Ear wax is produced by your ears to protect your inner ear from dirt, water and bacteria. Ear wax is naturally expelled from the ear canal and helps to keep ears clean. Some people's ears produce extra wax that can harden and create a blockage. This blockage can cause an earache, itching and even partial hearing loss. There are home remedies that may help remove stubborn ear wax. If these remedies do not work, your doctor can use specialized tools to remove the impacted wax.
Step 1
Tip your head to the side and use an ear dropper to insert a few drops of baby oil or hydrogen peroxide into your ear canal twice a day for up to a week. Let the drops remain in your ear for 30 minutes and then tilt your head to allow the drops to drain.
Step 2
Squirt lukewarm water into your ear canal using a bulb syringe after a week of softening the wax with the ear drops. As you tilt your head, pull your ear lobe up and back to straighten your ear canal. After rinsing with the bulb syringe, tilt your head back to drain out the water.
Step 3
Repeat the softening and irrigation process if it is not successful the first time. Sometimes, the first effort only removes the outer layer of the wax. If this process does not clear up your symptoms, contact your doctor.
Things You'll Need
- Eyedropper
- Bulb syringe
- Baby oil or hydrogen peroxide
