Earwax (cerumen) is a natural substance that is produced by the ear canal to keep your ears dry and protect them against bacteria and infections. Normal activities like chewing and talking will eventually get rid of excess earwax, making ear cleaning a largely cosmetic affair. Cleaning your ears with hydrogen peroxide and keeping them healthy can help keep your ears clean and remove the excess earwax that is causing you to hear less.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Cleaning your ears with hydrogen peroxide
Step 1. Prepare a place to clean your ears
You'll be lying down while you're cleaning your ears, so it's important to gather all the supplies you need and put them within easy reach. Lay a towel on the floor to rest your head on. At a distance of about 12 inches (30 centimeters) from it, place a small bowl of hydrogen peroxide at a strength of 3%. In addition, put down a pipette and a small towel.
Step 2. Lie on your back and turn your head to the side
Lie on your back with your head on the towel you placed on the floor. Turn your head to the side so that the ear you want to clean is facing the ceiling.
Step 3. Place the small towel on your shoulder
Before you start cleaning, place the small towel on your shoulder under the ear you are going to treat. This will protect your clothes from stains and collect the solution you used to clean your ear.
You can also place a sheet of plastic under the towel before you begin. This will help protect your clothes and the floor from getting dirty
Step 4. Drop 1-3 ml of hydrogen peroxide in your ear
Using the pipette, remove 1-3 ml of the 3% strength hydrogen peroxide from the bowl and drop it into your ear canal. You may hear and feel it fizz, which is completely normal. Try to relax, even if it tickles a bit. Let the solution sit in your ear for 3-5 minutes, making sure to point your ear toward the ceiling the entire time.
- You may find it helpful to pull on the top edge of your ear to better open the ear canal while putting the drops in your ear.
- Do not push the pipette into your ear canal while dropping the drops into your ear. Your ear canal is sensitive and can be damaged if you apply too much pressure.
Step 5. Drain your ear on the small towel
When the time is up, grab the small towel on your shoulder and hold it to your upward-pointing ear. Sit up straight, turn your head and press the towel against your ear to allow the solution and excess and visible wax to drain out of your ear. If necessary, dry the outside of your ear with the towel.
Clean your other ear in the same way
Step 6. Clean your ears in the shower if you are short on time
If you're in a rush, put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in both ears 10 minutes before taking a shower. You don't have to lie down. The hydrogen peroxide will soften your earwax and this will wash out of your ears during your normal shower routine. Dry the outside of your ears with a clean towel when you dry your body.
Part 2 of 2: Using hydrogen peroxide with care
Step 1. In the beginning, clean your ears with hydrogen peroxide twice a week
It's normal to have earwax and it even has certain antibacterial properties to help keep your ears healthy. Most people with normal earwax production don't need to clean their ears with hydrogen peroxide more than twice a week.
- After cleaning your ears twice a week for two weeks, clean them only twice a month. After you have done that for two months, you only clean your ears twice a year.
- Also, talk to your doctor about cleaning your ears. Cleaning your ears too often can damage them, so it's a good idea to discuss your reasons for cleaning your ears regularly with your doctor.
- Ask your doctor about special ear cleaning kits.
Step 2. Do not use cotton swabs in your ears
Usually, only the outer third of the ear canal is covered with wax, but swabs push the wax deeper into the ear than they should. Over time, the accumulated wax can clog your ear canal near your eardrum, affecting your hearing.
Doctors also advise against cleaning your ears with cotton swabs and other objects such as hair clips
Step 3. Do not clean your ears with hydrogen peroxide if you have tubes in your ears
If you've had surgery that put eardrum tubes in your ears, don't use hydrogen peroxide to clean your ears. Ear tubes can help clear up recurring ear infections, but they do this by creating a permanent hole in the eardrum to allow air to flow into the middle ear. Using hydrogen peroxide to clean your ears causes fluid to enter your middle ear, which can cause complications and lead to an infection.
To clean your ears if you have tubes, use a clean tissue to wipe off the excess wax that comes out of the opening of the ear canal. Avoid getting any water in your ears at all
Step 4. See your doctor if your ears hurt or pus is coming out of your ears
Having earwax is normal, but if you have a lot of earwax and your ears also hurt or have strange-looking pus coming out of your ears, it's best to see a doctor. If your ears feel warm and you also have a fever, this is also a reason to make an appointment with your doctor.