The Best Ways to Loosen and Unclog Ear Wax: Massage, Home Remedies, & More

Co-authored by Monica Kieu, DO, FACS and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

Ear wax is part of our body’s natural defense system—but what happens when there’s too much of it? Stubborn ear wax can be annoying, and in some cases, can even affect your hearing. That’s why in this article, we’ll give you the best methods for removing ear wax, including massage, home remedies, and medical treatments. To get rid of pesky ear wax safely, read on!

Things You Should Know

Massage ear wax out by lightly rubbing the base of your ear. Go in slow, circular motions while opening and closing your mouth.
Try other home remedies to remove ear wax, like oil, warm water, or hydrogen peroxide.
If all else fails, get prescription ear drops from your doctor or have your doctor clean out your ears for you.

1

Outer ear massage

Lightly rub your outer ear to work ear wax loose. Tip your head to the side and press your finger up against the base of your ear. Push in slow, circular motions to loosen the ear wax and dislodge it from your ear canal.^{[1]
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Research source} Pull on your earlobe while slowly opening and closing your mouth to work the ear wax out.
- Massaging your ear works best when you combine it with other methods, like ear drops or warm water.

2

Natural oils

Use natural oils to soften the wax inside your ear. Tip your head over and drop 1 to 2 drops of oil, like baby oil or olive oil, into your ear. Gently massage your outer ear to work the oil into the wax and loosen it up.^{[2]
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- As you straighten your head back up, some oil may run out of your ear. Use a rag to catch any excess oil and wipe it away.
- Try using oil for 2 to 3 days at a time until the wax is soft enough to come out.

3

Warm water

Warm water can break down and flush out ear wax. Fill a bulb syringe up with warm water, then squeeze the water gently into your ear. Tilt your head and pull your earlobe up and back to open up your ear canal. Then, tip your head to the side and let the water drain out.^{[3]
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- Try irrigating with warm water 2 or 3 times if your ears still feel clogged.
- If plain water isn’t working well, try making a saline solution by mixing salt and water.
- Or, get a washcloth wet with warm water and hold it against your outer ear for 5 to 10 minutes. The heat from the warm water will loosen up the wax and help dislodge it from your ear.

4

Ear wax removal kit

Over-the-counter ear drop kits remove ear wax safely. Purchase an ear wax removal kit, and put 1 to 2 drops of the ear drops into your ear. Tilt your head to keep the drops in your ear canal for about 1 minute, then let the drops drain out. Use the ear wax kit for 2 to 3 days, or until your ears aren’t clogged anymore.^{[4]
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- Experts recommend ear wax kits like Debrox.

5

Hydrogen peroxide

Use hydrogen peroxide to break down ear wax. With an eye dropper, drop 1 to 2 drops of hydrogen peroxide into your ear. Massage your ear gently, then tip your head over and let the peroxide drain out. Then, flush your ear canal with warm water.^{[5]
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- Hydrogen peroxide can cause mild skin irritation or redness. If you feel any itching or burning, stop and rinse your ear out right away.

6

Prescription drops

Ask your doctor to prescribe you with stronger ear drops. If you’ve tried home remedies and they aren’t working after a few days, ask for a prescription from your doctor. Then, you can pick up ear drops for ear wax removal from your local pharmacy.^{[6]
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- These medical-grade ear wax drops are still safe for your ears. All they do is soften the wax to let it fall out naturally.

7

Medical removal

Have your doctor clean out your ears as a last resort. Sometimes, stubborn ear wax builds up so much that home remedies aren’t effective. If that’s the case, head to your doctor and ask them to clean out your ears. They’ll do so with either a water pick or a metal extraction tool to safely remove ear wax without damaging your ears.^{[7]
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- If you think your ear may be infected, skip the home remedies and go straight to your doctor. They will assess your symptoms and see what kind of treatment you need.
- If your child’s ear has too much wax, take them to their pediatrician.

Warnings

Never use cotton swabs (Q-tips) or other small objects to remove ear wax from your ear. Objects like these can push ear wax further into your ear canal, which can damage your ear drum.

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