How to Loosen Ear Wax

Earwax is soft and semi-liquid in a healthy ear.

Due to the sticky nature of the substance, earwax serves the valuable purpose of trapping dust, dirt and debris. In addition, human earwax contains anti-fungal properties. However, in some people, earwax hardens, impacting the ear canal and causing pain if it comes into contact with the eardrum. When this occurs, you may loosen and remove the earwax manually. When earwax is bothering you, try some simple techniques to clean your ears.

Things You'll Need

• Chewing Gum
• Olive Oil
• Glycerin
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Baking Soda
• Water Syringe

Instructions

1. Chew some gum. One of the first things a physician may recommend is to increase the movement of your jaw to assist your ears in producing more lubrication. In healthy ears, the wax remains in a semi-liquid state and gradually works its way out of your ears. When your ears produce too little wax, it may harden in the ear canal, causing pain and hearing loss.

2. Try cerumenolysis. This is just a big word for getting rid of excess wax in your ears. There are many agents used by patients and professionals to loosen and remove the wax. You can try a few at home before contacting a doctor.

3. Squeeze a couple drops of olive oil in to the ear canal. Olive oil is a popular remedy for softening impacted earwax. Place your head in a position where the oil can remain in the ear canal for at least fifteen minutes, then allow the excess to drain and clean the exterior portion of your ear. With this method, the earwax gradually softens and dissolves and the wax works its way out of the ear canal.

4. Combine equal portions of glycerin and hydrogen peroxide and fill the ear canal as you did in Step 3. The glycerin lubricates the ear canal while the hydrogen peroxide loosens and dissolves hardened earwax.

5. Go to your kitchen cabinet and find the baking soda. Instead of using hydrogen peroxide, try mixing a teaspoon of baking soda with two teaspoons of glycerin. Stir well and put a dropper full in each ear.

6. Use a syringe to flush loosened wax from the ear canal. For this technique, recruit an assistant with a syringe full of warm water and ask them to gently squeeze it into the ear canal while you’re lying with one ear upwards. The assistant should pull the top of the ear upwards and backwards while filling the ear with the water. Allow the water to drain out and repeat the process as many times as necessary to remove the wax. Force is not necessary. The water should enter the ear freely.

Tips & Warnings

• Promote healthy ears by putting a couple of drops of olive oil in your ear once or twice a week to encourage lubrication and the normal expulsion of earwax.

• Do not insert cotton swabs into the ear canal. You could push hardened earwax deeper, requiring removal by a doctor.

• Consult your physician before attempting any of these steps.