How to Clean Ear Wax with Peroxide

Cleaning ears helps keep them healthy

Ears are a body part that are often taken for granted, until something goes wrong with them of course. An ear wax buildup can just be a matter of discomfort and inconvenience at first, but if the buildup is not treated and removed it can become extremely painful. Treating the ear wax buildup as soon as it is noticed, increases your chances of removing it effectively, and sparing yourself a visit to the doctors.

Things You'll Need

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Bulb syringe
• Warm water

Instructions

1. Warm up 1/2 cup of hot water in the microwave. Microwave ovens differ with timing, so be sure to test the water's temperature by dripping some on the inside of your arm. The water will cool when peroxide is added to it.

2. Add 1/2 cup of peroxide to the water. Mix together. Make sure the water/peroxide mixture is only slightly warm.

3. Insert the tip of the bulb syringe into the peroxide mixture. Squeeze to fill the syringe.

4. Lay a towel down where you will be laying your head.

5. Lie down on your side, with the plugged ear facing upwards. Pull your earlobe up and back. This will help open up the ear canal.

6. 

   Gently squeeze the bulb syringe, injecting a stream of the peroxide mixture into your ear. Continue to lay on your side for 4 to 6 minutes, or until you hear and feel your ear popping.

7. Insert the bulb syringe into plain, room temperature water and flush the ear once again. This is to help lift out what the peroxide has loosened.

8. Turn over and lay on the side of the plugged ear for 3 minutes. This will help drain the fluid out of your ear. Gently clean the outside of the ear with a soft cloth to remove the wax that has poured out.

Tips & Warnings

• If the water feels it may be too warm for your ear, let it sit for 3 minutes before adding the hydrogen peroxide.

• Do not use the peroxide treatment on your ear if you have, or think you may have, a perforated ear drum. If your ear is plugged but is also giving you severe pain, you should first see a physician to rule out any other potential problems. Otherwise, you can use this simple procedure to try removing ear wax on your own. You may want to ask someone to help with this procedure, as some of the steps are tricky to do by yourself.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Ear wax buildup causes and ear care.
• Mayo Clinic on ear wax blockage.