Earwax
Earwax is a self-cleaning system, not dirt. It only needs treating if it blocks the ear and causes muffled hearing, fullness, itch or discomfort. Oil drops and a little patience fix most blocked ears.
The earwax ladder
Leave healthy ears alone. If wax is causing symptoms, soften it first, then have it removed by someone trained if it doesn’t clear.
- Step 1 · Self-careLeave it aloneNo cotton buds, hairpins or fingers. Wax normally works its way out by itself.
- Works
- Most ears never need cleaning; cotton buds and other objects push wax deeper and can damage the canal or eardrum
- Cost
- Free
- How long
- Always
- Watch for
- Overcleaning irritates the ear canal and makes blockages more likely.
Nothing smaller than your elbow goes in your ear. Ear doctors actually say this.
- Step 2 · PharmacySoftening drops (olive or almond oil, or pharmacy drops)Lie with the blocked ear up, put in 2–3 drops, stay put for 5–10 minutes. Repeat 3–4 times a day for 3–5 days.
- Works
- In one small trial, about 1 in 5 ears cleared completely after 5 days of drops vs 1 in 20 with nothing. Oil, water-based and pharmacy drops seem to work about as well as each other
- Cost
- Olive oil from the pantry, or about $8–15 for pharmacy drops
- How long
- 3–5 days; wax may keep loosening for up to 2 weeks
- Watch for
- Don’t use with a known hole in the eardrum, grommets, ear pain or discharge. Skip almond oil if allergic to nuts.
Your salad dressing has a side hustle.
- Step 3 · GP or nurseEar irrigationA controlled flush with warm water, usually after a few days of softening drops.
- Works
- Usually works once wax is softened. If two attempts fail, the next step is microsuction or an ear specialist
- Cost
- GP or nurse visit often bulk billed or about $40–80 gap
- How long
- A single short visit
- Watch for
- Not for people with a perforated eardrum, grommets, past ear surgery, a recent ear infection or a cleft palate.
A gentle rinse, not a pressure washer.
- Step 4 · Allied healthMicrosuctionWax is gently suctioned out while the clinician looks through a microscope or magnifier. Offered by some audiologists, nurses, GPs and ear specialists.
- Works
- An alternative when irrigation isn’t suitable or hasn’t worked
- Cost
- Private fees vary
- How long
- One visit
- Watch for
- Can be noisy, and some people feel briefly dizzy.
Like a tiny vacuum cleaner, operated by someone who can actually see.
- Step 5 · SpecialistEar, nose and throat specialistFor wax that won’t clear, recurring blockages, or other ear problems found along the way.
- Works
- Not a trial question: removes stubborn wax under direct vision and checks for other causes
- Cost
- Specialist fees vary; Medicare rebates with a GP referral
- How long
- Usually one or two visits
- Watch for
- Bring a list of what’s been tried.
The final boss of earwax.
Save your money
Popular, heavily marketed or often asked about, but the evidence is weak or says no.
- Ear candlesThey don’t remove earwax, and can burn the ear canal or injure the eardrum.
- Cotton budsPush wax deeper and can scratch the canal or damage the eardrum.
- Ear vacuums and home suction gadgetsNo evidence they remove earwax.
- Routine ear cleaning when nothing’s wrongEars clean themselves. Overcleaning irritates the canal and can cause infections.
What you can do
- Leave your ears alone unless they feel blocked.
- If one ear feels blocked, try oil drops for 3–5 days before booking anything.
- Hearing aid or earbud user? Wax builds up more easily, so ask about regular checks.
- Clean only the outer ear with a cloth.
- Not sure it’s wax? Get it checked before putting drops in.
See your GP if
- Your ear is still blocked after 5 days of drops
- Your hearing is badly affected
- You wear hearing aids and they’re whistling or sounding muffled
- You have grommets, a hole in your eardrum or past ear surgery and think you have wax
- You’re not sure the problem is wax
See a doctor the same day for sudden hearing loss in one or both ears that came on over 3 days or less: it should be checked within 24 hours, and it’s not wax until proven otherwise. Also get prompt help for ear pain, discharge, bleeding or dizziness.
Common questions
What are the symptoms of too much earwax?
A blocked or full feeling, muffled hearing, itching, ringing in the ear (tinnitus) and sometimes mild discomfort or dizziness. Pain, discharge or bleeding aren’t typical of wax and need checking.
Why does earwax build up?
Some people make more wax or have narrow or hairy ear canals. Hearing aids, earbuds, cotton buds and older age all make blockages more likely. Impacted wax affects about 1 in 10 children, 1 in 20 adults and more than a third of older adults.
How is it diagnosed?
A GP, nurse or audiologist looks in the ear with a light. Wax is easy to see, and checking also rules out infection or a hole in the eardrum before treatment.
Can I flush my own ears?
We’d leave flushing to a trained clinician with the right equipment. UK guidelines advise against old-style manual syringing, and flushing is unsafe with some ear problems.
Helpful resources
- HSE: Earwax build-upClear step-by-step guide to using oil drops, and when to see your GP. Free, Ireland.
- American Academy of Otolaryngology: Earwax do’s and don’tsPlain-language summary of the ear specialists’ guideline, including why to skip cotton buds and ear candles. Free.
Evidence and more information
- NICE: Hearing loss in adults (NG98), earwax and sudden hearing loss
- Cochrane (2018): Ear drops for the removal of ear wax
- AAO-HNS: Clinical practice guideline on earwax (2017 update)
- HSE: Earwax build-up
- Patient.info: Ear wax, who shouldn’t have irrigation
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