Gransnet forums

Health

Ear wax removal at home

(15 Posts)
eddiecat78 Sat 25-Jan-25 08:45:54

What is best - olive oil or "special" (expensive) drops?

Marriedalongtime Sat 25-Jan-25 08:48:53

My doctor told me olive oil is absolutely fine.

Indigo8 Sat 25-Jan-25 08:57:22

I use olive oil. I bought a dropper bottle and I put oil in it then warm it a cup of warm water.

Farmor15 Sat 25-Jan-25 09:09:52

I use an icing syringe and warm water! Probably not to be recommended but works and similar to syringing that GPs used to do. Very satisfying as big globs of wax come out. I have narrow ear canals that wax up readily- drops never worked.

Thepanaramawoman Sat 25-Jan-25 09:13:56

I’ve used olive oil with good effect.

Calendargirl Sat 25-Jan-25 09:43:47

The Specsavers audiologist who DH goes to recommends the olive oil spray as it goes in better. She says the drops tend to just stay there in a blob, and don’t penetrate as well.

DH has to have his ears regularly microsuctioned as he seems to produce a lot of wax since he started wearing hearing aids. I know when they need doing as his aids whistle.

I suppose it’s like having a foreign body in your ear.

eddiecat78 Sat 25-Jan-25 10:07:05

Thanks. I'm having my first hearing test in a few weeks and thought it might be wise to de-wax first

Jaxjacky Sat 25-Jan-25 10:14:23

The pharmacist who clears my ears regularly recommends Earol or Clear.
I wouldn’t sort mine out at home, you have to be very careful as there’s a risk of perforation, the pharmacist uses microsuction.

MiniMoon Sat 25-Jan-25 11:07:44

I use warm olive oil for 3 to 5 days, then syringe with warm water. I bought a little syringing kit from Amazon a few years ago, it does the job well. DH bought me an electronic gadget called Wush which I have used and seems to do a good job.

Shinamae Sat 25-Jan-25 11:16:09

When my brother and I were small, probably about 5/6 onwards my dad would get us to put our head on the table one ear up at a time and he would pour peroxide in our ears and we used to love the fizzing sound it made
I’m a little hard of hearing now, but don’t think it was caused by that but I also don’t think it would be recommended now..

Calendargirl Sat 25-Jan-25 13:32:56

Bicarbonate of soda drops are also available, but audiologist said they should only be used for a couple of days.

MayBee70 Sat 25-Jan-25 13:51:40

I don’t even bother syringing. Put olive oil in fir a while and the wax eventually works it’s way to the top.

Allira Sat 25-Jan-25 14:08:11

Marriedalongtime

My doctor told me olive oil is absolutely fine.

The nurse practitioner told me not to use olive oil, it is not recommended now as it blocks the ears even more. She gave me bicarbonate of soda drops which blocked up my ear even worse.

Two weeks later, the locum GP at the same practice gave DH a prescription for olive oil ear drops.

The chemist sold me hydrogen peroxide drops, they did work to remove wax but it's still blocked.

BrightlikeaDiamond18 Sat 25-Jan-25 14:16:17

I have hearing loss in one ear. Noticed when watching TV sitting alongside my husband on sofa, I couldn't hear very well what he was saying while TV on opposite us, and need TV turned up higher than normal for my husband.
I did 2 different hearing tests online, one was on RNID website, other one Specsavers, both said hearing loss possible in one ear. Went to GP this week who said no wax at all in either ear so I've self referred to a local audiologist who conducts further tests and will provide modern hearing aids if necessary all funded by the NHS.
Thought this might be of interest to some of you people out there. smile

GrannyIvy Sat 25-Jan-25 14:37:17

Definitely go for micro suction. We have a hearing centre that does it and also the local specsavers shop. I have it done annually with a good result.