How to Clean Human Ears
Cleaning a person's ears can improve both hearing and hygiene, but you must be careful not to push anything into the ear canals that could damage the eardrums. The goal is to remove cerumen, which is the medical name for ear wax, without damaging the eardrum and canal. By following these steps and using doctor-recommended precautions, you can clean ears safely.
Things You'll Need
- Squeeze-bulb ear syringe
- Cotton swabs
- Warm water
- Hydrogen peroxide 3 percent solution
- Tissues
Instructions
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1
Mix a 50-50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and warm water.
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2
Squeeze the bulb syringe and inset the nozzle into the peroxide solution, then release to draw up the liquid.
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3
Tilt the head to one side of the person whose ear is to be cleaned.
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4
Gently squeeze a few drops of the solution into the upturned ear canal and wait 10 seconds for the peroxide to soften and dissolve ear wax.
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5
Turn the person's head upright and drain the discharge into a tissue.
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Repeat as necessary until the ear canal washes out clear, then work on the other ear.
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7
Clean the outer ear with a cotton swab dipped in warm water.
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Tips & Warnings
Clean ears after showering to loosen ear wax. Jaw movements help the ears' natural cleaning mechanisms loosen wax. Try chewing gum to ease chronic earwax buildup.
Do not insert cotton swabs or anything else into the ear canal. The National Institutes of Health websites warns against irrigating an ear canal if you suspect a ruptured eardrum. You could harm your hearing or cause infection.
