How to Remove Hardened Ear Wax

Earwax is not actually a bad thing; its purpose is to protect the ear from debris and infection. Earwax is made up of skin, sweat, hair, debris and a liquid secretion from glands within the ear canal. Children tend to produce more wax than adults, but both adults and children can produce too much or develop problems caused by earwax. Fortunately, in most cases, removing impacted or hardened earwax is not difficult.

Things You'll Need

• Mineral oil (baby oil)
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Dropper
• Bulb syringe

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Instructions

• 1

  Soften the earwax by putting several drops of mineral oil in your ear. (You can use an eyedropper or medicine dropper for this.) Tilt your head so your ear is facing the ceiling, and put the mineral oil in your ear. Let it stay in your ear for about five minutes, then hold a clean paper towel or tissue to your ear, and tilt your head, so the oil drains back out.

• 2

  Loosen the softened wax in the same way, using hydrogen peroxide in place of mineral oil.

• 3

  Repeat the entire process twice a day, for about five days.

• 4

  Flush the ear with water when you feel the wax has softened up enough. Fill a bulb syringe with warm (not hot) water, tilt your head over the sink with your ear facing down, and gently squirt water in. The wax should flow out with the water, into the sink. As an alternative, you can allow water to run into your ear during a shower and let it run back out with the softened earwax.