This is also why the classic "Valsalva maneuver" (pinching your nose and blowing gently) sometimes fails. You’re forcing air against a door that is swollen shut . In fact, blowing too hard can force infected mucus up into the middle ear, turning a simple clog into a full-blown ear infection (otitis media).
Drinking plenty of water thins the mucus in your nose and throat, making it easier for the Eustachian tube to drain. ear clogged from cold