Earwax is one of the ways that your body defends itself. It keeps dirt and germs out of the ear canal, and typically does not need to be cleaned out. From time to time you may experience an earwax blockage that makes it difficult to hear or is simply uncomfortable. Never place a foreign object into the ear canal; you could risk rupturing an ear drum. Instead, use gentler methods to keep your ears clean.
Step 1
Place three drops of mineral oil into the ear canal with an eyedropper. Mineral oil helps to soften the wax preparatory to irrigation, notes the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Lay your head to the side with the ear that needs cleaning facing the ceiling. Drop in the mineral oil and massage under the ear to ensure that the oil seeps into the ear canal. Continue the same process for two or three more days, depending on the severity of your earwax blockage.
Step 2
Fill a small bowl with warm water. Make sure the water is only warm enough to feel neutral when you place your fingers in the bowl. Your ear is very sensitive and hot water could scald the delicate lining of the ear canal.
Step 3
Fill a bulb syringe with water by depressing the bulb and allowing it to suction the warm water from the bowl. Lie down on a flat surface with the ear that needs cleaning facing the ceiling. Insert the tip of the syringe a half inch into the ear and rapidly depress the bulb. The water will rush into the ear and flush out the softened earwax. You may need to irrigate the ear several times.
Step 4
Drain the ear by lying on a folded towel with the flushed ear facing the ground. Wait five minutes. You may also want to dry the ear thoroughly using a hair dryer set on low or a few drops of rubbing alcohol. A warm, moist environment is ideal for the bacteria which cause ear infections, which is why it's important to dry your ear thoroughly.
Step 5
Schedule an appointment with your doctor if your ear problems continue. He can look at the ear, and if there is a blockage, he can use a small vacuum-like device to clean the ear completely, notes W. Steven Pray, Ph.D., professor of pharmaceutics at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
Things You'll Need
- Eyedropper
- Mineral oil
- Small bowl
- Bulb syringe
- Towel
- Hair dryer (optional)
- Rubbing alcohol (optional)
