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Mayo Clinic
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As helpful as it may be, it's possible to have too much. If a lot of earwax accumulates at your eardrum, it can be difficult to hear and just plain uncomfortable.[2]
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Cleveland Clinic
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Luckily, there are several DIY solutions you can try to get rid of that extra wax. Regardless of what method you choose, remember this golden rule: never remove earwax by placing a cotton swab in your ear.
Oil-Based
Fill an ear dropper with mineral or olive oil. Both substances lubricate the ear canal and dissolve ear wax. Though this method is medically approved, do not irrigate your ears yourself if you have a perforated eardrum, have recently had ear surgery, or if you are experiencing any ear pain or drainage. Remember the old chemistry saying "like dissolves like"? This applies to getting rid of earwax as well. The best way to dissolve oils and waxes is to use other oils.
Hold the bottle in your hands to warm it up. You want the oil to be around body temperature. Oil that is too cold or too hot can make you dizzy due to the temperature change in your ear. Holding the bottle in your hands should warm it up! You can also warm the oil by placing the bottle in hot water for about five minutes. Do a test on your wrist to make sure it's not too hot. Don't use the microwave to heat oil. It can be difficult to evenly heat oils to the right temperature in microwaves.
Tilt your head to drop the fluid into your ears. Use the ear dropper to drop 1-2 drops of oil into your ear. As the oil enters your ear canal, keep your head tilted to let it drip down to the earwax. It may feel a little chilly. This is completely normal and will pass quickly!
Keep your head tilted for 1 minute to let the oil break up the wax. This gives the substance enough time to drip into your ear and dissolve the wax. After 1 minute, tilt your head to the other side and let the fluid drain out the opposite ear. Keep a tissue handy to clean up any excess fluid that drips down your face and neck!
Rinse your ears using an ear wash bulb to wash out any excess fluid. First, fill the bulb with warm water. Next, tilt your head again and place the end of the bulb near the opening of your ear. Gently squeeze the water near the opening of your ear. Repeat the rinse 2-3 times. This gets rid of any additional earwax and helps wash out the oil! Avoid placing the bulb in the ear canal. Near the opening of the ear is close enough!
Saline Solution
Mix and warm up the saline solution on the stove. Combine 1 cup (240 mL) of water and ⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) of salt in a pot on the stove. Boil for 15 minutes, leaving the lid on. Take the pot off of the burner and let it cool until it is warm, but not so hot that it hurts your skin. Using warm water for saline solution helps dissolve the ear wax more efficiently. This combination of warm water and salt is what gives the saline solution its name. "Saline" means containing salt.
Use a cotton ball to drip the saline solution into your ear. Soak a cotton ball in the solution and tilt your head to the side. Place the cotton ball in your ear for 1 minute. Keep your head tilted, as this allows the fluid to drip into your ears towards the earwax.
Let the saline solution and the earwax drain out. To do this, remove the cotton ball first. Then, tilt your head the other way. This lets the saline solution and earwax drain out. Use tissues to catch any excess drainage on your face and neck.
Rinse your ear with an ear wash bulb. This helps cleanse your ear of any extra earwax or saline solution that didn't drain out. First, fill the bulb with warm water. Then, tilt your head and position the bulb near the opening of your ear. Gently press out the water near the opening of the ear. Repeat 2-3 times to make sure your ear is washed out thoroughly. Avoid placing the bulb in the ear canal. Near the opening of the ear will do just fine!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Combine water and hydrogen peroxide to make a 50/50 solution. Use 3% hydrogen peroxide and warm water. Drop a few drops of the solution on your wrist to make sure it is the right temperature. You don't want it to be too hot or too cold! After testing out the temperature, soak a cotton ball in the solution.
Use a cotton ball to drip the mixture into your ear. Tilt your head to the side and place the cotton ball in your ear. Remain in that position for 1 minute. You want the mixture to drip towards the earwax.
Remove the cotton ball and tilt your head to the other side. Make sure you have waited a full minute before doing this. Once you have, keep your head tilted and let the hydrogen peroxide and earwax drip out. Catch any excess drainage with a tissue.
Use an ear wash bulb to rinse out any excess fluid in the ear. Fill the bulb with warm water. Tilt your head again and place the end of the bulb near the opening of your ear. Squeeze out the water gently near the opening of your ear. Repeat the rinse 2-3 times. Place the bulb near the opening of your ear, not in the ear canal.
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