The waxy, gooey thing stuck inside your ears is known as ear wax. Secreted by the ear canal, it keeps your ears lubricated and shields you from bacteria, fungi, and water. However, excessive ear wax buildup can cause significant discomfort and is annoying. 

Also known as cerumen, it can be in brown, orange, red, yellowish, or gray waxy colours. We all know that earwax is dirty and needs to be cleaned, but do we also know it serves a purpose? Yes, it does! The ear canal has certain glands that produce this waxy compound. While it contains anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties and is essential to protect the ears, sometimes, when it gets too hard, you may need a doctor to clear it. Untreated buildup can lead to ear infections, hearing loss, vertigo, irritation, tinnitus, decreased hearing, and severe ear pain.

Also Read: Yogasanas For Tinnitus: Extraordinary Yoga Poses To Mitigate Ringing In Ears

Why Ear Wax Clog Ears?

While cerumen benefits the ears from many substances that could be harmful to the eardrum, such as dust, pathogens, and insects that could find their way into the ear canal, causing trouble in many ways, the problem arises when it is in excess and starts to clog your ears. This could be due to an untimely cleaning or certain factors such as an ear treatment or surgery, using deep earplugs for long hours, and injury or some trauma to the ear. A growth or tumor in the ear can also clog the ears. A severely clogged ear could also be due to a middle ear infection. In such a problem, the fluid starts to fill up the area behind the eardrum. This can cause loss of hearing.

Also Read: 5 Surprising Ways To Unclog And Pop Your Ears

Symptoms of a clogged ear are as follows:

• Pain in the ear
• Muffled or decreased hearing
• Dizziness
• A sensation of ear pressure
• Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
• Feeling of inflammation of the Eustachian tube

Also Read: Eustachian Tube Dysfunction: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment

How To Unclog Ears At Home?

While earwax is not very dangerous in general, it gets hard, and, in those cases, a doctor can clear it. In mild cases, over-the-counter medication can help to get it removed. But sometimes, if the eustachian tube is severely affected or inflamed, an ENT visit must be done at the earliest. 

For mildly clogged ears, here are some simple home remedies that could come in handy that can help you get rid of that stubborn ear wax.

Disclaimer: 

Make sure to talk to your doctor if these home remedies are effective and safe.

Olive Oil

Putting warm olive oil in the ear has been a very effective remedy to soften the wax. Warm up a good quality olive oil and touch it to recheck the temperature with a dropper to put a few drops of oil in each ear. Repeat for few times a day, and you will feel the wax has started to soften. This also augments the lubrication of the ear canal.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Laden with antimicrobial properties, apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, which makes it a helpful solution to clear up ear wax and heal chronic ear infections. Mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in distilled water. Pour a few drops of this solution into the affected ear using a dropper. You can use cotton to prevent the draining. Tilt your head to the opposite side and stay for about ten minutes.

Vicks Vapor Rub

An all-time favourite home remedial trick, Vicks Vaporub is imbued with eucalyptus oil that has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties; it also has menthol that can clear clogging caused due to mild or chronic inflammation. Take sufficient Vicks Vaporub on a fingertip and rub it behind the affected ear or put it in a bowl of hot water and let the steam enter the ears. 

Baking Soda

Thick earwax can also be removed using baking soda, as it has cleansing properties. Dissolve 1 small teaspoon of baking soda in a bowl of warm water. Tilt your head and drip a few drops of the solution into your ear with a dropper. Let the solution sit for up to 1 hour, then clear it up. Do not overdo this remedy for more than two weeks.

Bulb Syringe

The Bulb syringe is very effective for stubborn wax, a small bulb-shaped rubber object that squirts the water gently into the ear to remove earwax. To use it, holding the tip of the syringe, squeeze the bulb of the syringe gently and release the water into each ear carefully, applying very little pressure. Turn the head to the side of the wax-filled ear and let the water drain along with any hard wax deposits.