| Introduction (Click here to skip to nasal spray use)
Before going into an explanation of why there are occasions when the ear doesn't feel right (ear fullness, clogged ears) or makes unusual noises (ear crackling/popping), one must understand the anatomy of how the ear works when things are normal. If your ears hurt, click here.
To the right is a diagram of a normal ear with structures labelled. The middle ear space (colored in with yellow) is an air-filled region of the ear that is cut-off from the outside world except for one 1.5 inch long passageway called the eustachian tube which opens into the back of the nose (see picture or video). If the eustachian tube doesn't open normally, the middle ear space becomes isolated.
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Image is a modification of that found in Wikipedia under GNU Free Documentation License.
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When the eustachian tube functions normally, every single time you swallow, yawn, blow your nose, etc, your ear "pops". This popping is when the eustachian tube opens transiently allowing air to pass from the middle ear to the back of the nose which is open to the environment.
Watch video explaining this phenomenon.
SO, why does my ear feel full sometimes?
Assuming there is no earwax present which could cause symptoms of ear fullness, for most people, the ear fullness is due to their inability to pop their ears easily (or, open up the eustachian tube). Why would this cause ear fullness (and if severe enough, a persistent ear pain)? It's because there is a PRESSURE difference between the air pressure in the middle ear and the pressure outside across the eardrum. When there is a pressure difference, the eardrum either bulges outward (positive pressure) or bulges inward (negative pressure). Basically, when the eardrum bulges inward or outward, it creates a sensation of fullness for the person.
| Eardrum bulges inward when the pressure outside is greater than the pressure in the middle ear space (ie, occurs when a plane is landing or if you dive deep into water)... The first picture reveals a pressure of "30" outside the ear (remember, the ear canal is open to the outside) whereas the pressure is only "10" inside the ear. This will cause the eardrum to bulge inward until the pressure outside and inside the ear matches at "30." | 
Images are a modification of that found in Wikipedia under GNU Free Documentation License.
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| Eardrum bulges outward when the pressure outside is less than the pressure in the middle ear space (ie, occurs when a plane is taking off or if you drive up a tall mountain)... The situation is reverse from that above. With the middle ear pressure of "30" being more than the ouside pressure of "10,", the eardrum bulges outward until the pressure inside and outside matches at "10." | 
Images are a modification of that found in Wikipedia under GNU Free Documentation License.
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Normally, by popping your ears, the pressure difference will normalize (ie, no pressure can build up in a balloon if there is a hole) and the eardrum will go back into a neutral position. If the pressure difference is severe, the eardrum can bulge to the point it can pop like a balloon, a situation known as a perforated eardrum. Of note, people suffering predominantly from negative ear pressure are at risk of developing fluid in the middle ear which may lead to middle ear infections (otitis media) and hearing loss.
So, what would cause the eustachian tube to not open up properly? Well, something could be physically blocking the opening of the eustachian tube in the nose, most notably large adenoids. In rare cases, it could even be a tumor. Endoscopy is required to evaluate for these possibilities. More commonly, the eustachian tube does not open properly due to inflammatory conditions, especially allergies, resulting in the tube becoming inflamed and swollen. That's why when people get a cold or allergies are bad, their ears also becomes affected. This condition is known as Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.
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To read more about this condition and how to treat it, click here.
Products That Help Pop the Ear Due to Eustachian Tube Dysfunction or Fluid in the Middle Ear:
Geared Toward Adults
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Balloon Geared Toward Kids
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