Is there any effective way to get rid of ear wax

[cgymike]

I think I must have a lot of it because I hear crackling (popping) in my left ear. I tried the over the counter stuff and with the bulb syringe to wash out but the stuff just ends up as a gooey mess and it's hard to tell if any wax has been removed. Someone told me to go to one of those free hearing tests (audiologist?) then they can use something to clean more thoroughly. Of course, it's dangerous to stick anything up there. Qtips are a little help but only for the outside.

 

[blublud]

I have had the same problem for years. A while ago, my Doc would occasionally treat it via irrigation. Now this can be dangerous, could break your eardrum if you set the jet too strong, but, get a Waterpic. Fill the reservoir with warm water and add a couple of tablespoons of Hydrogen Peroxide. Set the Waterpic jet on a very slow flow and aim it in your ear until you hear it hitting inside. Hold it there and use up most of the reservoir. If you feel any pain, ease up on the jet. Eventually it pounds out the wax - you'll see it in the sink you're leaning over. Repeat for the other ear. Just be careful - NO STRONG JET. Oh, the night before, it helps to put a few drops of a wax softener in your ear.

 

[bankside]

Just go to your GP.

30 seconds later with an ear wash, kidney basin, and an otoscope and you're done.

 

[jensu846]

i dip a q-tip in Hydrogen Peroxide and clean my ear. you can hear a sizzling sound and it cleans it out pretty good.

 

[borg69unimatrix]

I blast it out in the shower with as hot water as I can stand while showering. Of course, if you have one of those rain shower heads it probably won't work.

 

[Benvolio]

The crackling sound you hear is just water in the outer ear. A Q-tip may absorb it or put a few drops of alcohol in. It mixes with the water and reduces the surface tension of the water which causes it to cling to the wall.

 

[cgymike]

The crackling sound you hear is just water in the outer ear. A Q-tip may absorb it or put a few drops of alcohol in. It mixes with the water and reduces the surface tension of the water which causes it to cling to the wall.

OK...I need to get some rubbing alcohol or would peroxide be healthier? I have some screen cleaners (alcohol pads) maybe I could just use those...thanks otherwise for the tips guys. I really don't want to have to go to my GP just for that though...

 

[cgymike]

I blast it out in the shower with as hot water as I can stand while showering. Of course, if you have one of those rain shower heads it probably won't work.

Ah but I have a hand-held too...rain fresh shower is awesome but you are right it won't blast on the ears...the heat is a good idea.

 

[guyfromNY]

I blast it out in the shower with as hot water as I can stand while showering. Of course, if you have one of those rain shower heads it probably won't work.

That sounds like a good way to get an ear infection. There is no way that can be safe, unless you were kidding??

 

[borg69unimatrix]

I wasn't kidding. I've been doing that my whole life, and I've never had an ear infection. Why would hot water cause one?

 

[Harke the Boeotarch]

OK...I need to get some rubbing alcohol or would peroxide be healthier? I have some screen cleaners (alcohol pads) maybe I could just use those...thanks otherwise for the tips guys. I really don't want to have to go to my GP just for that though...

No. It has to be peroxide (3 - 4% peroxide solution).

 

[statsguy]

I wasn't kidding. I've been doing that my whole life, and I've never had an ear infection. Why would hot water cause one?

I used to travel to a couple of countries where I couldn't drink the water. Twice, I got a nasty ear infection. My doctor commented that if there's enough bacteria in the water so that you shouldn't drink it, chances are you shouldn't put it in your ears either.

No. It has to be peroxide (3 - 4% peroxide solution).

One danger with peroxide is that if you ear is completely plugged and you pour in peroxide, if any of it gets under the plugged wax it will foam up and if it can't dissolve part of the wax plug, it will blow out your ear drum instead.

 

[borg69unimatrix]

I'm in part of the US with regulated and chlorinated water. One would assume if you had water you couldn't drink, you wouldn't put it in your other orifices without boiling it first. Obviously don't put boiling water in your ears either. Man... Who knew ear cleaning would come with so many disclaimers.

 

[cgymike]

^Yep I am amazed at the array of proposed solutions. OK ...Kara...we need your medical opinion here.

 

[Georgiadude]

When I worked in the ER we'd irrigate the ear with warm saline with a little peroxide mixed in. We'd use a larger syringe and just flush out the ear. Sometimes we'd get a big plug of wax and sometimes it'd just be smaller flakes. Warm water helps to loosen the wax a little better and is more comfortable. I've never heard of using alcohol and think the would really be irritating to the tissues of the inner ear. Q tips just push the wax in further and pack it very similar to loading a cannon. We told our patients not to use them.

Steven.

 

[KaraBulut]

When I worked in the ER we'd irrigate the ear with warm saline with a little peroxide mixed in. We'd use a larger syringe and just flush out the ear.

That's what most ENTs recommend and that's what I have seen done in primary care.

Some ENTs will have the patient apply a light oil or glycerine into the ear to dissolve the ear wax (cerumen) since it is partially soluble in oil. The patient then turns their head and allows the oil-wax mixture to drain onto a cotton pad.

I've never heard of using alcohol and think the would really be irritating to the tissues of the inner ear.

Alcohol is a remedy for swimmers ear since it helps evaporate retained water from the outer ear. You're correct - if there is inflammation in the ear, you will know it after putting alcohol in.

 

[Benvolio]

Yes. My recommendation of alcohol was for the person with water in his ear, which he could hear crackling.

 

[borg69unimatrix]

I guess I won't even mention the times I've used keys and paperclips.

 

[samuelcain]

Sometimes the ear canal is too tight, so the wax doesn't come off without help. The best and safest way to remove it is to see a nurse or physician. The technique they use is very simple, but they have the knowledge what to if something goes wrong.

I need to remove my wax 1-2 times a year or it will almost completely block my hearing. Always remember that ears are very sensitive and if you stick anything there, even water, you risk damaging them.

Well.. to be honest I'm way too lazy to go to nurse every time I need to flush my ears . So I usually just buy a large, 100ml syringe from the drugstore and do the removing by myself (in the shower..). As someone already mentioned, the water that you use has to clean enough, i.e. drinkable, thought not sterile. You will find a lot of videos on ear irrigation on youtube, if you really want to try it. But once again a huge WARNING! Ears are connected to your balance, and if you flush them with water you MAY have trouble with your balance. You might even fall if you are standing! That's why I recommend you'll have it done by a proffessional. At least for the first time.

Also another big warning before you try to do anything. Pain in ear is never a good thing. You need to be absolutely sure that your eardrum is healthy and safe. Eardrum perforation is not a small thing and will cause hearing loss.

 

[KaraBulut]

So I usually just buy a large, 100ml syringe from the drugstore and do the removing by myself (in the shower..). As someone already mentioned, the water that you use has to clean enough, i.e. drinkable, thought not sterile.

Well, I wouldn't recommend using shower water because you probably want to have the water be as close to body temperature as possible or you'll end up doing a vestibular caloric test on yourself.

I guess I won't even mention the times I've used keys and paperclips.

*gasp*