The ear wax plays the key role of safeguarding ear from external pollutants like dust, dirt and even bacteria.
Usually, soon after serving its purpose, the already-present ear wax is pushed out of the ear.
But in quite a few instances, that does not happen and the excess wax gets accumulated.
Things like cotton swabs, Q-tips, etc, can just worsen the problem; they carry risk of the wax being pushed to the interiors of ear. Yet, don’t worry!
There are many natural methods effectively resolving the issue of how to remove ear wax. And, that is what this article is all about.
Table of Contents
Excess Ear Wax- Symptoms
Before elaborating on ear wax removal remedies, it will help to have a brief look at the primary signs that are indicators of the problem.
- Heaviness within ear
- Ear blockage
- Liquid-like discharge from ear
- Ear Pain
- Itching
- Problem in hearing
- Strange noises inside ear
Home Remedies to Remove Ear Wax
You have now come to that segment, which can be considered to be the heart of this article. For, it is here that you are going to obtain educative information on how to get rid of ear wax, using home remedies.
Just read on and solve the matter in a very simple and safe way!
1. Salt Water
Salt water is among the top home remedies that address the problem of how to clean ear wax.
This water makes the wax softer and thus ensures that it quickly gets removed from within your ear.
Trust the effectiveness of the remedy and you will not be unhappy!
Things you need:
- Salt- 1 tsp
- Warm water- 1 cup
- Cotton ball- 1
- Clean cloth- 1
Things you need to do:
- Take 1 cup of warm water and 1 tsp of salt.
- Put the salt in water and mix it well.
- The salt should fully dissolve.
- Now take 1 cotton ball and immerse it in this water.
- Bend your head in such a way that the impacted ear faces the roof.
- Bring the cotton ball near the ear.
- Gently compress it so that the water falls inside your ear.
- Remain steady in this very posture for about 5 minutes.
- Now change position of head in the opposite way.
- This facilitates the salt water to flow out.
- Finally, take 1 clean cloth and wipe off the wax pushed to the outer portion of ear.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide
How to get ear wax out becomes a very manageable issue, once you use hydrogen peroxide for the purpose.
The bubbling effect of this curative substance helps to remove the wax in no time. Go for it immediately! Hydrogen peroxide can eliminate the ear infection as well.
Things you need:
- 3% hydrogen peroxide- 1 tbsp
- Water- 1 tbsp
- Ear dropper- 1
- Clean cloth- 1
Things you need to do:
- Take 1 tbsp each of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water.
- Mix both of them together well.
- Then take 1 ear dropper and fill the mix in it.
- Make the impacted ear face upwards.
- Now empty the liquid in dropper, in your ear.
- Be in this posture for around 5 minutes.
- Bend your head the other way to enable the water to come out of ear.
- Just wipe off the wax with one clean cloth.
3. Blend of Tea Tree Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and Rubbing Alcohol
If your search is for dependable remedies for removing ear wax, then you should not miss this excellent option.
It is a blend of tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar and rubbing alcohol. As all the 3 ingredients have strong antimicrobial properties, the remedy prevents/treats infections of ear, as well.
Things you need:
- Apple cider vinegar- 3 tbsp
- Rubbing alcohol- 3 tbsp
- Tea tree oil- 1 tsp
- Bowl- 1
- Cotton ball- 1
- Towel- 1
Things you need to do:
- Take 3 tbsp each of ACV and rubbing alcohol.
- Blend both of them in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
- Now put 1tsp of tea tree oil in the bowl.
- Again mix well.
- Take 1 cotton ball and soak it in the mix.
- Let the affected ear face the ceiling.
- Slowly press cotton ball so that the liquid pours into ear.
- Allow the position of head to be undisturbed for 10 minutes.
- Take 1 towel and clean away the wax from outer region of ear.
- You can repeat the steps for 4 times in a day.
4. Coconut Oil
This apparently simple remedy will pleasantly surprise you with its effectiveness. Try the coconut oil now and see for yourselves!
Things you need:
- Coconut oil (Unrefined) – 2 tsp
- Ear dropper- 1
- Clean cloth- 1
Things you need to do:
- Take 2 tsp of coconut oil of the unrefined variety.
- Warm it a little.
- Ensure that it does not get very hot.
- Take 1 ear dropper and fill it with the warm oil.
- Allow the ear having the problem to face in direction of roof.
- Pour the oil in dropper, inside your ear.
- Remain in the position for roughly 15 minutes.
- Take 1 clean cloth and use it to wipe off the ear wax.
- Here, you also have the choice to use olive oil (extra virgin), in place of coconut oil.
5. Baby Oil
Baby oil denotes as being one more wonderful response to the issue of how to remove ear wax. This oil gives you the desired outcome faster than what you expect!
Things you need:
- Baby oil- 1 tsp
- Ear dropper- 1
- Cotton ball- 1
- Towel- 1
Things you need to do:
- Take 1 tsp of baby oil.
- Then take an ear dropper and fill the oil into it.
- Lie down with the problem-free ear resting on the surface.
- Put 3 drops of baby oil inside the impacted ear.
- Close the ear using a cotton ball.
- Leave that undisturbed for about 10 minutes.
- Slowly take away the cotton ball and let the liquid go out of ear.
- Use a towel to for cleaning ear wax at the outer part of ear.
- There is the option to use mineral oil instead of baby oil, too.
6. Warm Water
How can just plain warm water be of help? There is absolutely no need for you to entertain this doubt, for it is indeed a dependable ear wax removal home remedy! Continue reading for more details.
Things you need:
- Warm water- ½ cup
- Ear dropper- 1
- Bulb aspirator- 1
- Clean cloth- 1
Things you need to do:
- Take ½ cup of warm water.
- Now take 1 ear dropper and fill the water in it.
- Bend your head to make the affected ear face upwards.
- Bring the dropper close to ear and put around 5 drops inside.
- Wait in the same position for 5 minutes.
- Then take 1 bulb aspirator.
- Use it to suck in wax that is now at the outer region of ear.
7. Garlic and Olive Oil
When you are seriously on lookout for the best way to remove ear wax, you will invariably come across several natural remedies.
And, the combination of garlic and olive oil will be one of those!
Garlic comes loaded with a very strong antimicrobial element (1), allicin, which successfully does the job for you!
Also, this remedy significantly minimizes severity of ear pain! Hence do not delay anymore! Start to use the remedy now!
Things you need:
- Garlic clove- 3
- Olive oil- 3 tbsp
- Ear dropper- 1
- Towel- 1
Things you need to do:
- Take 3 garlic cloves and crush them.
- Combine the crushed garlic with 3 tbsp of olive oil.
- Mix thoroughly.
- Leave that blend as it is for roughly 20 minutes.
- Then warm it a little, ensuring that it does not become too hot.
- Lie down with the ear having wax facing in direction of the ceiling.
- Put 4 drops of the garlic, olive oil mix in ear.
- Stay in the same position for 10 minutes.
- Turn in opposite way to allow the liquid to flow out from ear.
- Take 1 towel and clean off the small amount of wax at exterior part of the ear.
8. Glycerin
Being an effective moisturizer, it is obvious that glycerin works as a reliable ear wax remover. You can safely use it for the given purpose and, you will just be pleased will the end result!
Things you need:
- Glycerin- ½ tsp
- Water- 1 tsp
- Ear dropper- 1
- Cloth- 1 piece
Things you need to do:
- Take ½ tsp of glycerin and 1 tsp of water.
- Mix them together properly.
- Take 1 ear dropper and fill it with the mix.
- Slowly put the mix into the ear having problem.
- Do not disturb that for 10 minutes.
- Then bend head to let the liquid flow out of the ear.
- Take 1 piece of clean cloth and wipe the ear with it.
More: Skin Care Benefits Using Glycerin
9. Almond Oil
If your quest is for home remedies to clean ear wax, almond oil is a remedy that deserves to have your immediate attention! This oil has lubricating effects and is hence a wonderful choice, in this respect.
Things you need:
- Almond oil- ½ tsp
- Dropper- 1
- Towel- 1
Things you need to do:
- Take ½ tsp of almond oil.
- Now take 1 dropper and fill the oil into it.
- Lie down in the required position.
- Put 4 drops of the oil in the ear.
- Let the position be undisturbed for 20 minutes.
- Wipe the ear using a towel.
- Repeat it 3-4 times per day to know how to clean out ear wax.
More: Benefits of Almond Oil for Face and Skin Care
10. Baking Soda
You are now going to read about one of the best ear wax removal natural remedies, baking soda. The antiseptic property of the soda is what that makes it a nice remedy to solve the matter in question. Go ahead with it!
Things you need:
- Baking soda- ½ tsp
- Water- 1 tsp
- Dropper- 1
- Clean cloth- 1
Things you need to do:
- Take ½ tsp of baking soda and 1 tsp of water.
- Blend both the ingredients together.
- Take 1 dropper and using it, put 6 drops in the impacted ear.
- Remain in this posture for 15 minutes.
- Bend head the other way to let the wax come out.
- Then take 1 clean cloth and clean the ear well.
- You can use the remedy every alternate day.
11. Mullein Oil with Garlic and Olive Oil
You cannot complete an article on how to remove ear wax naturally, without speaking of this super remedy.
And, the remedy is, using mullein flowers in combination with garlic and olive oil. Especially, this cure attains more significance in a situation where, the accumulated wax has caused an ear infection.
The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects of mullein (2) will not let you down. The garlic and olive oil have their own positives that nicely complement the primary ingredient (mullein flowers) of the remedy.
Things you need:
- Fresh mullein flowers- ½ cup
- Garlic cloves- 4
- Olive oil- ¼ cup
- Cheesecloth- 1
- Glass jar – 1
- Ear dropper- 1
Things you need to do:
- Take ½ cup of fresh mullein flowers and 4 garlic cloves.
- Now cut the cloves into tiny pieces.
- Take 1 glass jar and put the flowers and clove pieces in it.
- Then take ¼ cup of olive oil and empty it into the glass jar.
- Close the jar tightly with cheesecloth.
- Now heat this jar at a very low heat setting for about 5 hours.
- Strain the contents of jar into a bottle and refrigerate it.
- Just before you use the remedy, slightly warm the bottle for few minutes.
- Take 1 ear dropper and fill roughly 4 drops of the mix in it.
- Put the drops in the ear in which there is wax build-up.
- Wait for 10 minutes before you allow the solution to get drained out of ear.
- Use this ear wax cleaner 3 times daily.
12. Paraffin Oil
Here there is another nice ear wax cleaner for you, paraffin oil. This oil makes the wax softer and therefore facilitates you to remove it without any hassle.
Things you need:
- Paraffin oil- ½ tsp
- Ear dropper- 1
- Clean cloth- 1
Things you need to do:
- Take ½ tsp of paraffin oil and warm it a bit.
- The oil must not become very hot.
- Take 1 ear dropper and fill the oil in it.
- Bend your head appropriately and pour 5 drops of the oil inside ear.
- Wait for around 7 minutes.
- Then just let the oil flow out.
- Lastly clean the ear using some lukewarm water.
Additional Tips
No doubt, the home remedies denote as being an excellent response to the issue of how to remove ear wax at home.
But, the pivotal aspect is that, there are some key guidelines as important as the remedies, to remove accumulated wax/prevent it. Please make a note of these salient points.
- You have to make it a point to regularly clean the ears using water, as a preventive measure against wax build-up.
- Under any circumstances, do not opt for sharp objects for ear wax removal at home. Any negligence, in this regard, will increase your vulnerability to infection of ear, not to mention the risk of wax getting pushed into ear canal.
- You can go with ear buds/swabs only for cleaning away the wax that is there at the outer portion of ear. Otherwise, you face the same risk as mentioned in the preceding point.
- Please do not commit the mistake of relying on a candle wax remover, for it comes with the danger of ear getting badly burnt.
- Avoid depending on a powerful jet to remove ear wax, as this can cause a major damage to your ear drum.
- You could have heard somewhere that hot oil is a good choice, for eliminating wax. Here, kindly understand that that is nothing but just a misconception, which can worsen the problem. Hot oil gravely impacts ear drum and hence leads to infection.
- To prevent accumulation of ear wax, you also have to initiate some dietary changes. Consume foods having Omega-3 fatty acids such as avocados, walnuts and salmon, etc. In the same way, foods rich in vitamin C should be a part of your staple diet.
- Reduce the intake of dairy foods, if you want to check wax build up.
So now, you are fully knowledgeable about how to remove ear wax using only natural remedies.
Let this knowledge be of actual help to you by putting it into practical use; go for any of the remedies.
Please drop in a few words about how this article has helped you.