels like fullness, mild pressure, and muffled hearing. It’s uncomfortable but manageable. If you develop a fever, significant ear pain, or notice pus draining from your ear, the fluid behind the eardrum may have become infected. This is a middle ear infection, and it typically requires a medical evaluation.
Ear pressure that lasts more than two weeks after your cold symptoms have cleared also warrants a visit to your doctor. Persistent fluid buildup without pain or fever can linger in the middle ear for weeks and may need treatment if it doesn’t resolve on its own. An ENT specialist can examine the eardrum directly and determine whether the fluid needs to be drained or whether the tubes need additional help opening.