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Home Remedy for Cleaning Wax out of Ears

Earwax is a waxy substance created by the cerumen glands in the ear to protect the ear canal from bacteria and from foreign objects that fly into the ear. Earwax, although normal, can build up, causing hearing loss and infections. There are a variety of ways to break up earwax and to remove it from the ear.

  1. Irrigation

    • Perform a warm water irrigation to remove wax from the ears. Soften the wax in the ear over several days by squirting a small amount of baby or mineral oil into the ear twice a day over a four-day period. This will loosen the wax and make it soft. After the fourth day, use a rubber-ball syringe to squirt a small amount of warm water into the ear. Although a primary care physician may use a curette---a wand with a small scoop at the end---to remove wax from the ear, do not attempt this method yourself. Make sure to dry out the ear using a towel or a blow dryer to prevent water from getting stuck inside.

    Homemade Ear Drops

    • Mix water, vinegar and peroxide together into a small squirting bottle and apply it to the ear to loosen the wax. Mix one part water, one part vinegar and two parts peroxide into a bottle, and warm the liquid to body temperature. Like baby oil, apply this to the ear twice a day for four days. The downside to this method is that the loosened wax may travel farther into the ear and cause a hard blockage. Also, those who have had a perforated eardrum, or are susceptible to ear infections, should not apply this method.

    Cotton Swabs

    • Use cotton swabs carefully to remove loose wax from the ear. Although it is often recommended not to stick cotton swabs into your ear, it is a common and effective way to remove earwax if done properly. When using a cotton swab, gently turn it in the ear. Do not plunge the cotton swab into the ear too deep, and do not press hard against anything solid in the ear; doing this may cause you to push hardened wax farther into the ear or burst an eardrum. Plunging a cotton swab too far can also cause an infection called swimmer's ear, which can lead to hearing loss.

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