Dos and don’ts of earwax removal - Mayo Clinic Press (2025)

Earwax can be annoying, but it’s there for a reason. “Earwax serves a very important purpose, protecting the ear from any dirt or debris that may try to make its way inside,” says Mayo Clinic audiologist Katie Dease, Au.D. “Avoid digging or putting any type of tool, camera, bobby pin or key into the ear, as they will likely cause damage.”

Trying to remove earwax with cotton swabs, fingernails or other items can push it down farther, increasing the risk of blockage. And putting items in your ear can damage the eardrum, which is paper thin.

Here’s what you need to know about protecting and cleaning your ears.

What causes earwax buildup?

When you spend time with earbuds, earplugs or hearing aids in your ears, you may not realize is they can lead to earwax buildup or blockage.

Glands in your outer ear canal make earwax to moisturize the ear canal and help protect against infections. The waxy substance also shields your sensitive eardrum from water, bacteria and other contaminants. Most people don’t need to remove their earwax — the ear usually handles the job itself. When you move your jaw, old earwax makes its way outward. When it reaches the surface, it becomes flaky and falls away. Or you might wipe it from your ear’s surface.

Earwax can build up when you make too much, or the earwax gets hard and doesn’t slide out easily. Blocking your ear canal for several hours a day with items such as hearing aids, earplugs and earbuds also can prevent earwax from escaping

A mass of earwax can muffle sounds and cause pain. Using in-ear devices can push the waxy mass deeper into the ear canal. This can make it even harder for the earwax to work its way out and can damage the ear.

Earwax buildup and blockage might have no symptoms, or it might cause:

• Earache.
• A full feeling in the ear.
• Ringing or noises in the ear.
• Hearing loss.
• Itchiness.
• Odor or discharge in the ear.
• Infection.

See your healthcare professional if you have these symptoms for several days.

Read More: What is tinnitus?

When to remove earwax

See your healthcare professional before removing earwax at home. They can make sure your eardrum is intact and that your ears do indeed need to be cleaned. “In my experience, most people overestimate the amount of earwax they have and overuse home remedies,” Dr. Dease says. “This can lead to itching or irritation.”

If your provider gives the OK, you can try home remedies or store-bought kits.

Home remedies for earwax removal

You can soften earwax and rinse it out without special equipment. Here’s how to do it safely at home:

1. Use hydrogen peroxide or mineral oil to soften earwax. While lying on the opposite side, add a couple of drops to the affected ear. Wait at least 15 minutes, so the liquid can work its way into the ear. Or soak a cotton ball in the liquid and place it in the affected ear for 15 minutes. If you’re prone to itchy ears, use mineral oil instead of hydrogen peroxide, which can be drying.
2. Wait 1 to 2 days for the earwax to soften. Then rinse your ear by squirting lukewarm water into it with a rubber-bulb syringe. Let the water sit for a moment before tipping your ear down to let it drain out over a sink or towel. Or flush earwax out in the shower. Tip your head and let water run into the ear, then tip the other way to let it drain out.
3. Gently dry your outer ear with a soft cloth.

You might need to repeat these steps a couple of times to get all the wax out. If your symptoms don’t improve, see your health professional, who has special tools and lights to safely remove excess earwax.

Do earwax removal kits work?

Syringe or suction earwax removal systems are available at pharmacies and discount stores. These products are usually safe and work when used properly.

Is ear candling safe?

Mayo Clinic experts do not recommend earwax candling. It can damage the ear or burn the skin, and research has not proved it to be effective.

Are earwax removal cameras safe to use?

Ear cleaning tools that have a camera to display your ear canal on your phone also can cause problems. These cameras can distort depth perception, so the tools intended to remove wax can instead cause damage such as tears in the skin or eardrum.

Your best bet is to have a health professional look at your ears. Then work together on getting the earwax blockage out of your ear and preventing it from building up in the future.

How to prevent earwax buildup

Reduce earwax buildup by keeping in-ear devices clean and limiting the amount of time you use them in your ears. Possible steps include:

• Using over-the-ear headphones or ear protection rather than in-ear forms.
• Putting your phone on speaker instead of using earbuds.
• Removing earbuds or other in-ear devices when you’re not using them.

Make sure to clean your devices weekly, or more often if you use them in hot weather or during sweaty workouts. That keeps dirt, pocket lint and germs out of your ears. If you can, store these devices in cases or zip-close bags.

Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations or use a soft toothbrush to remove any dirt you can see. Clean earbuds with an alcohol wipe. You can soak silicone tips in a cup of water with a couple of drops of dish soap. Make sure everything is dry before use.

Don’t forget to clean your ears, too. Rinse in the shower or use a soft washcloth to wipe away any dirt, bacteria or other debris. But don’t try to push the cloth — or anything else — into the ear canal.

This article originally appeared in theMayo Clinic Health Letter.