Earwax buildup can cause a host of problems, namely, hearing loss. You can accidentally make your problem much worse by pushing the wax impaction down next to the ear drum when attempting to remove it with a cotton swab. When clearing your ears of wax (also known as cerumen), the American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) stresses the importance of keeping foreign objects out of the ear canal. If you notice not only a slight hearing loss, but also an earache, tinnitus or a sensation of "fullness" in the afflicted ear, you can get rid of earwax at home using gentle, noninvasive methods of self-care.
Step 1
Soften up the earwax first with an earwax softener. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) advises using baby oil, glycerin or mineral oil; a detergent drop, such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide; or over-the-counter eardrops made for this purpose. Mayo Clinic experts state that it is best to use a few drops of one of these earwax softeners twice daily for no more than four or five days before you irrigate the ear (see Step 2).
Step 2
Irrigate the ear with a rubber, bulb-tipped syringe--you can purchase one at most drugstores as part of an irrigation kit, says the AAO. Make sure to warm the water to body temperature to avoid temporary vertigo, cautions the NIH. Keeping your head upright, gently cup the exterior ear upward to straighten your ear canal. Squeeze the syringe gently, so that a stream of water flows against the wax impaction. Tilt your head downward to permit drainage of excess water. The NIH indicates that you may have to repeat this step more than once.
Step 3
Dry the ear. Blot the exterior part of your ear with a towel, taking care not to insert the towel into the ear canal. If you wish, you can dry the ear more thoroughly by using a hair dryer on the lowest setting or applying a few drops of rubbing alcohol into the ear itself.
Step 4
See a doctor if you cannot get rid of earwax on your own, advises the Mayo Clinic. A health care provider may be better able to flush out earwax using the same technique. Alternately, your doctor may use a small instrument (a curette) or a suctioning technique to remove the impaction.
Tips and Warnings
- Home earwax removal works best if you use drops to dissolve wax 15 to 30 minutes just before irrigation. Some drugstore irrigation kits may instruct you to use a saline solution, rather than plain water.
- Ear candling is a particularly dangerous method of removing earwax, cautions the AAO, as it can cause serious damage to your ears. Ear candles pose such a hazard that, in 1996, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took measures to issue injunctions against those that sell ear candles and seized products.
Things You'll Need
- Earwax softener of your choice--baby oil, glycerin, mineral oil, hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide or similar
- Syringe or irrigation kit
- Towel
- Hair dryer (if needed)
- Rubbing alcohol (if needed)
