Unclog a Clogged Ear

Earwax is a common and natural cause of clogged ears, ear infections, swimmers ear and many other things. There are different ways of unclogging a clogged ear, but it depends on what part of the ear is clogged: outer, middle, and inner. This article will show you how to unclog all three.

Steps

Unclogging the Outer Ear

  1. Make sure you don't have an infection. If you suspect that you have an ear infection, do not attempt the following method to unclog your ear. If you have any of the following symptoms, call a doctor immediately:[1]
    • Persistent and severe pain in your ears lasting more than a few hours.
    • Fever
    • Vomiting or diarrhea.
    • Yellow or green drainage from the ear.
  2. Mix a wax-softening solution. You can purchase a solution at the drugstore to soften Earwax, or you can make your own at home. The upside to mixing it yourself is that you probably already have the ingredients you need. Combine warm water with one of the following[2]
    • A few drops of baby or mineral oil
    • A few drops of glycerin
    • Hydrogen peroxide: 3% no stronger or this can cause damage (in an amount equal to the amount of water)
  3. Keep the solution lukewarm. Putting water that's too hot or cold into your ear can cause dizziness or vertigo[2].
    • Dip your (clean) finger into the water. If you don't notice a huge temperature difference in either direction, the solution is perfect.
    • Allow a solution that's too warm to cool for a minute or two before pouring it into your ear.
    • If your solution has cooled too much, warm it up by adding a little bit of hot water, or by putting it in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds.
  4. Lie down on your side. Enlist gravity's help by lying so that the ear you want to drain is facing the ceiling. Put a towel beneath your head to catch any excess solution that spills out of your ear.
    • This position is easier if you have someone to help you pour the solution into your ear.
    • If you can't lie down, tilt your head to the side as much as you can. You should get nearly the same effect.
  5. Straighten your ear canal. This will make it easier for the solution to get into your ear. Grab the outer edge of your ear, by the lobe, then pull it gently outward. Your ear lobe should be perpendicular to your neck.
  6. Pour the solution into your ear canal. You can use a glass measuring cup, a plastic syringe or a rubber bulb syringe to put the solution into your ear, or just pour directly from the bowl.
    • If you do use a syringe, be careful that you don't put the end of it deep into your ear — holding it above your ear canal without inserting it should be fine.
    • Be prepared for a little spillage if you're pouring from a bowl, especially if you're trying to do it while lying down. Or, ask someone to pour it for you.
  7. Remain lying down for 10 to 15 minutes. This gives the solution time to break up the wax.
    • If you used peroxide, don't be alarmed if you hear it bubbling in your ear. When the bubbling stops, you're ready to drain.
  8. Drain your ear. Place an empty bowl beneath your ear, and turn your head so that the canal drains into the bowl.
    • To drain completely, pull your ear lobe to straighten your ear canal (as in Step 4).
  9. Irrigate again (optional). If your ear still feels blocked, repeat the irrigation process. If you've done it three times and you still feel blocked, look at another method section in this article or contact a doctor.
  10. Dry your ear. Gently drying your ear once the wax is out cleans up any excess solution or wax. You can do it a few different ways[3]:
    • Use soft, light pats with a cloth or paper towel.
    • Put a handheld blow dryer on low heat and low power, and hold the barrel a few inches away from your ear.
    • Put a few drops of alcohol into your ear — it'll dry the skin as it evaporates.
  11. Seek a doctor's help. If your Earwax is so impacted that you can't drain it by yourself, call a doctor and evaluate your options.
    • Your general practitioner can prescribe ear drops that should break up the wax. Use them with care, though — overdo it, and you'll damage your eardrum.
    • An ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist can manually remove Earwax with specially designed tools.

Unclogging the Eustachian Tubes (Middle Ear)

  1. Take preventative measures. A blocked Eustachian tube (also called ear barotrauma) can be the painful consequence of a difference in pressure between your middle and outer ear. Most people experience it at some point. Here's what you can do to stave it off:[4]
    • Fly smart. Don't sleep while the plane is descending. Instead, chew gum and try to yawn frequently. Allow small children to nurse or sip on a drink during the descent.
    • Dive slowly. If you're going scuba diving, descend and ascend at a slow rate. Give yourself plenty of time to readjust to the new pressure. Avoid diving if you have a cold or respiratory infection.
  2. Try to pop your ears. Popping, or equalizing the pressure between your middle and outer ears, can relieve the pain. Try these remedies:
    • Chewing gum.
    • Yawning.
    • Sucking on candy.
    • Inhaling deeply, pursing your lips, holding your nose shut, then exhaling suddenly.
  3. Treat your cold. The membranes in your Eustachian tubes, which connect your ear to the back of your throat, are the same as the membranes in your nose. As such, they can swell quickly and severely when you have a cold or seasonal allergies.[4]
    • Take a decongestant or antihistamine. It should ease up the inflammation of the membranes. You can take it orally or in a nasal spray.
    • Rest up and recover. Doing everything you can to combat the cold will help your Eustachian tubes open up more quickly.
  4. Put a warm compress on your ear. Lie on your side, and put a washcloth soaked in hot water or a heating pad over your ear. It should help ease the pain.[5]
    • Put a towel between the heating pad and your ear to avoid burning your face.
    • Don't sleep with an electric heating pad over your ear — it can be a fire hazard.
  5. See a doctor if the pain persists. Barotrauma can lead to long-term complications if it's severe and left untreated. If you're experiencing the following symptoms, seek medical help immediately:
    • Severe pain that lasts more than 3 hours.
    • Discharge or bleeding from the ear.
    • Fever.

Recognizing an Inner Ear Problem

  1. Try the two methods above. Before you panic, try the methods listed for unclogging your outer or middle ear. Odds are, the problem isn't serious.
  2. See a doctor immediately. If you can't clear up the issue on your own, and you feel like your hearing is diminished or fuzzy, contact a doctor. You might be suffering an inner ear problem that won't respond to home remedies and requires medical help.

Tips

  • Set a timer for when you lay down with the remedy liquid in your ear so it's not in there for too long or not long enough.
  • Your eardrum is sensitive, and prone to irritation. You should only unclog your ears when absolutely necessary.
  • Use clean water and a clean bowl to unclog the outer ear. If the water quality is questionable, boil it and allow it to cool before using it in a wax-clearing solution, or buy distilled water.
  • Wax impaction will affect the results of a hearing evaluation. Make sure your ears are clean before an appointment with an audiologist or ENT.
  • Clean ears regularly.
  • Ear candling isn't recommended. There's no real proof it works, and you could burn or otherwise damage your ear.
  • Don't use a Q-tip. It can push wax further back, and or seriously damage your ear and your hearing.
  • Never dig too far, as it can puncture your eardrum and possibly leave you permanently hard-of-hearing.
  • Use drops, not directly from the bowl. You could soak a cotton ball into solution and squeeze it over ear and get it into ear hole. This could be less painful and make a smaller mess.
  • You can also try letting the solution only soak in ear for a minute, put a cotton ball in ear, and lay down on that ear for 10-15 minutes.
  • Try to rub the outside of the ear but always remember to never stick your finger in your ear.
  • Go to your doctor or a walk-in clinic. They will examine your ear and make treatment recommendations. In some cases, they may use a water-filled syringe to unclog your ear.

Warnings

  • Never scratch the eardrum with a fingernail to unclog it. You could severely damage your eardrum or your hearing.
  • This procedure is intended to remove natural Earwax from ears. If there is a foreign object obstructing an ear, consult a doctor.
  • Don't use a waterpik or other mechanized water jet on your ears. You could damage your eardrum permanently.
  • Do NOT attempt to unclog your ears by yourself if you have a punctured eardrum or tubes in your ears. Seek a doctor's help.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 small bowls (one to contain the cleaning solution and fill the syringe, the other to catch the drained solution.)
  • Hydrogen peroxide or mineral oil
  • Warm water
  • Ear syringe/ear dropper
  • Warm compress
  • Decongestants or antihistamines

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001662/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001974/
  3. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/earwax-blockage/DS00052/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remedies
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002059/
  5. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/blocked-eustachian-tubes-topic-overview
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