Ear wax is an important part of your body's natural defense system. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, ear wax works to line your ear canal to protect your sensitive ears from dirt, bacteria and microorganisms that could injure your ear. While most ear wax is expelled from the ear naturally, occasionally an individual will make more ear wax than is naturally removed, and it needs to be removed manually. Olive oil can be an ideal way to help you soften ear wax in preparation for removal.
Step 1
Fill an eyedropper with olive oil. Place two drops of olive oil into each ear, says the Health Services website for Columbia University. Tilt your head to one side and drop in the oil. Massage the base of your ear carefully to ensure that the olive oil penetrates the ear wax. Flip your head to the other side. Repeat.
Step 2
Repeat the same step for several days in a row. Each day you drop more olive oil into the ear, you are softening ear wax so that it is more easily loosened and expelled. The ENT Nursing website notes that this alone is often enough to keep your ears clean. You can still irrigate the ear to remove excessive build-up.
Step 3
Fill a bulb syringe with lukewarm water. Test the water with your elbow first to ensure that it is not too hot. Tilt your ear to the ceiling. Insert the first quarter-inch of the tip of the bulb syringe in the ear. Squish rapidly to blast water into the ear. Make sure you are standing over a sink or towel to catch any of the messy run-off. You may need to blast two or three times to clean the ear sufficiently.
Step 4
Tilt your ear down to the floor. Hold a towel beneath for two or three minutes to allow the rest of the liquid to drain out. Repeat the irrigation and draining on the other ear.
Step 5
Use the olive oil several times per week if you suffer from constant wax build-up, suggest the University of Mary Washington. This can help keep ear wax softened so that as you chew, talk or sleep, it is expelled naturally.
Things You'll Need
- Olive oil
- Water
- Towel
- Eyedropper
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