How to Clean Earwax Without Pushing It Back

The ear has glands that produce wax, which is known medically as cerumen. The wax lubricates, cleans and protects the ear canal from dryness, itching, water, dust and bacteria. Wax normally falls out of the ear naturally as it dries, aided by the movement of the jaws while chewing. However, sometimes wax accumulates and blocks the ear canal and people have to remove the wax themselves. Signs that the ears need cleaning include partial hearing loss, itching, odd sounds, earache and plugged ears.

Instructions

• 1

  Wash the outside of the ear with a clean cloth without inserting anything inside.

• 2

  Avoid using cotton swabs, which only push wax farther back into the ear canal.

• 3

  Don’t use ear candles to remove wax. The process involves sticking hollow candles in the ears and lighting the other end. This could result in getting candle wax in your ear, or getting burned.

• 4

  Apply drops in your ear to dissolve the wax. The drops may be glycerin, baby oil, peroxide, mineral oil or drops purchased in the store for earwax removal. The drops may dissolve the wax on their own.

• 5

  Purchase an ear irrigation kit if drops alone don’t work. A kit usually includes a water and saline mixture along with a syringe. Apply drops 15 to 20 minutes before irrigating. Hold your ear upward and squirt the mixture into the ear canal, then tilt your head to let it drain.

• 6

  Visit your doctor to have earwax manually removed if your immune system is weak, or if you have a perforated eardrum, diabetes or a narrow ear canal.