You might often reach for the cotton buds to clean your ears but did you know they actually clean themselves?
But while it's best to leave them to their own devices, we sometimes need to give nature a helping hand.
There are many ways of doing this, but let’s take a look at how to wash them properly - and safely.
If you have a lot of wax build-up, the best way to get rid of it is to visit a doctor, but what if you just want to clean your ears at home?
Many of us use cotton swabs but this could push wax deeper into the ear canal so it’s best to only use them on the outside of your ear. But what should we be doing instead?
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Use a saline solution
Medically accredited website Healthline suggests irrigating your ears can be a very effective way of cleaning them. Simply fill a syringe with body-temperature water and flush it through one ear while tilting your head. The liquid should then just spill out, taking any loose dirt and debris with it. Healthline adds this method is more effective if you initially use a wax softener some 15 to 30 minutes ahead of irrigation.
Use a damp cloth
Grab a clean cloth soaked in warm water and gently place it over your ear while lying on your side. The heat should loosen up any ear wax, allowing you to then gently wipe the outside of your ear.
Olive Oil
One of the most natural remedies also happens to be one of the best. Just put a few small drops of olive oil into your ear for around three days. Always tilt your head when doing this. The oil will then loosen your wax and gently ease it out. The wax may emerge at any time, so watch out for it on your pillow.
While the above are all safe methods of clean your ears, just remember the rule among doctors is to never put anything smaller than your elbow inside them.
And also bear in mind that experts say you don’t really need to ever clean your ears unless they regularly become blocked. A natural cleanser, earwax generally moves from the inside of your ear canal to the outer part of your ear, picking up dirt, dead skin cells and even hair along the way.
While it may be tempting to get rid of any wax, it is important to remember that you don’t want to be flushing it away too often. Doing so may irritate the ear canal and lead to further impaction if not done properly.
But if you do experience wax build-up and the above methods haven't worked, it is worth considering an over the counter kit, but be sure to follow the package instructions and contact a doctor if further guidance is needed.
You should never attempt to irrigate your ears if:
- You have tubes in the affected ear
- You have a compromised immune system
- You have diabetes
- You may have a hole in your eardrum
When looking after your ears it’s important to assess the severity of any wax build-up. If it gets too bad and you don’t do anything about it, your symptoms can get worse.
It is sensible to contact a doctor if you:
- Have earache
- Experience reduced or muffled hearing
- Have feelings of fullness in the ear
Infections of the ear usually come on quite quickly, so if you notice any pain and drainage from your ears don’t try to treat it on your own. Instead make an appointment with the doctor.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of impaction, you want to be sure it’s just wax and not, for example, fluid or hearing loss, which requires more medical attention.
