Drain water-logged ears with Olympic ease

Every day I swim, I end up with two ears full of water. Stuck water. Water that won't drain on its own. Water that makes me feel like I'm in a tunnel. I've found a remedy -- a little bottle of something from my local drugstore that works wonders. I insert a few drops into each ear and instantly, I feel a warm sensation, followed by a release of that water, which runs promptly onto the side of face and smells a lot like ... alcohol.

Alcohol. That's the exact ingredient in my perfect potion. Nothing magical about it. And nothing I need to buy from the store.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Natalie Coughlin tells Real Simple magazine (August 2008) that she has a do-it-yourself method for freeing the water that fills her ears. Here's what she does.

• Combine equal parts rubbing alcohol (to dry ears) with white vinegar (to disinfect).
• Place in an eye dropper.
• Put a few drops in the ear canal.
• Wait 30 seconds.
• Drain.
  
  

Nothing complicated about that. Nothing I can't do. How about you?