Keep water out of your ears while swimming with correctly fitted swim earplugs, custom swim molds, a covering cap and a reliable drying routine. Learn which options suit regular swimmers, children and people prone to swimmer's ear.
Written by Dr. Abid Saeed, Consultant Audiologist | 10-minute read
Quick answer
To keep water out of your ears while swimming, use earplugs designed for water, custom-fitted swim molds or a bathing cap that covers the ears. A snug cap or swimming headband can help hold plugs in place but may not create a complete seal by itself. After swimming, tilt each ear downward, dry the outer ear and avoid cotton swabs. Ask a healthcare professional for individualized advice if you have ear tubes, a perforated eardrum, drainage or recent ear surgery.
In this guide
- Eight ways to keep water out
- Swimming earplug comparison
- How to get a secure fit
- Water protection for children
- Ear tubes, perforations and surgery
- What to do after swimming
- Frequently asked questions
Water entering the outer ear canal is common and usually harmless. The problem begins when moisture stays trapped, particularly in a narrow canal, behind excess earwax or against irritated skin. Prolonged moisture can soften the canal lining and make an outer-ear infection, commonly called swimmer's ear, more likely.
No earplug or cap can guarantee that every drop stays out. The most reliable strategy combines correctly fitted equipment, careful handling of the ear canal and thorough external drying after each swim.
How to keep water out of your ears while swimming
1. Use earplugs made specifically for swimming
Swimming earplugs are designed to reduce water entry. They are different from disposable foam plugs made mainly for noise control. Choose a reusable product that feels secure without causing pressure or pain, and follow its sizing and insertion instructions.
A loose plug can leak or fall out. A plug that is forced too deeply may irritate the canal and make removal difficult. Stop using any design that scratches, hurts or repeatedly becomes stuck.
2. Consider moldable silicone plugs
Moldable silicone putty forms a seal over the entrance of the ear canal rather than being pushed deep inside it. This can be comfortable for occasional swimmers and may adapt to different outer-ear shapes.
Start with clean, dry hands and follow the manufacturer's directions. Keep the material as one piece, press it over the canal opening and never divide it into a small piece that could lodge inside the ear. Replace the plug when it becomes dirty, damaged or no longer adheres securely.
3. Choose preformed reusable swim plugs for regular use
Preformed plugs, including flanged or contoured designs, can be washed and reused. They are convenient for frequent swimmers when the size matches the canal. Some come in several sizes, while others are shaped for the left and right ear.
Insert only as directed. A secure seal should not require force. If one ear leaks consistently, the two canals may need different sizes or a different design.
4. Ask about custom-fitted swim molds
An audiologist can take impressions and arrange swim molds shaped for your ears. Custom molds may provide a more consistent fit for competitive swimmers, people with unusual canal shapes, children who swim often or anyone who struggles to keep standard plugs in place.
Custom does not mean maintenance-free. Wash and dry the molds according to professional instructions, inspect them for damage and have the fit reviewed as a child grows or if an adult notices leakage.
5. Wear a swim cap that covers the ears
A snug silicone cap can reduce direct water flow and help prevent earplugs from becoming dislodged. Pull the cap over the outer ears without folding them sharply or creating painful pressure.
A cap alone may not seal the canal completely, especially during repeated submersion. Use it as an additional layer when keeping the ears dry is important.
6. Add a swimming headband when plugs slip
A neoprene swimming headband can cover the ears and help hold plugs or molds in position. This can be useful for children, open-water swimmers and people whose caps move during activity. The band should be snug but should not compress the ear painfully.
7. Avoid unnecessary underwater pressure
Surface swimming exposes the ears differently from diving. Descending underwater increases pressure and may force water against a weak seal. If you have difficulty equalizing, ear pain, recent surgery or specific medical restrictions, avoid diving until a clinician says it is safe.
8. Protect the ear canal's natural defenses
Earwax helps repel water and protect the canal. Do not routinely remove it with cotton swabs, fingernails or tools. These methods can push wax deeper, remove the protective layer and scratch the skin.
If wax is causing fullness, hearing difficulty or repeated water trapping, review the safe options for earwax buildup or arrange professional assessment.
Which swimming ear protection is best?
| Option | Best suited to | Main advantage | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moldable silicone putty | Occasional swimming and variable outer-ear shapes | Seals over the canal opening | Can loosen if hair, oil or moisture affects the seal |
| Preformed reusable plugs | Regular swimmers who find the correct size | Quick to insert, clean and reuse | An incorrect size may leak or feel uncomfortable |
| Custom swim molds | Frequent swimmers and difficult-to-fit ears | Individualized shape and stable fit | Higher initial cost and professional fitting |
| Swim cap | Extra coverage and holding plugs in place | Reduces direct water flow around the ears | Usually not a complete seal when used alone |
| Swimming headband | Children, open-water swimmers and slipping plugs | Helps stabilize plugs and covers the ears | Does not seal the canal by itself |
How to get a secure and comfortable earplug fit
- Start with clean, dry ears and hands. Moisture, sunscreen and hair products can weaken a surface seal.
- Check left and right orientation. Shaped plugs and custom molds may be side-specific.
- Follow the product instructions. Moldable putty seals over the opening, while preformed plugs use a different insertion method.
- Test before entering deep water. Splash gently or submerge only at the surface to check for obvious leakage.
- Add a cap or headband. This can keep properly fitted plugs stable during movement.
- Stop if there is pain. Pressure, sharp discomfort or difficult removal means the fit or style is unsuitable.
Do not share reusable earplugs. Clean them according to the manufacturer's directions and store them completely dry in a ventilated case.
How can children keep water out of their ears?
Children need a comfortable, age-appropriate fit and adult supervision. A soft swimming headband over water-blocking plugs can help prevent a child from knocking them loose. Custom swim molds may be worthwhile for frequent lessons or repeated fit problems.
Inspect reusable protection before each swim and replace damaged pieces. Small loose plugs can be a choking hazard, so store them securely. Never force a plug into a child's canal, and stop if the child reports pain or pressure.
If a child has ear tubes, recent surgery or recurring discharge, follow the treating clinician's instructions. Routine precautions are not identical for every child or every type of water exposure.
What if you have ear tubes, a perforated eardrum or previous surgery?
Do not assume that everyone with ear tubes needs the same swimming restrictions. Current ear, nose and throat guidance indicates that routine protection may not be necessary for clean, treated surface water in many people with tubes. Deep submersion, untreated water, drainage, pain and individual surgical instructions can change that advice.
Ask your ENT specialist, audiologist or surgeon about:
- whether surface swimming is allowed;
- whether plugs or custom molds are recommended;
- how long to wait after surgery;
- whether diving or underwater swimming should be avoided;
- what to do if pain or drainage develops.
Do not place ear-drying drops into an ear with tubes, a known or suspected perforation, active drainage or swimmer's ear unless a healthcare professional specifically approves them.
Dry your ears after swimming even when you use earplugs
Ear protection reduces water entry but does not remove the need for drying. After leaving the water:
- Remove plugs with clean hands according to their instructions.
- Tilt each ear downward and let gravity drain moisture.
- Gently pull the earlobe in different directions.
- Dry the outer ear with a clean towel.
- If needed, use a hair dryer on the lowest heat and fan setting from several inches away.
If water remains, follow our complete guide on how to get water out of your ear safely. Do not insert a cotton swab or any other object.
When water protection is not enough
A blocked sensation immediately after swimming can be trapped water, but persistent fullness may also come from wax, swelling or pressure behind the eardrum. Use our guide to understand why an ear feels clogged after swimming.
Seek medical care if you develop increasing pain, itching, tenderness when the outer ear is moved, discharge, fever, dizziness or a notable hearing change. These may be symptoms of swimmer's ear or another problem that needs examination.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to keep water out of your ears while swimming?
Use correctly fitted swimming earplugs or custom swim molds. Add a cap or swimming headband to help keep the plugs stable, then dry the outer ears after swimming.
Do swim caps keep water out of your ears?
A cap that covers the ears can reduce water exposure and hold plugs in place, but it may not create a complete waterproof seal when used alone.
Are silicone earplugs good for swimming?
Moldable silicone putty can work well when it forms a single seal over the canal opening. Do not push it deep into the ear, split it into small pieces or use damaged material.
Can I use foam earplugs for swimming?
Use plugs designed and labeled for water protection. Standard disposable foam plugs are mainly intended for noise reduction and may not provide a stable water seal.
Are custom swim molds worth it?
They can be helpful for frequent swimmers, difficult-to-fit ears, repeated plug leakage and children who swim regularly. An audiologist can assess the fit and replace molds as ear shape or size changes.
Should I remove earwax before swimming?
No. Earwax helps protect the canal. If you have a symptomatic buildup or water repeatedly traps behind wax, ask a clinician about safe removal instead of using cotton swabs.
Can I use ear-drying drops after every swim?
Ask a healthcare professional whether they are suitable for you. Do not use drying drops with ear tubes, a perforated eardrum, ear drainage or active swimmer's ear unless a clinician approves them.
Should children with ear tubes wear earplugs?
Routine protection may not be needed for every child in clean, treated surface water. Follow the child's ENT or surgeon because advice can differ after recent surgery, with drainage, during deep submersion or in untreated water.
Swimming ear-protection checklist
- Choose plugs made for swimming rather than ordinary foam noise plugs.
- Use the correct size and never force a plug deeply into the canal.
- Consider custom swim molds for frequent swimming or difficult fits.
- Use a cap or headband as a second layer to stabilize plugs.
- Keep reusable plugs clean, dry and unshared.
- Protect natural earwax and avoid cotton swabs.
- Dry the outer ears after every swim.
- Follow individualized advice for tubes, perforations and surgery.
Medical guidance sources
- CDC: Preventing swimmer's ear
- ENT Health: Swimmer's ear prevention
- ENT Health: Ear tubes and water precautions
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Swimmer's ear in children
Medical disclaimer: This article provides general educational information and does not replace personalized advice from an audiologist, ENT specialist or other qualified healthcare professional.