Homemade Ear Wax Removal
Over the counter ear wax removal kits are costly. These ear drop solutions claim to dissolve or soften wax, but they are basically made of water, oil and peroxide. Sound like something you can make at home? Save your money. Homemade solutions are just as effective and easy to use.
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Softening
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Mineral oil, baby oil or olive oil will soften ear wax and help the wax slide from your ear. Only use 3 to 4 drops per ear and let the oil sit in your ear for 2 to 3 minutes. Place a tissue over your ear and let the excess oil drain out. Oil can be put in your ear once a day until you feel the blockage opening or see pieces of ear wax coming out. Do not try to stick anything into your ear to pull out wax--this includes cotton swabs. As the oil is softening the wax, you risk pushing wax further into your ear and making the blockage worse. Rinse your ear out every day in the shower to help remove softened wax.
Dissolving
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Warm water with baking soda will dissolve ear wax. Mix 1 tsp. baking soda into 8 oz. warm water, and stir until the baking soda is dissolved. Using a dropper, put 3 to 4 drops of the solution into your ear. Leave the solution in your ear for 2 to 3 minutes, and then drain any excess onto a tissue. Use this solution once a day, every day. This homemade ear wax solution can be used for preventing excessive ear wax build up as well. For prevention, use 1 drop in each ear daily.
Drying
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Warm water with peroxide will soften wax and dry out oily, sticky wax. This solution works well if you have a lot of hair in your ears. Sticky oily wax gets stuck in the hair and builds up. Drying the wax out helps it get through the hair. Mix 4 oz. peroxide with 4 oz. warm water. Using a dropper, put 3 to 4 drops into your ear. Leave the solution in your ear for 2 to 3 minutes. You will hear popping, hissing, crunching and lots of noise as the peroxide bubbles through the ear wax. Drain any excess solution onto a tissue. Only use this solution once a day. When you shower, rinse out your ears to help flush out any softened wax. This solution can also be used after swimming to prevent swimmer's ear.
Warnings
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Do not use these homemade solutions if you have an eardrum perforation. If you experience pain, dizziness or ringing in your ear before or after using ear drops, consult a physician. Some ear wax blockages are stubborn and will require manual removal. Never attempt to remove ear wax manually at home. If you are seeing your doctor for ear wax removal, using one of these solutions first to make it easier for your doctor to remove excess ear wax.
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