How to Remove Hardened Ear Wax
Earwax is not actually a bad thing; its purpose is to protect the ear from debris and infection. Earwax is made up of skin, sweat, hair, debris and a liquid secretion from glands within the ear canal. Children tend to produce more wax than adults, but both adults and children can produce too much or develop problems caused by earwax. Fortunately, in most cases, removing impacted or hardened earwax is not difficult.
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Instructions
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Soften the earwax by putting several drops of mineral oil in your ear. (You can use an eyedropper or medicine dropper for this.) Tilt your head so your ear is facing the ceiling, and put the mineral oil in your ear. Let it stay in your ear for about five minutes, then hold a clean paper towel or tissue to your ear, and tilt your head, so the oil drains back out.
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Loosen the softened wax in the same way, using hydrogen peroxide in place of mineral oil.
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Repeat the entire process twice a day, for about five days.
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Flush the ear with water when you feel the wax has softened up enough. Fill a bulb syringe with warm (not hot) water, tilt your head over the sink with your ear facing down, and gently squirt water in. The wax should flow out with the water, into the sink. As an alternative, you can allow water to run into your ear during a shower and let it run back out with the softened earwax.
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Tips & Warnings
You can warm the mineral oil by placing the closed bottle in a cup of hot water. Before you put it in your ear, test the oil on your wrist to make sure it is not too hot.
Evaluate your problem before you attempt to remove earwax that has hardened. If any of the following conditions applies, do not try to remove earwax on your own: you have pain or you may have ruptured an eardrum; you see a discharge that doesn't look like earwax; you recently had ear surgery or you have ear tubes (tiny cylinders inserted in the ear drum to allow air into the middle ear); you notice that the ear has an odor; or if you have dizziness, hearing loss, ringing in the ears or extreme itchiness. In any of these circumstances, call your family doctor.
