how to clean your ears in the shower

Ear wax is the most common thing produced in the ear canal. Our ear has a substance called cerumen inside the ear canal, also known as ear wax. Sebaceous glands and sweat glands mainly produce it to prevent dust or small particles from entering your ear and ear canal. Ear wax can be either in wet form or dry form. The ear wax cleans itself by passing it out of the ear canal, and the dry form of ear wax falls out by itself. But in some cases, it needs to be cleaned out manually. Here are some tips for you on how to clean your ear wax in the shower.

It is essential to keep your ears clean as it plays a vital role in personal hygiene. Cleaning an ear wax is an easy process, but you need to be careful not to push the earwax inside your ear canal. Ear wax buildup in your ear canal leads to various issues like ear pain, itching, and even loss of hearing eventually.

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Symptoms of Earwax Buildup

There are various symptoms of ear wax buildup. Some of the common symptoms are:

Ear pain
Decreased hearing
Ringing in your ear
Itching in the ear
Sense of fullness in the affected ear
Cough

Causes of Ear Wax Buildup

Usually, ear wax will be pushed out of the ear canal by itself. But improper cleaning of your ear can cause the ear wax to go inside the ear canal, leading to ear wax buildup. For example, ear buds, hearing aid, earplugs, or even cotton swabs can push the ear wax further inside the ear canal.

7 Best Ways to Clean Ear Wax While in the Shower

1. Pour Some Warm Water

Warm water softens up the ear wax and makes it easy to remove. Tilt your head towards the shower, run some warm water into your ear while showering, and tilt it in the opposite direction. Do the same for another ear as well. After rinsing your ear with warm water, use a cotton cloth to remove the ear wax from the ear.

2. Use a Cotton Towel

After a hot shower, ear wax gets accumulated in the outer surface of your ear. Take a finger in the towel and wipe out the ear wax. Ensure only to clean it on the outer area and not push your finger inside your ear.

3. Use a Solution of Warm Water with Salt

Warm water with salt is one of the best ways to remove ear wax. Prepare a solution of half a tablespoon of salt with a cup of warm water. Using a rubber bulb syringe apply the solution to one side of your ear, wait for few minutes and then tilt it in the opposite direction and do it for the other ear.

Also, you can wet a cotton ball into the solution and keep it in your ear for few minutes and remove it. This will loosen up the earwax and remove it from the ear canal.

4. Use Mineral Oil to Clean Ear Wax

Mineral oil helps in softening the ear wax. Tilt your head to one side and pour a few drops of mineral oil into your ear using an ear dropper. Place a cotton ball into the ear to prevent the oil from dripping out. Wait for the oil to set for a few minutes, then remove the cotton ball and tilt your head in the opposite direction to drip the oil out of your ear. Use warm water to flush out the ear wax.

5. Massage Outside of Ear

While in the shower, gently massage the outer surface of the ear in a circular motion. After the massage, pull your earlobe backward and rub it in an upwards direction. You can follow this method daily to clean the ear wax out.

6. Syringe Method

The syringe method is one of the efficient ways to get rid of ear wax. Fill the syringe with warm water and squeeze it into your ear. It helps in cleansing your ear and also releases the ear wax buildup.

7. Use Baby Oil to Remove Ear Wax

Baby oil is one of the most effective and easy ways to clean ears. You can apply a few drops of baby oil into the ear and wait for few minutes and wipe it with warm water.

Things to Avoid for Cleaning Ear Wax

Are you someone that uses ear swabs to clean your ears? Using a cotton swab is the worst idea since it only cleans the ear wax on the outer surface and pushes the earwax inside the ear into the ear canal.

It is also not advised to use any material like a bobby pin, twisted tissue corner, or any other pointed objects to clean your ear that causes damage to your ear. Do not insert cotton balls into your ear canal. If you are using cotton balls, make sure you only place them in the outer area of your ear.

Also, some people use ear candles to get rid of the wax. But it is not a safe way as the hot vapor can causes burns to your ear.

Wrapping up!

These are the best ways you can try to clean your ear in the shower without much effort. Ear wax production is a natural thing, and you can easily remove it with these tips. But it is very important not to push the wax inside to your ear canal as it can cause severe damage to your ear in the long run. If you are experiencing hearing loss, severe ear pain, and dizziness, make sure to consult your doctor.