How to Make a Homemade Ear Cleaner

Contrary to popular belief, earwax has a lot of health benefits! The substance actually protects and lubricates the ear.[1] As helpful as it may be, it's possible to have too much. If a lot of earwax accumulates at your eardrum, it can be difficult to hear and just plain uncomfortable.[2] Luckily, there are several DIY solutions you can try to get rid of that extra wax. Regardless of what method you choose, remember this golden rule: never remove earwax by placing a cotton swab in your ear.

Ingredients

Oil-Based

  • Ear dropper bottle or bottle with eye dropper cap
  • Olive or mineral oil
  • Cotton ball (optional)
  • Ear wash bulb

Saline Solution

  • 1 cup (240 mL) warm water
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) salt (sea salt or table salt)
  • Cotton ball or ear dropper
  • Ear wash bulb

Hydrogen Peroxide

  • Equal parts warm water and 3% hydrogen peroxide
  • Cotton ball or ear dropper
  • Ear wash bulb
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Oil-Based

  1. Image titled Make a Homemade Ear Cleaner Step 1
    1
    Fill an ear dropper with mineral or olive oil.[3] Both substances lubricate the ear canal and dissolve ear wax.[4] Though this method is medically approved, do not irrigate your ears yourself if you have a perforated eardrum, have recently had ear surgery, or if you are experiencing any ear pain or drainage.[5]
    • Remember the old chemistry saying "like dissolves like"? This applies to getting rid of earwax as well. The best way to dissolve oils and waxes is to use other oils.[6]
  2. 2
    Hold the bottle in your hands to warm it up. You want the oil to be around body temperature. Oil that is too cold or too hot can make you dizzy due to the temperature change in your ear. Holding the bottle in your hands should warm it up!
    • You can also warm the oil by placing the bottle in hot water for about five minutes.[7]
    • Do a test on your wrist to make sure it's not too hot.
    • Don't use the microwave to heat oil. It can be difficult to evenly heat oils to the right temperature in microwaves.[8]
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  3. Image titled Make a Homemade Ear Cleaner Step 3
    3
    Tilt your head to drop the fluid into your ears. Use the ear dropper to drop 1-2 drops of oil into your ear. As the oil enters your ear canal, keep your head tilted to let it drip down to the earwax. It may feel a little chilly. This is completely normal and will pass quickly![9]
  4. Image titled Make a Homemade Ear Cleaner Step 4
    4
    Keep your head tilted for 1 minute to let the oil break up the wax. This gives the substance enough time to drip into your ear and dissolve the wax. After 1 minute, tilt your head to the other side and let the fluid drain out the opposite ear.[10]
    • Keep a tissue handy to clean up any excess fluid that drips down your face and neck!
  5. Image titled Make a Homemade Ear Cleaner Step 5
    5
    Rinse your ears using an ear wash bulb to wash out any excess fluid.[11] First, fill the bulb with warm water. Next, tilt your head again and place the end of the bulb near the opening of your ear. Gently squeeze the water near the opening of your ear.[12]
    • Repeat the rinse 2-3 times. This gets rid of any additional earwax and helps wash out the oil!
    • Avoid placing the bulb in the ear canal. Near the opening of the ear is close enough!
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Saline Solution

  1. 1
    Mix and warm up the saline solution on the stove. Combine 1 cup (240 mL) of water and 1⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) of salt in a pot on the stove. Boil for 15 minutes, leaving the lid on. Take the pot off of the burner and let it cool until it is warm, but not so hot that it hurts your skin.[13] Using warm water for saline solution helps dissolve the ear wax more efficiently.[14]
    • This combination of warm water and salt is what gives the saline solution its name. "Saline" means containing salt.
  2. 2
    Use a cotton ball to drip the saline solution into your ear. Soak a cotton ball in the solution and tilt your head to the side. Place the cotton ball in your ear for 1 minute. Keep your head tilted, as this allows the fluid to drip into your ears towards the earwax.[15]
  3. 3
    Let the saline solution and the earwax drain out. To do this, remove the cotton ball first. Then, tilt your head the other way. This lets the saline solution and earwax drain out.[16] Use tissues to catch any excess drainage on your face and neck.
  4. Image titled Make a Homemade Ear Cleaner Step 9
    4
    Rinse your ear with an ear wash bulb. This helps cleanse your ear of any extra earwax or saline solution that didn't drain out.[17] First, fill the bulb with warm water. Then, tilt your head and position the bulb near the opening of your ear. Gently press out the water near the opening of the ear.[18]
    • Repeat 2-3 times to make sure your ear is washed out thoroughly.
    • Avoid placing the bulb in the ear canal. Near the opening of the ear will do just fine!
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Hydrogen Peroxide

  1. Image titled Make a Homemade Ear Cleaner Step 10
    1
    Combine water and hydrogen peroxide to make a 50/50 solution. Use 3% hydrogen peroxide and warm water. Drop a few drops of the solution on your wrist to make sure it is the right temperature. You don't want it to be too hot or too cold! After testing out the temperature, soak a cotton ball in the solution.[19]
  2. 2
    Use a cotton ball to drip the mixture into your ear. Tilt your head to the side and place the cotton ball in your ear. Remain in that position for 1 minute. You want the mixture to drip towards the earwax.[20]
  3. 3
    Remove the cotton ball and tilt your head to the other side. Make sure you have waited a full minute before doing this. Once you have, keep your head tilted and let the hydrogen peroxide and earwax drip out.[21] Catch any excess drainage with a tissue.
  4. Image titled Make a Homemade Ear Cleaner Step 13
    4
    Use an ear wash bulb to rinse out any excess fluid in the ear. Fill the bulb with warm water. Tilt your head again and place the end of the bulb near the opening of your ear. Squeeze out the water gently near the opening of your ear.[22]
    • Repeat the rinse 2-3 times.
    • Place the bulb near the opening of your ear, not in the ear canal.
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Expert Q&A

  • Question
    I tried the oil ear cleaner and my ear is blocked. I can't hear any thing in my right ear. What should I do?
    Shari Forschen, NP, MA
    Shari Forschen, NP, MA
    Master's Degree, Nursing, University of North Dakota
    Shari Forschen is a Registered Nurse at Sanford Health in North Dakota. Shari has worked in healthcare since 1996 and her expertise lies in acute care bedside nursing on a medical oncology floor. She received her degree from Medcenter one College of Nursing in 2003 and her Family Nurse Practitioner Masters from the University of North Dakota in 2014. Shari is a member of the American Nurses Association.
    Shari Forschen, NP, MA
    Shari Forschen, NP, MA
    Master's Degree, Nursing, University of North Dakota
    Expert Answer
    Try rinsing your ear out with warm saline/ear irrigation as described above. If it is still blocked, seek medical attention.
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wikiHow Video: How to Make a Homemade Ear Cleaner

Warnings

  • If after 2 to 3 days of cleaning out your ears at home, the symptoms of earwax buildup have not improved, consult your physician. Your doctor will be able to diagnose whether the accumulation of earwax is the cause of these symptoms and will also be able to effectively remove accumulated earwax.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • If you notice ear discharge, contact your physician right away. Do not attempt to clean your ears yourself.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Avoid using ear candles to clean out the ears. Ear candles have been associated with a number of injuries, including burns, perforation of the eardrum, and the entrance of candle wax into the ear canal. In addition, no studies indicate that ear candling is effective. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also pointed out that your risk of ear injury is higher with ear candling than with other methods.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/earwax-blockage/symptoms-causes/syc-20353004
  2. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14428-ear-wax-buildup--blockage
  3. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/ear-wax-removal-101-the-best-and-safest-ways-to-clear-clogged-ears/
  4. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072538/
  5. ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-cleaning-out-the-earwax/
  6. ↑ https://www.primaryconnections.org.au/themes/custom/connections/assets/SBR/data/Chem/sub/sol3/sol3.htm
  7. ↑ https://www.mysurgerywebsite.co.uk/website/E81004/files/Instructions%20for%20applying%20olive%20oil%20to%20ears%20to%20soften%20wax.pdf
  8. ↑ http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2011/12/microwaves-that-heat-unevenly-can-pose-food-safety-problems/index.htm
  9. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/ear-wax-removal-101-the-best-and-safest-ways-to-clear-clogged-ears/
  1. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/got-an-ear-full-heres-some-advice-for-ear-wax-removal
  2. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/got-an-ear-full-heres-some-advice-for-ear-wax-removal
  3. ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-cleaning-out-the-earwax/
  4. ↑ https://sciencing.com/how-to-make-saline-solution-13710214.html
  5. ↑ https://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0101/p197.html
  6. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/got-an-ear-full-heres-some-advice-for-ear-wax-removal
  7. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/got-an-ear-full-heres-some-advice-for-ear-wax-removal
  8. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/got-an-ear-full-heres-some-advice-for-ear-wax-removal
  9. ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-cleaning-out-the-earwax/
  10. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/got-an-ear-full-heres-some-advice-for-ear-wax-removal
  11. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/got-an-ear-full-heres-some-advice-for-ear-wax-removal
  12. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/got-an-ear-full-heres-some-advice-for-ear-wax-removal
  13. ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-cleaning-out-the-earwax/

About This Article

Shari Forschen, NP, MA
Medically reviewed by:
Shari Forschen, NP, MA
Master's Degree, Nursing, University of North Dakota
This article was medically reviewed by Shari Forschen, NP, MA and by wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Criglow. Shari Forschen is a Registered Nurse at Sanford Health in North Dakota. Shari has worked in healthcare since 1996 and her expertise lies in acute care bedside nursing on a medical oncology floor. She received her degree from Medcenter one College of Nursing in 2003 and her Family Nurse Practitioner Masters from the University of North Dakota in 2014. Shari is a member of the American Nurses Association. This article has been viewed 181,852 times.
7 votes - 86%
Co-authors: 21
Updated: March 9, 2023
Views: 181,852
Categories: Cleaning Ears | Home Remedies

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Article SummaryX

Earwax buildup can be annoying and even painful, but using a simple, homemade ear cleaner can help. Mix together equal parts hydrogen peroxide and warm water. You can also make an ear cleaner by mixing together 1/2 cup of warm water and 1 teaspoon of salt. To use your ear cleaner, first soak a cotton ball in your mixture, then place it on your ear. Tilt your head to the side for 3-5 minutes so the solution can drip into your ear. Then, tilt your head in the opposite direction to allow your ear wax to drain out. You can repeat these steps 3-5 times per day until your ears are clear. To learn about other oils you can add to your ear cleaner, read more from our Medical co-author!

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