If you’ve landed and your ears are still muffled or popping, here are the most effective ways to clear them safely. 1. The Valsalva Maneuver

That muffled hearing, stuffy sensation, and slight pain after landing is incredibly common. It happens because the air pressure in the cabin changes faster than your Eustachian tubes (the narrow passages connecting your middle ear to the back of your throat) can equalize. The result is a vacuum effect where your eardrum gets sucked inward.

Pinch your nostrils shut, close your mouth, and gently try to blow air through your nose.