Having difficulty hearing? Probably the most common reason for short-term hearing loss is an accumulation of ear wax in the ear canal. Clearly, if you have encountered this or suspect that a buildup of ear wax may have caused some diminished hearing, you would like to clean out your ears. The real question is how to do this safely, and without damaging the sensitive tissues of your ear canal or your hearing.
To stress safety when cleaning your ears, we will begin with what not to do. Never insert any physical objects in your ear. No matter if it’s a cotton swab or other object, you are more likely to make the situation even worse by further compacting the ear wax if you start poking around in your ear. One more thing you should never do is attempt to use any device that injects water under pressure (such as a WaterPik) directly into your ears; to do this risks perforating your eardrums. Last but not least, if you’re sure that you have a punctured eardrum, leave cleaning your ears to a professional. The same is true if you suspect you have an ear infection. Symptoms of ear infections include ear pain, fever, fluid draining from the ears and vomiting or diarrhea.
To clean your ears gently and safely in your own home, all you really need is a syringe or bulb, obtainable at any local pharmacy, and a solution with which to safely rinse out your ears. You can buy a carbamide peroxide solution at the pharmacy, or mix your own using equal measures of 3 to 4 percent, glycerin and mineral oil.
To make use of the carbamide peroxide solution, lightly squeeze the solution into the ear with the syringe or bulb. It generally works best to lay down on your side and have a towel readily available to catch drips. Avoid touching the ear with the bulb if possible. Allow the solution to linger in your ear for a couple of minutes (or, if you use hydrogen peroxide, until you stop hearing bubbling), and then repeat for the other ear.
After the ear wax has been loosened and softened by the solution, rinse each ear again with lukewarm water, and then dry your outer ears lightly with a hand towel. You can repeat this procedure twice per day for 2-3 days if your ears still feel blocked. Check with your an audiologist or hearing specialist if the problem continues to persist.
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