If you are bothered by clogged ears or worse yet, a mild ear infection, try blowing up a few balloons! In most cases ear infections are caused by blocked Eustachian tubes. These are responsible for ventilating the ears from the inside and become obstructed when someone has a cold, explains Dr. Anatoly Belilovsky, M.D. This trick clears the tubes much like the way a plumber’s snake clears a clogged drain.