Wax buildup is the most common cause of hearing loss for people in the United States, according to MedLine Plus, the online health information network published by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Though a certain amount of wax is necessary to protect your ears from foreign particles, if too much wax builds up in your ear canal and hardens there, the blockage can lead to hearing problems.
Step 1
Fill an eyedropper with hydrogen peroxide. Tilt your head to one side, and squeeze a few drops of hydrogen peroxide into your ear. Let the peroxide work in your ear for about a minute before tipping your head onto a towel or over a sink to drain the remaining peroxide. Repeat with the other ear.
Step 2
Use this hydrogen peroxide treatment two times every day for three or four days and for no longer than five days to soften up wax in the ear canal and prime it for removal.
Step 3
Squeeze a rubber bulb syringe to fill it with warm water. Tilt your head to one side, gently pulling your outer ear up to straighten out your ear canal. Slowly squeeze the warm water from the syringe into your ear canal, tugging on your ear if you need to so that you can feel the water moving all the way through your ear canal.
Step 4
Tilt your head over a sink or into a towel so that the water drains from your ear. Repeat the process with your other ear.
Step 5
Dry your outer ear gently, using a clean towel or a hair dryer.
Step 6
Repeat the process as needed. It may take more than one cleaning session to completely remove wax from your ear canal.
Tips and Warnings
- If you don't have hydrogen peroxide, you can substitute mineral oil, baby oil or glycerin for the hydrogen peroxide in this treatment.
- Check with a doctor if you're not able to successfully remove wax after several attempts. Call a doctor immediately if your ear blockage is accompanied by a fever, drainage, pain or hearing loss, as these can be signs of a serious health problem.
Things You'll Need
- Eyedropper
- Towel
- Bulb syringe
- Hair dryer
