Excess wax in the ear canal can cause temporary hearing loss and ear aches. It is easy to remove wax at home. If you cannot remove wax from the ear and are having trouble hearing, see a doctor to have it removed. Do not stick any objects into your ear to try and remove the wax. This can cause damage to the eardrum.
Remove Ear Wax at Home
Step 1
Prevent waxy build-up. Your ears are constantly producing wax. The wax helps protect the ears from dust and grime buildup, but if too much wax gets lodged into the ear canal it can cause problems. It is not necessary to clean wax from the ears daily, but once every week or two you can remove excess wax to prevent too much build up. Dip a cotton ball in hydrogen peroxide. Lay on your side and drip a few drops of the peroxide into the ear that is facing up. Let the peroxide fizz in your ear. Switch sides when the fizzing stops. Lay a towel under your ear to catch the peroxide drainage. Repeat with your other ear.
Step 2
Soften the ear wax when it becomes too much to remove through peroxide alone. Softening will help you remove it easier and more effectively. Drip a couple of drops of baby oil into the clogged ear with a cotton ball. Allow it to sit in your ear for about 10 minutes to soften the wax.
Step 3
Irrigate the buildup. Fill a syringe with lukewarm water. Place the tip of the syringe near the ear canal (but not into the ear) and gently squeeze the water into the canal. This will shoot a stream of water to loosen the ear wax buildup. Repeat several times to wash out the wax.
Things You'll Need
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Cotton balls
- Baby oil
- Syringe
