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• Part 1 of 3: See a doctor to have your ears cleaned
• Part 2 of 3: Cleaning your ears yourself at home
• Part 3 of 3: Preventing ear problems

If you are experiencing pain and wax build-up caused by wet and / or infected ears, the best and safest thing to do is to have a doctor remove the wax using special tools and techniques. There are also some things you can do to remove the wax if you cannot see a doctor. However, you have to be very careful because you can easily damage your ears.

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Part 1 of 3: See a doctor to have your ears cleaned

1. See a doctor to have your ears examined. If possible, have a doctor examine your ears and remove the wax, instead of doing this yourself.
   • Doctors are experts and will be able to accurately identify the problem.
   • You can hardly look into your own ears yourself.
   • You can easily damage the inner ear if you use the wrong tools or techniques to clean your ears. Do not stick cotton buds, napkins, or pins in your ears.
2. Have your doctor treat you. If your doctor's examination shows that you have a build-up of wax or infected material, your doctor can remove it using one or more methods. Your doctor may use the following methods, among others:
   • Drip special drops into the ear canal to soften the wax.
   • Use a suction device to pull out the wax.
   • Rinse the ear with warm water or saline solution using a balloon syringe.
   • Your doctor can also use a tool such as a curette, wax retainer, or ear spoon to manually remove the wax.
   • These treatments can be carried out by your doctor himself in his practice.
3. Follow the recommendations your doctor gives you for after the treatment. After your doctor has cleaned your ears, he will give you specific advice on how to care for your ears after the treatment. Your doctor will also discuss other necessary treatments with you.
   • If you have an infection in your ear canal, such as otitis externa or otitis media, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. You may need to take this orally or drip it into your ear canal.
   • Your doctor may also prescribe antihistamines or decongestants to reduce swelling and keep wax from coming out of your ear.
   • Use all medications exactly as described in the instructions.
   • Drink plenty of fluids (at least eight glasses of water a day) to stay hydrated, especially if you have a fever or an infection.
   • Keep your ears dry during the recovery process.
   • You can relieve the pain by placing a warm, damp (not wet) towel on your outer ear as a compress. Do this for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day.

Part 2 of 3: Cleaning your ears yourself at home

1. Make sure you use the correct tools to clean your ears. If you have a build-up of wax or infected material in your ears, do not put objects such as cotton buds, napkins, pins, or even your finger in your ears to clean your ears. This can cause various problems:
   • Sticking objects into your ears can push the accumulated wax deeper into your ears instead of taking it out. This can make the problem worse and also make it harder for you to hear.
   • You can poke a hole in your eardrum, which is thin and delicate. This can tear your eardrum.
   • If you put objects in your ear that don't belong there, you can irritate or damage your skin.
   • Using ear candles is dangerous and doesn't seem to work effectively. You could burn yourself from the hot wax or flame, and you could even puncture your eardrum.
2. Choose a reliable home remedy. Normally, wax will gradually fall out of your ears on its own. If you think you have an unusual amount of wax in your ears or you are at risk of infection, you can use some home remedies to help ease the problem. If you can't see a doctor for treatment of your ears, you can do the following:
   • Use over-the-counter ear drops that soften the wax. Look for ear drops that contain carbamide peroxide.
   • Pour drops of mineral oil, baby oil, glycerine or hydrogen peroxide into your ears.
   • Use an over-the-counter wax removal kit. Such a set contains a rubber syringe with which you can rinse the wax from your ears with warm water.
   • You should be able to buy the supplies you need for these treatments at a pharmacy. You may even be able to get an earwax removal kit at a pharmacy that includes a rubber balloon syringe and instructions for use.
3. Carefully follow all directions on the packaging. If you use ear drops or other liquids to soften and / or remove the wax in your ear, always carefully follow any specific directions on the drop packaging (or given to you by your doctor). These remedies may take several days to work.
   • If you are using a liquid such as mineral oil, baby oil, glycerine or hydrogen peroxide, drip a few drops into the ear using a pipette.
   • After a day or two, the wax should have softened. You can use a rubber balloon syringe to gently squirt a little warm water into your ear. Tilt your head back and gently pull on your outer ear. This will open the ear canal. When you have dripped the water into your ear, tilt your ear to the other side to let the water flow out of your ear.
   • Afterwards, dry your outer ear with a towel or a hair dryer.
   • You may have to repeat this process a few times for it to work. If it doesn't seem to help after a few tries, see your doctor.

Part 3 of 3: Preventing ear problems

1. Keep your ears dry. Wet wax can become infected because it contains a lot of dead skin cells that can swell and create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow in. To reduce the risk of an ear infection, try to keep your ears dry as much as possible.
   • Wear a swimming cap when you go swimming.
   • Use a towel to dry the outer ear if it gets wet.
   • If you get water in your inner ear, try tilting your head and holding it there for a while until the water can drip out. You can also open your ear canal by lightly pulling on your earlobe. This makes it easier for the water to flow out of your ear.
   • You can also use a hair dryer to dry your ears. Set the hair dryer to a low setting and hold it a few inches from your ear.
2. Clean your ears properly. When your ears get dirty, gently wipe the outer parts with a warm cloth. Do not use cotton swabs or other aids to clean your inner ear. Earwax gradually falls out of your ears on its own.
3. Discuss your concerns with your doctor. If you keep getting wax build up in your ears, use ear drops about once a month to avoid this problem. However, don't use the ear drops more often than that as they can irritate your skin. You should also let your doctor know if you have chronic ear problems.
   • If you wear a hearing aid, you run a greater risk of ear problems. Have your ears examined by a doctor three or four times a year to identify problems and get them treated.
   • Let your doctor know if you notice any unusual symptoms related to your ears (such as a substance coming out of your ears that is not wax, severe pain, or significant hearing problems), or if you are unsure whether your ears are healthy.