Stop digging into your ear with a cotton swab each time you get out of the shower. Although you may remove a small amount of excess ear wax, you may actually be pushing more wax up against the eardrum, says the Mayo Clinic. If you use cotton swabs and other ear-cleaning tools correctly, you can help reduce earwax blockage and keep your ears healthy.
Cotton Swab
Instead of poking a cotton swab all the way inside your ear to remove excess earwax, leave it alone. Unless the earwax is posing a problem, it does not need to be removed. Instead, carefully swab the outside of the ear and the opening of the ear canal, says ear, nose and throat specialist, Dr. Douglas Hoffman. Carefully remove any excess dirt and wax, but don't plunge the cotton swab too far inside. Swabbing out the inner ear may turn a partial blockage into a complete blockage, says Dr. Hoffman.
Towel
While in the shower, rinse your ear with warm water to clean it, and carefully rub it with a washcloth, recommends Ann Douglas, author of "The Mother of All Toddler Books." After your shower, carefully rub the opening of the ear canal and the back of the ear with a clean towel to dry it. Water may become stuck in the ear if it is not completely dry, which can cause an infection. If you don't have a clean towel handy, you can also use a blow dryer on a low setting to carefully dry out the ear canal, says the Mayo Clinic.
Mineral Oil
If impacted wax in the ear canal is causing discomfort and ringing in the ears, use mineral oil to soften the hard wax that is stuck near the eardrum. Using an eyedropper, carefully place a few drops of mineral oil into the afflicted ear canal, then allow the drops to soften the earwax, suggests the Mayo Clinic. If the blockage has not cleared, continue to place mineral oil in the ear once a day for four or five days. Clear out the ear with water by using an ear irrigation kit, or see a doctor to remove the wax blockage completely.
