How to Unclog Ears

Earwax is a natural and common cause of ear blockages, ear infections, otitis externa, and many other ear problems. There are many ways to unclog the ear, but it depends on which part of the ear is blocked: the outer ear, the middle ear, or the inner ear. This article will guide you to unclog your ears in all three cases.

Table of Contents

Unclog the outer ear

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Make sure there is no infection. If you suspect an ear infection, you should not use the following method to unclog the ear canal. See your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: ^{[1] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source}

Severe and persistent pain in the ear, lasting more than several hours
Fever
Vomiting or diarrhea
Yellow or green discharge from the ear

Mix an earwax softener. You can buy an earwax softener from a pharmacy or make your own at home. The advantage of making your own at home is that the ingredients may already be available. Mix one of the following ingredients with warm water: ^{[2] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source}

A few drops of baby oil or mineral oil
A few drops of glycerin
Hydrogen peroxide: 3% or lower concentration to avoid damage (mix with water in a 1:1 ratio)

Keep the solution warm. Pouring water that is too hot or too cold into the ear can cause dizziness or lightheadedness. ^{[3] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source} .

Dip a (clean) finger in the water. Fingers don’t feel too hot or too cold meaning the solution is just perfectly warm.
Allow the superheated solution to cool for 1-2 minutes before pouring it into the ear.
If the solution is too cold, add a little hot water to warm it up or microwave it for 10-15 seconds.

Lie on your side. Take advantage of gravity by lying on your side so that the side of the ear that needs to be dried is facing the ceiling. Place a towel under your head to catch any excess solution spilling out of your ears.

This position will be easier if you have someone to help pour the solution into the ear.
If you can’t lie down, tilt your head to the side as much as you can. The effect of tilting the head is similar to that of lying on the side.

Straighten the ear canal. This step makes it easier for the solution to flow into the ear. Grasp the outer edge of the ear, near the earlobe, and pull it slightly outward. The earlobe should be perpendicular to the neck.

Pour the solution into the ear canal. A glass measuring cup, plastic syringe or rubber round syringe can be used to insert the solution into the ear or pour it directly from the bowl.

If using a syringe, be careful not to insert the tip of the syringe deep into the ear. Just put it on the ear canal and do not put it in.
The solution will spill out a bit if you pour it from the bowl, especially if you do it while lying on your side. You can ask someone else to help.

Lie still for 10-15 minutes. This step gives the solution time to dissolve the earwax.

If you’re taking hydrogen peroxide, you shouldn’t be alarmed when you hear a hissing sound in your ears. When the hissing stops, the earwax is dry.

Take earwax. Place a bowl under your ear and turn your head so that the ear canal is facing the bowl.

To remove the wax completely, you should pull the earlobe to straighten the ear canal (same as in Step 4).

Fill the ear with water again (optional). If the ear still feels clogged, you can repeat the procedure of filling the ear with water. After 3 times and the ear is still blocked, you should try another method in this article or see a doctor.

Dry the ears. Gently dry the solution or earwax left in the ear after waxing. The following methods can be used: ^{[4] X Research source} :

Use a cloth or tissue to gently dab your ears
Use a hand dryer on low heat and low power, holding it a few centimeters away from your ear.
Put a few drops of alcohol in your ear – the alcohol will dry out your skin after it has evaporated.

Get help from your doctor. If earwax is so bad that you can’t remove it on your own, you should see your doctor for advice on options.

Your GP may prescribe ear drops to help dissolve earwax. However, you need to use the drug carefully because taking too much will damage the eardrum.
An ear, nose, and throat specialist can perform earwax removal using specially designed instruments.

Eustachian tube (middle ear)

Apply preventive measures. Blocked Eustachian tubes (also known as barotrauma) can result from a painful pressure difference between the middle and outer ear. Most of us have had a blocked Eustachian tube at one time. Here are some precautions: ^{[5] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source}

Fly smart. Don’t sleep when the plane lands. Instead, you should try chewing gum and try to yawn often. Breastfeed your baby or sip on a drink while the plane lands.
Dive slowly. If diving into the sea, you should dive down and come up at a slow speed to give your body time to adapt to the new pressure. Avoid scuba diving when you have a cold or respiratory infection.

Try equalizing the pressure in the ear. Equalizing the pressure between the outer and middle ear can help relieve pain. Try the following:

Chewing gum
Yawn
Chew on candy
Breathe in deeply, close your lips, cover your nose, and then suddenly exhale.

Cold treatment. The membrane in the Eustachian tube (which connects the ear to the back of the throat) is similar to the membrane in the nostrils. So they can swell quickly and severely when you have a cold or seasonal allergies. ^{[6] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

Take a decongestant or an antihistamine. Medicines will help ease the inflammation of the membranes. Oral medications or nasal sprays can be used.
Rest and recovery. Do your best to fight off a cold to help the Eustachian tube open more quickly.

Apply warm to the ear. Lie on your side and apply a hot washcloth or heat pad to your ear. This will help ease the pain. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Place a towel between the heating pad and your ear to avoid burning your face.
Do not sleep with an electric heating pad on your ear to avoid the risk of fire.

See your doctor if the pain persists. Pressure ear damage can lead to long-term complications if the condition is severe and left untreated. See your doctor right away if you experience the following symptoms:

Severe pain that lasts more than 3 hours.
Discharge or bleeding from the ear.
Fever.

Identify problems in the inner ear

Try the two methods above. Instead of panicking, you should try the above methods to unclog your outer or middle ear. Maybe the problem is not so serious.

See a doctor right away. If you can’t handle the problem on your own and feel that your hearing is getting worse or worse, you should see a doctor. Maybe you have an inner ear problem that doesn’t work with home remedies and need medical help.

Advice

Set a timer when lying down waiting for the solution to penetrate the ear so that it does not lie too long or not long enough.
The eardrum is sensitive and easily irritated. You should only unclog your ears when necessary.
Clean your ears regularly.
The ear candle method is not recommended. There’s no real evidence that this works and you could burn or damage your ears.
Do not use cotton swabs. Cotton swabs can cause earwax to penetrate deeply and/or cause serious damage to the ear and hearing.
Absolutely do not pierce too deep to avoid hitting the eardrum and may lead to permanent hearing loss.
Use a dropper instead of pouring the solution directly into the ear. You can dip a cotton ball in the solution and squeeze the water into the ear canal. This can cause less pain and less water to spill out.
You can try letting the solution sit in your ear for a minute, then place a cotton ball in your ear and lie on your side for 10-15 minutes.
Try rubbing the outside of your ear, but make sure you don’t stick your fingers inside.
Visit the doctor. Your doctor will examine your ear and make recommendations for treatment. In some cases, the doctor may use a syringe filled with water to unclog the ear canal.

Warning

Never use your fingers to scratch the eardrum to unclog the blockage. Doing so could cause serious damage to the eardrum or hearing.
This procedure is used to remove natural earwax. If there is a foreign object causing the ear canal, you should see a doctor.
Do not use a water flosser or other mechanical nebulizer to spray the ear. You can cause permanent damage to your eardrum.
DO NOT attempt to unclog your own ear if you have a perforated eardrum or perforated tubes in your ear . You should seek help from a doctor.

Things you need

2 small bowls (one bowl is used to hold the solution for cleaning the ear and to fill the syringe, the other is used to catch the solution that comes out)
Hydrogen peroxide or mineral oil
Warm water
Ear pump/ear dropper
Warm pads
Nasal decongestants or antihistamines

Steps