{"id":3492,"date":"2019-02-01T05:38:55","date_gmt":"2019-02-01T05:38:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=3492"},"modified":"2021-05-25T14:14:58","modified_gmt":"2021-05-25T14:14:58","slug":"12-home-remedies-for-simple-quick-ear-wax-removal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/12-home-remedies-for-simple-quick-ear-wax-removal\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Home Remedies for Simple & Quick Ear Wax Removal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

While earwax is meant to protect your ear canal and ears overall, it has to be cleaned when the levels become excessive as it could impair your ability to hear words or music clearly. Yes, earwax is a natural substance, but too much of a good thing is still bad for you. Keeping your ear clean will ensure that its sensitive components don\u2019t get damaged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earbuds such as q-tips are the most common method used to clean your ears, but some have suggested that it\u2019s not the ideal method of clearing out earwax. What many people don\u2019t know is that your ears are connected to your sinuses. That being the case, stuffiness in your nose could actually increase the pressure in your ears. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you treat the congestion in your sinuses, you may actually be able to improve your hearing in the process. We hope that information was helpful to you, but here are eight more methods that could help you remove earwax just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Salt-water
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Salt-water, not to be confused with saltwater<\/a>, is a great way to clean out your ear canals at home. It will soften up all the wax that has gathered within your ear to ensure that you won\u2019t struggle when trying to clean it out. Grab half a cup of warm water and then mix in a teaspoon of salt. Stir it well until you see the salt dissolve completely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the salt and water have mixed together, grab a cotton ball and soak it in for a bit. Tilt your ears up to the sky and then pour a few drops of the salt-water mix into your ear with the cotton ball. If your cotton ball isn\u2019t dripping, you can either soak it with more water or pinch the bill a bit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retain your position for a few minutes, no more than five. Afterward, all you have to do is repeat the process with the next ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Olive oil
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Olive oil<\/a> is another substance that can make it easier for you to remove earwax. The oil, much like the salt-water mix, softens your earwax that is sitting in the root canal so that it will be easier to remove. Due to the fact that olive oil has antiseptic properties, it can also prevent and treat various types of ear infections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warm up the olive oil slightly and then use a dropper to get three drops into your ear. If it\u2019s been a while since your last cleaning, you could even use four or five drops of olive oil to ensure that all the earwax is softened up. Let the olive oil sit in your ear for ten minutes or so to ensure that all the wax has softened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t have access to olive oil, you can substitute it out with mustard oil. There are contradicting reports on whether extra-virgin olive oil is more effective so try both varieties and see which one works best for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Hydrogen Peroxide
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hydrogen peroxide<\/a> is by far the most potent substance that you can use to reconcile the accumulation of earwax in your ear canals. Due to its carbonated mixture, hydrogen peroxide has no trouble removing earwax and other debris that might be lodged in your ear canal. Mix a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution with water and then suck some up with a dropper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the solution is in your dorp, pour a drop or two into your ears. Tilt your head slightly to allow for proper drainage and then let the solution sit for a while. Once you feel that all the earwax has been dissolved, you can switch ears and repeat the process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you feel earwax dripping, you can use a clean cloth or napkin to wipe your ears. This process is best done in warmer temperatures as cold areas can make it harder for the hydrogen peroxide to soften the earwax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Both of these substances are tried and tested when it comes to removing earwax<\/a>. Combining the two makes for a heck of a clearing agent. The vinegar fights and fungi and bacteria that might be festering in your ear to ensure that no infections occur while the alcohol serves as a drying agent. Grab a medium-sized bowl and mix the two ingredients together in equal proportions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grab a cotton ball and drop it in the solution. Let the cotton ball sit in the bowl for a while to ensure that it soaks up enough of it. After letting the ball sit for a minute or two, tilt your ear upwards and drop three drops of the solution onto your ear by squeezing the cotton ball. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leave it for five minutes and wipe any dripping earwax with a clean towel then repeat the process with your next ear. Tilting your head ensures that any remnants of the earwax drain out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Warm Water
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Warm water, even without any other substances added, can be a good way to remove earwax. Ensure that you only use filtered water that is clean and free from any parasites <\/a>or pathogens. Grab a syringe that has been drenched in some hot water then proceed to pour a couple of drops into your ear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let the water sit in your ear for a minute then proceed to drain it out by reversing the direction that you\u2019re tilting your head toward. You should only do this process when supervised by a medical professional otherwise you could do more harm than good and cause some severe damage to your ear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The temperature of the water that you use to clean out your ears should be warm, not hot, as excessively hot temperatures could damage the sensitive skin in your ear and cause problems. If the water is too hot, let it sit for a while until it cools down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Glycerin
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Glycerin <\/a>is categorized as a humectant \u2014 a substance that brings moisture into your skin. Glycerin is a byproduct of most processes used to make soap. You\u2019ll find it on the ingredient list of most commercial earwax drops. Glycerin is a colorless, thick, neutral liquid that is very effective as softening earwax to the point that it just drips out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to the fact that it attracts liquids and lubricates anything it touches, it will ensure that any hardened earwax becomes soft enough for safe extraction. While it can be used on its own without major risk, it\u2019s advised that you dilute it with some water to reduce the potency and make it a bit safer for home use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adding water will also thin the chemical out which will help it enter deeper into your ear canal to ensure that it gets earwax that is lodged further down. Don\u2019t dilute it too much though as that will reduce its efficacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. Tea Tree Oil
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tea tree oil<\/a> is a potent essential oil that can be used in a wide variety of ways. It has antifungal, antiviral, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties making it a true maverick in the killing of pathogens. Its antibacterial capabilities are so potent that they can even treat and eliminate any staph infections that might be manifesting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also an effective anti-inflammatory that holds antiviral and antimicrobial properties allowing it to treat earwax buildup that is caused by sinus infections. If you want to use tee tree oil, just grab a glass of water and add in a few drops of tree oil. As far as the exact proportions go, we\u2019ve found that eight ounces of boiled water mixed with three drops of tea tree oil is the ideal formula. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pour the mixture into a small bowl and leave it at steaming temperature. Don\u2019t pour the water into your ear as it is far too hot, instead, just let the steam clear the earwax out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8. Garlic
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Last but not least comes garlic. Garlic <\/a>is a great solution to aching ears that might be blocked by earwax. Garlic contains allicin making it a natural antibiotic. Allicin also holds powerful antimicrobial properties that can relieve pain and ward off any infections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington State University found in a study that garlic was a hundred times more effective at exterminating the Campylobacter bacterium in comparison to the top two recommended antibiotics. It\u2019s no surprise that it has been used for medical treatment since the dawn of pharmaceuticals during the era of Ancient Egypt (and possibly earlier.) Mixing sesame oil with garlic is the best way to reap the benefits of this potent antibiotic vegetable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cut out three cloves of garlic and mix it in a bowl together with two tablespoons of sesame oil. After mixing the two ingredients together thoroughly, add them into a dropper and pour a few drops into your ear. Let the solution sit for five minutes and then repeat the process with the other ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

9. Q-Tip<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re including this option on the list because it can work and because someone is bound to ask about it otherwise. But the crucial thing to keep in mind here, is that a q-tip is a strategy that comes with a very big warning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s because using a q-tip to try and clean your own ears can actually make matters much worse. The reason for this is that you can end up pushing the wax <\/a>further down the ear and then compacting it right around the eardrum where it will cause more of a blockade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thing to keep in mind when using a q-tip is that you should wipe around the edges and in the ear. Likewise, you can also very gently use the q-tip to break up the congestion once it has already been somewhat dissolved through other means such as the use of hydrogen peroxide or olive oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people will have used q-tips for years before the warnings became known and been just fine. You\u2019ll have to listen to your gut on this one, and proceed with a lot of caution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10. Steam<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve already seen that warm water can help to break up ear wax in some cases. The danger is that by flooding your ears with lots of warm water, you can also potentially burn them, damage the eardrums<\/a>, and actually create an even thicker gloopy mess in there!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why using steam might be a safer approach. This way, the hot water molecules will still be able to get inside the ears and cause them to break up, and that can have the very same benefits. At the same time though, you\u2019re not going to be filling your ears with more fluid, which can help to avoid some of those unwanted downsides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To use this strategy, you can try going to a steam room. If you don\u2019t have that option, then just try putting your shower on hot, pulling the curtain around, and then standing to one side where you can be affected by the steam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

11. Drinking-Water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The question to always ask yourself is where the wax came from in the first place. There is a high chance if you have a lot of ear wax, that is actually the result of dehydration<\/a>. That\u2019s because the fluid in your system will normally be used in order to produce these kinds of substances, and thereby to keep them well diluted and soft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conversely, when you don\u2019t drink enough, you can end up with the wax being produced being much thicker and stickier, and the result is that you\u2019re much more likely to get a blockage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The better way to deal with this then is to prevent the issue from arising in the first place by always staying very well hydrated. At the same time though, you can also help yourself along when trying to clear <\/em>the blockage, by drinking more and doing what you can to keep it nice and soft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

12. Lying On One Side <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What you do after you have applied a little olive oil<\/a> or hydrogen peroxide is going to play a big role in your recovery or otherwise. In particular, you need to make sure that you turn your head to one side in order to drain the substance out and make sure that it exits <\/em>the ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t do this, then the wax will simply be softer and then travel deeper inside the ear. Here it can actually end up then drying out in order to create yet another new damn that will be just as much of a blockade as the first one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The solution to this problem is to try lying on one side after you\u2019ve used the drops. This way, you will hopefully allow the wax to drain back out onto the bed (keep a tissue down!). If you\u2019re unsure as to how to keep yourself on one side when you\u2019re in bed, then a tip is to try taking a tennis ball and placing it under your clothes at the small of your back. Tuck in your pajama top so it doesn\u2019t fall out. This way, if you roll over, you will feel the ball and that will wake you up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

13. Massage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While you, unfortunately, can\u2019t reach inside your ear to pull out the offending lump of wax (which would be pretty gross anyway), what you can do is to use your thumbs on the outside of the ear just beneath the ear lobes<\/a> and to massage gently by drawing circles. This way, you will be manipulating the canal and thereby helping to dislodge the wax slightly. You\u2019ll also be warming up the area and thereby helping to further soften and moisten what\u2019s inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doing this straight after you have applied the drops will help to break up and disintegrate what is thereby massaging the oil into the wax and encouraging it to break up and dissolve more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

14. Yawn and Gurn<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, one thing that can be surprisingly effective is to yawn! This can help to pop the wax in your ears in just the same way as it can help to pop any air pressure bubble. You are simply altering the pressure inside the sinuses <\/a>and thereby pushing things through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time though, yawning will actually open up the canals in order to provide more space for the wax to move around inside and hopefully eventually fall out. Another expression can help too!
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>