How to safely remove ear wax? - Hearing Disorders Message Board

Solange1965 · 07-03-2004, 09:37 AM

My husband has alot of ear wax and it's been an ongoing problem for years. I know when it's really bad because I have to yell to be heard and he feels off kilter as well. I have used peroxide with a dropper but mostly he goes into the doctor or e.r. to get that syringed.

Is there anything else I could use besides the peroxide/dropper method? We don't have insurance and everytime he needs the procedure done by a doctor, it costs a small fortune....for us.
Thanks.

zip2play · 07-23-2004, 06:18 AM

I find that daily/weekly care is better than waiting for the doctor.
I like cooking oil one day and peroxide the next...then a cue tip and flushing in the shower. Sometimes a put a couple drops of mild shampoo in each ear and let it sit for 5 minutes...it emulsifies the oils and wax.

A lot depends on the shape of the ear canal, some people NEED a professional others can do it themselves (but not once it's gone too far.)
ALWAYS take great care and do everythiing GENTLY.
And please, NEVER stick a cue-tip into someone ELSE'S ear...you cannot feel their pain!

I'm lucky, my ear canal always ITCHES when there's wax to be removed...sometimes all I have to do is shake my head and CLUNK- out comes a cinder...other times it's soft and waxy (more work

).

I try to scrape the cue-tip around the peripheral wall close to the drum rather than bang up against the eardrum itself. If you feel any slight pain, back off immediately...getting 75% out is good enough. You know when you;rre done when the dipstick comes out clean (use several.)

cbrown889 · 07-26-2004, 01:28 PM

I had to have excess wax removed from one of my ears. I think the best way to do this is to have a doctor do it. Now I put one drop of olive oil in each ear daily. This is what my doctor recommended, and she is knowledgeable about natural medicine. This daily method keeps the ear wax soft so it doesn't clog the ear.

Belle2003 · 08-02-2004, 05:40 PM

My daughter's doctor suggested using a cap full of peroxide daily for three days, after she spent over an hour vacuuming out 30% of the wax covering her eardrum. You would not believe how much wax was dissolved with the peroxide. We also had purchased the ear wax cleaning kit before seeing the doctor, but the peroxide worked quicker and better. It simply dissolves the wax. The doctor then said to use a cap full of peroxide once a week instead of q-tips.

zip2play · 08-04-2004, 06:18 AM

LOLOL,

I saw CUPFUL and thought you're daughter must be a REALLY BIG GIRL.

But then I saw CAPFUL and realize what you meant.

I bought several eyedroppers at the pharmacy and use them a lot. I pour a little peroxide in a shot glass and about 10 drops in each ear does it- 10 minutes per side. (A friend is helpful to get the peroxide IN the canal and keep the peroxide out of my mouth!

)