Ear Wax Removal at Home: What's Safe
· All About Hearing Team
Ear wax usually clears on its own, and a build-up can often be softened safely at home with a few days of oil drops. What you shouldn't do is try to dig it out. Here's the HSE's advice on what works, what to avoid, and when to have it removed professionally instead.
How to soften ear wax safely
- Put 2 to 3 drops of olive oil or almond oil in the affected ear.
- Lie on your side, with that ear facing up, for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Repeat 3 to 4 times a day, for 3 to 5 days.
The HSE says symptoms usually clear up within about two weeks. Don't use almond oil if you're allergic to it.
Don't use drops if you have a perforated eardrum
If you have, or might have, a hole in your eardrum, or you have grommets, don't put anything in your ear. Speak to your GP instead. Get medical advice promptly, rather than trying home remedies, if you have severe ear pain, discharge from the ear, or hearing loss that came on suddenly.
What not to do
- Don't use fingers, cotton buds or other objects. The HSE warns these push wax further in and make it worse.
- Don't rely on ear candles or ear vacuums. The HSE says there's no evidence they work.
When to have it removed professionally
See your GP if the wax hasn't cleared after 5 days, or if your ear is badly blocked and you can't hear properly. A GP may remove it by flushing it out with water (irrigation) or by microsuction. Tell them if you've had ear surgery or grommets. Not every practice offers this, so see our guide to ear wax removal with a medical card if you have one.
We also arrange microsuction ear wax removal with a trained practitioner across the west, north-west and midlands, including home visits. Microsuction uses no water, and the practitioner can see into your ear throughout. For more on why wax builds up in the first place, read ear wax build-up explained.
Source: HSE: earwax build-up.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the safest way to remove ear wax at home?
- The HSE recommends softening it with 2 to 3 drops of olive oil or almond oil, 3 to 4 times a day, for 3 to 5 days, lying with the affected ear facing up for 5 to 10 minutes afterwards. Often the wax then clears by itself.
- Can I use cotton buds to clean my ears?
- No. The HSE advises against using fingers, cotton buds or other objects, because they push wax further in and can make a blockage worse.
- Do ear candles or ear vacuums work?
- According to the HSE, there's no evidence that ear candles or ear vacuums get rid of ear wax.
- When should I stop trying at home?
- See your GP if the wax hasn't cleared after 5 days, or if your ear is badly blocked and you can't hear properly. Don't use drops at all if you have a perforated eardrum.
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