Earwax Removal: How to Safely Remove It At Home (2024)

Trouble hearing? Or did you push that cotton swab a little too deep this time? A clogged ear from earwax buildup is at best annoying and at worst a prelude to hearing loss.

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But earwax, also known as cerumen, is not only normal, it’s necessary.

“People think that earwax is dirty and needs to be cleaned, but earwax has both anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties,” says ear, nose and throat specialistAnh Nguyen-Huynh, MD. “It also protects ears from things that could hurt the eardrum, such as dust, hair or small insects.”

Factors that can affect your amount of earwax include previous ear surgery or trauma, recurrent ear infections, or wearinghearing aidsor deep earplugs.

How to remove earwax safely

So how can you best handle earwax woes?

“Sometimes, trying to clean them causes more problems than it’s worth,” says Dr. Nguyen-Huynh. “Ears are like self-cleaning ovens. When the outer layer of skin in the ear canal sheds, the wax will fall out with it.”

If earwax is becoming a nuisance, Dr. Nguyen-Huynh recommends several easy ear cleaning methods:

Over-the-counter ear cleaning drops

If you have a small amount of wax, over-the-counter ear cleaners work well. Look for drops that contain hydrogen peroxide or other kinds of peroxide. The peroxide does a good job of breaking up earwax.

Here’s how to use ear cleaning drops:

  1. Lay sideways:Make sure the ear you’re cleaning faces up and add the drops as directed.
  2. Let it sit:Allow the cleaning solution to sit in your ear for around five minutes. This lets the liquid soak in and soften things up.
  3. Grab a tissue:When you sit up, the liquid should come out along with the earwax that broke loose. Have a tissue ready to catch it all.

Ear cleaning drops may not work if you have too much earwax or a condition calledimpacted cerumen(when there’s a firm wax plug blocking your ear canal).

“When it’s a plug, putting peroxide in your ear may make things worse because you’re softening the plug but not dissolving or removing it,” Dr. Nguyen-Huynh says. “Then the softened plug becomes like a wall of mud that can plug your ear even more.”

A bulb syringe

If ear cleaning drops don’t work, the ears might need flushing with a bulb syringe, which are available at drug stores or grocery stores. You’ll want to fill the syringe with warm water, place it near your ear opening, and carefully squeeze the bulb. The warm water will flood your ear and break up the wax. Turn your head to the side over a sink or bathtub to let the water (and, ideally, wax) flow out.

However, there are a few caveats:

  • Be gentle:Flush your ear gently to avoid harming your eardrum.
  • Watch the temperature:The water should not be too cold or too hot. If it is either, the temperature difference could make you dizzy.
  • Avoid if necessary:Don’t use the flushing method if you have a hole in your eardrum or if you’ve ever had eardrum surgery. Flushing may damage your eardrum repair.

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If you are not comfortable flushing your own ears, says Dr. Nguyen-Huynh, you might want to check with your primary care provider’s office to see if there is a nurse who can do it for you.

Mineral or olive oil

Anecdotally, Dr. Nguyen-Huynh says people who put olive oil in an ear before getting a cleaning seem to get wax out more easily. “It lubricates the ear canal,” he explains. “But I’m not sure it’s any better than what we usually recommend, which is mineral oil.”

Earwax removal methods to avoid

All earwax removal hacks are not created equal. Dr. Nguyen-Huynh recommends steering clear of these two remedies:

Cotton swabs

A manufacturer’s warning on the package says it all:Do not insert swab into the ear canal.Dr. Nguyen-Huynh explains: “A cotton swab acts like a ramrod in an old-style cannon. The tip pushes the earwax in deeper, so the more you use it, the more earwax you push in. Plus, you may rupture your eardrum if you push too far. Or if you scratch your ear canal, it can get infected because now dirt and bacteria can penetrate under your skin.”

Earwax removal candles

Dr. Nguyen-Huynh says you should doubly stay away from this method: These candles don’t work, and they may burn you.

Why and when you should clean out earwax

While earwax is generally more annoying than dangerous, sometimes you need a doctor to clear it. Dr. Nguyen-Huynh says it’s smart to seek medical evaluation if home remedies don’t work, your ear hurts or you have trouble hearing.

“Someone needs to look in and see if the ear canal is open or if the wax is plugging it up,” he says.

Symptoms of a clogged ear include:

  • Pain
  • Your hearing becomes muffled
  • A feeling like your ear has something blocking it
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus

If the situation is minor, you may be able to get your ears unblocked right then and there. If not, a doctor can use operating microscopes to magnify inside the ear canal, loosen the wax and vacuum it out.

And a clogged ear may have other causes. “It could be a middle ear infection with fluid filling up the space behind the eardrum,” Dr. Nguyen-Huynh cautions. “Or you could have a viral infection that affects the inner ear. In those cases, a doctor can diagnose and treat you to prevent permanent hearing loss.”

But like most things in life, it’s all about balance — too much wax can block your ears and cause temporary hearing loss or infections. “A small number of people will need cleaning if they produce too much wax that jams up the ear, especially if they have a smaller-than-average ear canal,” Dr. Nguyen-Huynh explains.

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Earwax Removal: How to Safely Remove It At Home (2024)

FAQs

Earwax Removal: How to Safely Remove It At Home? ›

Earwax removal tips

Instead, soak a cotton ball and drip a few drops of plain water, a simple saline solution, or hydrogen peroxide into the ear with your head tilted so the opening of the ear is pointing up. Keep it in that position for a minute to allow gravity to pull the fluid down through the wax.

What is the safest way to remove earwax at home? ›

Earwax removal tips

Instead, soak a cotton ball and drip a few drops of plain water, a simple saline solution, or hydrogen peroxide into the ear with your head tilted so the opening of the ear is pointing up. Keep it in that position for a minute to allow gravity to pull the fluid down through the wax.

What dissolves ear wax immediately? ›

If the aim is to completely break down the wax, waxsol, peroxide 3% or a sodium bicarbonate solution (which can be prepared by your local pharmacist) is effective.

How to remove stubborn ear wax at home with syringe? ›

Hold the nozzle inside the ear (not too deeply) and GENTLY squirt the water from the bulb syringe into the ear. You can gently squirt more bulb syringes into the ear if require. Leave the water in your ear for 1-3 minutes to soften the wax.

How to open a blocked ear wax? ›

Ear drops:

Ear drops alone will clear a plug of earwax in most cases. Put 2 or 3 drops of ordinary olive oil down the ear 2 or 3 times a day for 2-3 weeks. This softens the wax so that it then runs out of its own accord without harming the ear. You can continue for any length of time, but 3 weeks is usually enough.

How to get something deep out of your ear? ›

By placing the affected ear down and gently wiggling the ear pinna, you may be able to shift the object enough to cause it to fall out. If an object becomes lodged in the ear and this technique fails, it is usually best to have it removed by a doctor who can view the object with proper lighting and instruments.

How to scoop out earwax? ›

Purchase a soft rubber bulb syringe made for ear cleaning, and fill it with warm water. Tilt your head to the side with a thick towel or basin below the ear. Gently squeeze the bulb so that the warm water shoots into your ear. Allow the water to run down into the towel or basin.

What pulls ear wax out? ›

Your provider can also flush out the wax using a syringe filled with warm water and saline or diluted hydrogen peroxide. Medicated ear drops may also be recommended to help soften the wax, such as carbamide peroxide (Debrox Earwax Removal Kit, Murine Ear Wax Removal System).

How do you get rid of earwax in 30 seconds? ›

Soak a cotton ball with the hydrogen peroxide. Tilt your head and drip the peroxide into your ear. You may hear it fizz as it tries to dissolve the earwax. After about 30 seconds, drain your ear onto a washcloth.

How to get impacted ear wax out? ›

You also can try hydrogen peroxide mixed with an equal amount of room temperature water. Place 2 drops of the fluid, warmed to body temperature, in the ear two times a day for up to 5 days. Once the wax is loose and soft, all that is usually needed to remove it from the ear canal is a gentle, warm shower.

Is it safe to suction out ear wax at home? ›

Instead of trying ear wax removal at home, we recommend booking an appointment for microsuction ear wax removal with a professional. Not ready to abandon your DIY ear wax removal attempts? Read on to find out exactly what damage you could be causing to your ears – you'll soon be ready to book an appointment.

How do you get tight ear wax out? ›

Carbamide peroxide: Carbamide peroxide drops are available over the counter. You can place 5 to 10 drops in the affected ear twice per day for up to 7 days. Baking soda solution: A baking soda solution can also help soften wax. You can make it on your own using 1 part sterile water and 1 part baking soda.

Will stuck ear wax eventually come out? ›

Will impacted ear wax fix itself? The short answer is that it is unlikely. While it is true that our ears are self-cleaning, and wax should be carried out of the ear canal naturally, if your ear wax has built up to the point that it is symptomatic, and impacted, you may need a little more help.

How do you massage ear wax out? ›

Massage Your Ears

To massage ear wax out or loosen the ear wax, try the following: Place your pointer and middle fingers behind your ear lobe. Press in and make slow circles. Tip your head to one side to encourage the wax to drain.

What are the best options for removing ear wax? ›

Your provider can also flush out the wax using a syringe filled with warm water and saline or diluted hydrogen peroxide. Medicated ear drops may also be recommended to help soften the wax, such as carbamide peroxide (Debrox Earwax Removal Kit, Murine Ear Wax Removal System).

What is the best ear wax removal system? ›

The Lengin Otoscope Ear Cleaner is our best overall pick because it comes with a camera and light on the end, which makes it a safer approach. You an see exactly what your ear canal looks like as you clean it by connecting the cleaner to your phone via the Soulear app, which is compatible with Android and iOS devices.

Do doctors recommend ear candling? ›

In 2017 , The American Academy of Otolaryngology published updated clinical practice guidelines for earwax removal, stating, “Ear candling or ear coning is NOT a safe option for earwax removal. Research shows that ear candling does NOT create a vacuum to suck earwax from the ear.”

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