Earwax is a gooey substance that you may want to remove from your ears, but it has an important job to do. Earwax sticks to the sides of the ear canal and prevents dirt and bacteria from getting into the eardrum, says the MayoClinic.com. Jamming a cotton swab into the ear may push wax against the eardrum, causing a blockage. To prevent earwax blockage and keep your ears healthy, learn to clean them correctly.
Step 1
Leave the inside of your ears alone. Attempting to clean out the inside of the ear with a pointy device, like a cotton swab or finger, will cause wax to harden and jam against the back of the eardrum.
Step 2
Rub a warm washcloth carefully on the outside of the ear and the opening of the ear canal to clean it, recommends an article on KidsHealth, a medical website. Do not push the washcloth inside the ear.
Step 3
Place a few drops of hydrogen peroxide into the ear canal with an eyedropper if your ear feels or looks clogged. Repeat the process twice a day for up to five days. The Mayo Clinic recommends using hydrogen peroxide to soften the earwax and allow it to emerge from the ear canal.
Step 4
Place an over-the-counter earwax softener in your ear once a month at the most, says David Edelstein, M.D., an otolaryngologist at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital in New York City. Although over-the-counter softeners may dissolve earwax, they can also irritate the ear canal.
Step 5
Consult a doctor if the earwax blockage is painful and cannot be removed with at-home remedies. Your doctor may use a syringe filled with warm water to remove impacted wax.
Tips and Warnings
- Use mineral oil in place of hydrogen peroxide if you don't have peroxide on hand.
- Consult a doctor before using home remedies to remove earwax. Use home remedies and over-the-counter products at your own risk.
Things You'll Need
- Washcloth
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Eyedropper
- Over-the-counter earwax softener
