Written by Jennifer Clements, MD, MSEd, NBHWC | Reviewed by Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH
Key takeaways:
Earwax is naturally made by the body to protect the ears. But too much earwax can lead to hearing changes and discomfort.
Safe home remedies for earwax removal include ear drops and irrigation. Don’t use instruments or objects to remove earwax.
If you have ear pain, drainage, or hearing loss, see a healthcare provider.
A man uses a solution to clean his earwax. There are several at-home remedies that can help remove earwax, such as ear irrigation and earwax removal drops.Nes/E+ via Getty Images Plus
If you’ve ever had uncomfortable ear fullness or dulled hearing, then you’re probably already familiar with cerumen impaction — or, to put it simply, an earwax blockage.
Too much earwax can lead to an annoying blockage. If you’re prone to earwax blockages, then you probably are looking for some ways to easily remove earwax at home.
There are easy and safe ways you can remove any extra earwax. But there are also some options you want to avoid. Let’s take a look at home remedies that can help you safely remove earwax.
What is earwax?
Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a substance that the body naturally makes on a regular basis.
Skin cells inside the ear are constantly turning over to provide new, fresh skin. But, unlike skin on other parts of the body, the ear canal provides little room for dead cells to go. So, to prevent dead skin cells from clogging up the ear, glands inside the ear make oily substance to help trap dead skin cells. This creates earwax.
Earwax is actually very helpful, as it helps moisturize the ears. It also protects the ears by blocking bacteria, fungus, and other substances from entering the inner parts of the ear.
But when wax starts to pile up, it can be a problem. Too much wax can lead to discomfort, temporary hearing loss, and sometimes even an ear infection.
What causes an earwax blockage?
Normally earwax moves out of the ear when people move their jaw. This happens a little at a time so you don’t usually notice it.
But sometimes this doesn’t work the way it should and wax sits in the ear too long, becoming dry and hard. This leads to stuck earwax — also called an earwax impaction. Children and older adults are at higher risk for developing earwax impactions. But it can happen to anyone.
Stuck earwax can cause symptoms like:
Muffled hearing
Ringing in the ears
Ear fullness or discomfort
Ear itching
What are some home remedies that help remove earwax?
If you’re prone to earwax impactions, you probably want a few tips to remove earwax quickly and easily at home. There are some safe and effective ways to do this at home.
At-home earwax treatments include ear drops, sprays, or irrigation solutions.
Ear drops or irrigation should never cause pain. If you try these earwax removal home remedies and experience pain, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Ear irrigation
Irrigation with warm saline or sterile water can be a good first step toward at-home earwax removal. Here’s how you do it:
Fill a small (5 mL to 10 mL) syringe full of saline or sterile water. Always use sterile water, never use tap water as it can increase the risk for serious infections. You want the liquid to be room or body temperature. Putting liquid that’s cool or cold into your ear can lead to unpleasant side effects like nausea, dizziness, and vertigo.
While keeping your head upright and a towel or bin under your ear, slowly squirt the fluid upwards toward the wax collection. Try not to squirt the water directly at your eardrum, as this may damage the eardrum. Also avoid irrigating too fast, as this can cause ear pain, or even bleeding.
Tilt your head sideways to remove the water or saline.
Earwax softeners
Sometimes, the earwax needs to be softened a little with earwax removal drops. These drops can be used alone or with irrigation for earwax removal at home. Once the earwax is softened, the body can often remove the wax on its own, no irrigation needed.
Earwax softeners are available over the counter or you can make your own. Popular options include:
Carbamide peroxide: Carbamide peroxide drops are available over the counter. You can place 5 to 10 drops in the affected ear twice per day for up to 7 days.
Baking soda solution: A baking soda solution can also help soften wax. You can make it on your own using 1 part sterile water and 1 part baking soda. Fill a small syringe with the solution and place 5 drops in your ear once a day.
Hydrogen peroxide 3% solution: You can buy this solution at any drugstore. To soften wax, fill a small syringe with the solution and place 5 to 10 drops in your ear canal 15 to 30 minutes before irrigating.
Almond or mineral oil: These are available over the counter. Experts recommend placing 3 drops into the affected ear at bedtime for 3 or 4 days.
Liquid docusate sodium: Docusate sodium is a medication that’s meant for constipation, but it can also be used to help soften earwax. Experts recommend putting 1 mL into the affected ear 15 minutes before irrigation.
What options aren’t safe to use for at-home earwax removal?
Don’t try to dig out your earwax using cotton tipped swabs (like Q-Tips) or other devices. Many people injure or rupture their eardrums trying to dig out their earwax.
Plus these items can push earwax deeper into your ear canal making it harder to get out. And deeper earwax is also more likely to touch your eardrum and cause hearing changes and pain.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery also offers this guidance:
Don’t try to remove earwax that’s not causing any symptoms. Earwax is protective, and continuing to remove it can possibly lead to more problems, such as infection. This can even increase the risk of a clogged ear in the future.
Don’t use ear candles, as these can damage the eardrum or ear canal.
If you have a history of ear surgery or ear trauma, see your healthcare provider for earwax removal. You may be at risk of bleeding or infection, so you shouldn’t try to remove your wax at home.
When should you see a healthcare provider for earwax removal?
Not everyone should try to remove their earwax at home. You should see a healthcare provider before trying to remove wax if you have any of these symptoms:
Fever
Ear drainage
Severe ear pain
Hearing loss
Ear ringing
These can be symptoms of an outer ear infection or inner ear infection.
People with medical conditions that increase their risk for bleeding or infection should see a healthcare provider for earwax removal. These conditions include:
Bleeding disorders like hemophilia
Liver disease
Low platelet counts
Weakened immune systems
A history of ear surgery
People who take blood thinners like coumadin, clopidogrel, or novel anticoagulants like rivaroxaban should also see a healthcare provider for earwax removal.
Experts also advise against at-home earwax removal in young children.
Can I prevent earwax from building up over time?
One of the best things you can do to prevent earwax buildup is to avoid overcleaning. In this case, you may have a higher risk of a clogged ear in the future. So unless that earwax is really bothering you, leave it be and let your body remove it naturally.
And most importantly, avoid putting any objects into the ear, including cotton swabs, hair pins, or ear candles. These can not only damage the ear, but they can also worsen the problem by pushing more wax deeper into the canal.
The bottom line
Earwax is a natural way the body protects the eardrum from viruses, bacteria, and other toxins in the environment. Yet sometimes, too much can build up and become a problem. Usually, softening the wax and irrigating the ear at home will get extra wax out. But, don’t hesitate to see your healthcare provider when you have any concerning symptoms, such as pain, drainage, or hearing loss.
References
Aaron, K., et al. (2018). Ear drops for the removal of ear wax. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Michaudet, C., et al. (2018). Cerumen impaction: Diagnosis and management. American Family Physician.
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