How to Properly Clean Wax Out of Your Ear

Our ears are designed to be self-cleaning, so all you have to do is use a washcloth to wipe the outer ear and the entrance to the ear canal. The self-cleaning mechanism uses the jaw motion from talking and chewing to slowly transport earwax, old skin and debris toward the opening of our ear.
In some cases, the ear canal does not successfully clean itself, and your ear may feel full or plugged. Your ear may also ache, itch or produce an odor. You might lose your hearing and get a ringing noise.
If this happens, have your family doctor or primary care physician check and clean your ears. Sometimes the doctor may find that the wax is hard and impacted, so you will be sent home with instructions to soften the wax.

Things You'll Need

• Eyedropper
• Rubber-bulb syringe
• Baby oil, olive oil, mineral oil or hydrogen peroxide
• Small cup
• Towel

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Instructions

• 1

  Place a towel around your neck. This could get a little messy.

• 2

  Place one to two droppers of baby oil, olive oil or mineral oil in a small cup. Warm the oil by placing the cup in a pan of warm water. Body temperature (about 98.6 degrees F) is ideal but not necessary. Do not allow the oil to become hot.

• 3

  Prepare for the procedure by placing the cup of oil and eyedropper on a table in front of you. You will need easy access to them.

• 4

  Fill the eyedropper with the warm oil, then tilt your head toward your shoulder. Lean so that your ear is facing the ceiling.

• 5

  Place 2 to 3 drops of the warm oil into your ear and hold your head in position so that you feel the drops travel into your ear canal.

• 6

  Remain in that position for a few minutes, then sit upright. Wipe your ear as any fluid drains out.

• 7

  Repeat Steps 1 through 6 twice a day for 2 days to soften the wax.

• 8

  Irrigate your ear on the third day by mixing 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide and 1/4 cup of water. Warm the solution as described in Step 2.

• 9

  Prepare for the irrigation by placing the warm cup and rubber bulb syringe on the table. Then place a towel around your neck.

• 10

  Fill the rubber bulb syringe with the solution, then straighten your ear canal by pulling your ear up and back. Tilt your head toward your shoulder.

• 11

  Squirt the warm solution gently into your ear with the rubber bulb syringe.

• 12

  Tilt your head to the other side to let the solution drain out. Wipe your ear with the towel. If earwax still remains in your ear, follow Steps 1 through 6 to soften the wax.

• 13

  Repeat the irrigating and softening process in the evening of the third day. Repeat the same process twice a day for day 4 and 5 if the earwax still remains.