How To Safely Clean Your Ears
Can I clean my own ears? In a word…yes. Below you’ll find the best advice on how to do it.
What not to do
Cleaning your own ears is as much about what NOT to do as it is about what to do, so we’re going to start with 2 big No-No’s.
No Cotton Buds. Ever!
Your Mam always said to never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear. It was good advice! Cotton buds, and other small objects, push more wax further in the ear than they get out. This can compress it into a blockage or even damage the eardrum.
Ear Candles? No Thanks!
Never use ‘ear-candles’. It’s all just theatre to make you think they work. They don’t. Trickery and illusion. Some clever crooks even use candles with a small section at the bottom of the candle which runs into your ear to fool you into believing it is your earwax! There’s zero evidence supporting their usage and they can cause serious damage.
How to safely clean your own ears
We recommend you stick to the guidance above. Earwax will usually come out on it’s own, and if needed some oil drops can help nature take it’s course.
Outer Ear Cleaning
You can clean your outer ear the same as you clean the rest of your body, usually this will be cleaned when you’re washing your hair in the bath or shower.
Inner Ear Cleaning
The inner ear is cleaned naturally by your earwax. If your earwax has become blocked and is not falling out of your ears on it’s own over time, then you can try using one of the following methods:
- Spray oil drops a few times a day for up to 5 days. Wax can then often fall out within a week or so.
- If the problem remains, do not continue using the drops as this can cause other issues.
- You can use a home ear-irrigation kit. Only do this if you are 100% that you do not have any damage to your eardrum or if you have any infection in your ear. Ear irrigation kits are available at most pharmacies.
- The simplest way is to try and wiggle your jaw. This motion can help to agitate any tough, hard earwax and push it out towards the outer ear where it can dry and fall out on it’s own.
When to call a professional
You should avoid any form of self help if:
- You have developed a sudden hearing loss
- You have pain in your ear
- There is discharge coming from your ear
- You have a history of perforation of the eardrum
- You have had ear surgery
- You have had an infection within 6 weeks
If you have an earwax blockage in any of these circumstances it should be dealt with by one of our trained, medical professionals. If your blockage hasn’t cleared within a week that’s when to get in touch.
Got a question?
No problem. Call us on 01429 233 091 or visit the NHS web page on this subject for some independent info.
