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How to Remove Ear Wax Safely

Usually, your ear wax is a very helpful substance. Your ear canal depends on ear wax to corral dirt and bacteria. Unfortunately, some people suffer from an excess of ear wax, and others experience blockage from hardened ear wax. Hardened, excessive ear wax causes pain and minor hearing loss. If this happens to you, you’ll need to remove the offending ear wax through safe methods. Avoid using cotton swabs, which can impact the ear wax further and cause even worse problems, including eardrum perforation.

  1. Softening Hardened Ear Wax

    • To prep for home removal, you’ll first need to soften up the hard ear wax. You can use various liquids that you might have around your home for this process, such as baby oil, hydrogen peroxide or olive oil. You can also buy an over-the-counter ear wax softening product from your local pharmacy. Twice a day, use an eyedropper to apply a couple drops into your affected ear. Allow the substance time to get to work; softening can take several applications. Over the course of two to four days, your ear wax should soften enough for easy removal.

    At Home Irrigation

    • When you’ve sufficiently softened your ear wax, you can use a rubber bulb syringe to irrigate your ear. Fill the syringe only with warm water; hot water can burn your delicate inner ear, and cold water won’t do much to remove the wax. Tilt your head over a large bowl, which will catch the wax and water as you irrigate your ear. Squeeze the warm water into your ear, using gentle pressure. Repeat as necessary.

    Aftercare

    • Always dry your ears after irrigation; water left inside the ear can cause further problems. A hand towel or a hair dryer on the lowest setting should suffice. Often, the first attempt at ear wax removal won’t remove all of the impacted ear wax. You may need to repeat the treatment one or more times over the course of a few days. If the problem doesn’t resolve after three or four treatments, see your primary health care provider.

    When to Visit a Doctor

    • While ear wax removal kits are readily available at any drugstore and are considered safe, sometimes they can’t fully solve the problem. Occasionally, they cause the ear wax to lodge further against the eardrum, creating more pain. Your doctor has the tools and the experience to safely and quickly remove deeply impacted ear wax. Your doctor will use a curette to gently pull away wax in a single session.

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