Have you ever tried removing earwax from your ears with cotton swabs or bobby pins? You could be doing your ears more harm than good.
Earwax is the sticky brownish-yellow substance that is found in the inner ear. It is a natural lubricant for the ear canal and the entire ear. Its role is to help prevent damage to this sensitive area, which can be triggered by invading bacteria, organisms or other microscopic particles.
When earwax is deposited in larger quantities, it can become extremely irritating and annoying, and can cause symptoms like:
– Earaches
– Decreased hearing
– Dizziness
– Ringing in the ears
– Itching of the ear canal
– Feeling like your ears are full or plugged up
– Discharge coming from the ear canal
People who wear earplugs or earbud headphones are also more prone to excessive wax build-up in the ear canal.
Although earwax is clean, and the ear canal doesn’t need to be cleaned, if there is a heavy wax build-up, then you may want to clean your ears using the below mentioned methods. Using cotton swabs to clean the ear has the opposite of this effect, as it pushes earwax deeper into the ear canal and causes further obstruction. Cleaning with a cotton swab could also puncture the eardrum, which can be extremely painful and can even lead to hearing loss.
Tips for Removing Earwax Safely
These effective natural remedies for removing earwax work every time:
1. Hydrogen Peroxide
1. Mix 2 tbsp. hydrogen peroxide in 2 tbsp. water (make sure peroxide is 3% strength).
2. Place a few drops into your eat by tilting your head sideways. Let it settle in the ear for around 10 minutes.
3. Tilt your head in the opposite direction to let the extra solution drain out.
2. Saline Solution
This is one of the best ways for removing earwax at home by yourself:
1. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt in 1/2 a cup of warm water until it completely dissolves.
2. Soak a cotton ball in the solution and squeeze some drops into the ear by slightly tilting your head upwards.
3. Let this solution sit (with your head in the same position).
4. Tilt your head in the opposite direction in order to drain out the solution from the ear.
3. Coconut Oil
1. Soften ear wax by putting a few drops of coconut oil into your ear (you may need to let the coconut oil melt first to do so).
2. Let the oil settle in the ear for around 10 minutes. You can place a cotton ball at the ear opening to prevent the oil from seeping out before it reaches the ear wax.
3. Remove the cotton ball, and let the extra oil drain from the ear.
4. Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol
1. Mix equal parts white vinegar and rubbing alcohol in a bowl.
2. Pour a few drops into the clogged ear.
3. Let solution drain out after 10 minutes.
5. Warm Water
1. Pour some warm water into the affected ear and leave for a few seconds.
2. Let the water drain out.
(This also works when you take a shower, as water naturally enters and leaves the ear as you clean yourself)
6. Baking Soda and Water
1. Soften hardened wax by mixing 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in 2 teaspoons water.
2. Tilt your head and drop several drops of this solution into the affected ear.
3. Wait for 10 minutes and flush warm water gently into the ear to clean it out.
4. Tilt your head in the opposite direction to drain out any excess solution as well as dissolved earwax.
7. Vegetable Glycerin
1. Help loosen impacted wax by tilting your head toward the sky and using a dropper to put 3-4 drops of glycerin in your ear.
2. Put a cotton ball at the opening of your eat and leave it for a couple hours.
3. Remove the cotton ball, and flush your ear with warm water.
4. Tilt your eat in the opposite direction to drain any excess substance.
I am "addicted" to cleaning my ear everyday. Sometimes it can hurt. I will now try to implement your suggestions. Thanks a lot.