How to Safely Remove an Earwax Blockage at Home – Healthline

Earwax (cerumen) is produced in our ear canals. Its presence is usually normal and healthy. Sometimes, though, earwax buildup may be uncomfortable, unsightly, and, in some cases, temporarily affect your hearing.

Although there are over-the-counter earwax drainage products available for purchase, there are also several household items you can use to clear your outer ear canals of excess wax.

Read on to learn about safe earwax removal home remedies and what to avoid.

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Although there are over-the-counter earwax drainage products available for purchase, there are also several household items you can use to clear your outer ear canals of excess wax.

Read on to learn about safe earwax removal home remedies and what to avoid.

In a 2018 study of 206 college-aged students, the vast majority practiced ear-cleaning. Seventy-five percent said they believed the practice to be beneficial for their health.

But the thing is, you don’t really need to clean earwax out of your ears. Earwax isn’t dirt. Earwax serves an important purpose: lubricating and protecting your ears. It even helps reduce your risk of ear infections, since it has antibacterial properties.

The risks of removing your earwax can outweigh the potential benefit. Cleaning out earwax with a cotton swab can damage or irritate your ear canal or even puncture your eardrums. You should also understand that when you clean out the earwax you can see — using an object you put in your ear — you’re also shoving earwax deeper into your ears, which can lead to earwax impaction (blockages) over time.

Baking soda

You can remove earwax at home using baking soda:

Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 2 ounces of warm water.
If you have a dropper bottle, pour the solution into it.
Tilt your head to the side and gently drip 5 to 10 drops of the solution into your ear, 1 drop at a time.
Leave the solution in the ear for up to 1 hour, then flush with water.
Do this once a day until the earwax clears up. It may happen within a couple of days. Don’t do this for any longer than 2 weeks.

How to remove ear wax with hydrogen peroxide

You can remove earwax at home using 3 percent hydrogen peroxide.

Tilt your head to the side and drip 5 to 10 drops of hydrogen peroxide into your ear.
Keep your head tilted to the side for 5 minutes to allow the peroxide to penetrate the wax.
Do this once a day for 3 to 14 days.