How to Clean the Ears With H2O2

Using H2O2, also known as hydrogen peroxide, as an ear wax remover is a safe, effective and inexpensive home remedy. It's not meant for an excessively thick buildup of ear wax, but it is good for general ear canal cleaning and average wax removal. Although ear wax is produced by the cerumen gland to protect your ear from foreign substances, this very trapping of dirt and other outside particles can cause buildup that can impair hearing.

Things You'll Need

• 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
• Eyedropper
• Towel
• Bulb aspirator
• Bowl
• Cotton swabs

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Place your bottle of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide in a bowl of warm water. This ensures that what you put in your ear will not be too cold in comparison to your body temperature, which helps the remedy be more effective. Allow it to sit for five to six minutes.

• 2

  You may rest your head onto a counter or table for comfort.

  Tilt your head to the side, allowing your ear to face upward.

• 3

  Place the towel around your head and neck to sop up any spilled hydrogen peroxide.

• 4

  With the eyedropper, squeeze three drops of hydrogen peroxide into your ear canal. Allow three to four minutes to pass, or wait until the bubbling has stopped.

• 5

  Fill the bulb aspirator with lukewarm water. While you're doing this, you can raise your head up some, but keep it tilted so that the peroxide doesn't escape.

• 6

  Turn your head so that your treated ear now faces downward. Hold your head over a sink because liquid will drain from your ear.

• 7

  Place the tip of the bulb aspirator into your ear canal, and squeeze gently so that lukewarm water enters slowly. This helps flush the hydrogen peroxide and loosened wax out of your ear.

• 8

  Dry your outer ear with cotton swabs or the towel.