While many people attempt to dig ear wax out with a cotton swab or small implement, this is an ineffective method. Mostly it forces ear wax further into the ear canal, promoting wax blockages, as the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery states. Use of ear wax candles is also discouraged, as it easily results in injury. In addition, ear wax vacuums are best avoided, since they usually fail to remove a significant amount of wax, notes the American Hearing Research Foundation, or AHRF. An easy and effective way to remove ear wax is to soften it and irrigate it with a syringe.
Step 1
Keep ear wax soft on an ongoing basis with baby or olive oil, as AHRF recommends. Lie on your side and use an eyedropper to apply two or three drops of either oil into the ear canal every day or two. Sit still for about five minutes, then tilt your head to the side over a towel to allow the liquid to run out. It will carry out some ear wax as well.
Step 2
Treat wax blockages by irrigating them with a syringe. Irrigation can also be performed periodically as a preventative measure. Lie on your side with one ear parallel to the ceiling. Pull back slightly on the outer flap of the upward ear.
Step 3
Drop two or three drops of an ear wax-softening agent into the ear with an eyedropper. Solutions are sold over the counter for this purpose. The baby or olive oil you use for routine ear wax maintenance will work as well. Other options suggested by MedlinePlus include glycerin, mineral oil or hydrogen or carbamide peroxide.
Step 4
Wait about five minutes, allowing the softening agent time to work. Sit up, tilt your head, and allow your ear to drain over a towel. Dab the outside of your ear clean.
Step 5
Fill a syringe with lukewarm water. While sitting, gently squirt a light stream into your ear, with a towel over your shoulder. This will wash out the softened wax. Gently pat the outside of your ear dry.
Things You'll Need
- Baby or olive oil
- Eyedropper
- Towel
- Syringe
- Commercial ear drops
