White vinegar and rubbing alcohol fix swimmer's ear.

Yes, you can treat most swimmer’s ear at home with a simple drying solution.

Mix equal parts white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Put a few drops in the affected ear after swimming, let it sit for a minute, then let it drain out. The alcohol dries the water, and the vinegar changes the pH so bacteria can’t grow. Works better than most pharmacy drops.

Don’t use this if you think your eardrum might be perforated — pain, hearing loss, or discharge from an existing ear infection. In that case, see a doctor.

For other pool-related infections (like athlete’s foot or fungal rashes), keep the area dry and use an over-the-counter antifungal cream. Chlorine kills most stuff, but wet skin and warm swimsuits can breed infections. Shower after swimming, dry off completely, change out of wet clothes fast.

Don’t stick Q-tips in your ear. You’ll just push the water deeper and scrape the skin.