5 home remedies for earwax removal
Step away from the cotton buds, there are much better ways to get rid of earwax. These natural, home remedies will help you get rid of excess earwax build up that may be causing irritation or discomfort. Best of all, you probably have all these items at home.
Remember never to dig out earwax as you may push the wax further into your ear and cause damage. If your symptoms don’t improve see your doctor.
1. Saline
Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in half a cup warm water. Soak a cotton ball in the solution, tilt your head to the side, and squeeze a few drops in the ear. Let solution work its way inside the ear for five minutes before draining the water from your ear.
2. Olive oil
Using a dropper, squeeze two to three drops of olive oil into your ear to soften the wax. Wait until it settles for 10 minutes and tilt your head the other way.
3. Hydrogen peroxide
Due to its effervescent properties, hydrogen peroxide can remove earwax from the ear easily. Mix equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide (ensure it is less than three per cent otherwise it can be harmful). Fill ear dropper with solution and place a few drops in wear. Wait for 10 minutes and drain from ear.
4. Baby oil
Like olive oil, baby oil softens ear wax to make it easier to remove. Squeeze a few drops of baby oil into the ear, placing a cotton ball at the ear opening to catch oil oozing out. Let settle for several minutes before tilting head to drain out excess oil.
5. Bicarb soda
Dissolve half teaspoon of bicarb soda into four tablespoons of warm water. Drip several drops into ear daily for a week to soften wax.