Ear wax. What's the best way to clean it out?

• Know it all

  Q Tips suck.
• darbypitcher22

  

  Q tips work for me. However I'm informed by doctors that Q Tips actually push the earwax further into your ear so they're not a good thing
• The Equalizer

  

  Oh boy I can't wait to hear the suggestions.
• MANAZE

  

  theres this candle thing you can put in your ear and it'll suck out the wax while its light.
• enigmaax

  Peroxide.
• Sonofanump

  MANAZE wrote: theres this candle thing you can put in your ear and it'll suck out the wax while its light.

  So it doesn't work in the dark?
• HitsRus

  

  Hot water in an ear syringe and irrigate.
• sportchampps

  dont use qtips i used them once and pushed the wax to far bak and couldnt hear or like a month outta that ear. finaly my g/f made me go to the doctors and he had to suck it out with something.
• darbypitcher22

  

  They drain em at the doctor's office with a big turkey baster type thing and they put your head under a fawcett with the water running in your ear.... I've had that procedure done before....
• GeneralsIcer89

  HitsRus has it right. Q-tips are fine if you go in at the proper angle and sweep the wax out, rather than back, but even then will slowly build up wax closer to the ear drum. Ear irrigations are the best way to go about it, and if you don't trust yourself to do it properly, it shouldn't cost anymore than the copay to see your doctor to have it done by a professional. Just don't look in the pan after it's cleaned out if you are squeamish. Those gigantic balls of wax can be a little gross.
• bcubed

  

  pencil or fast moving drill bit!
• Swamp Fox

  I'm currently dealing with this and I bought some drops that are supposed to help get the wax to pass out of your ear. After the drops go in and you keep the drops in for around 5-10 minutes, you irrigate with hot water in a syringe and this is supposed to clear the ear. So far, I'm still battling a hearing loss and think that it might be be getting a bit better. I Remember the last time I went to the doctor to get the wax removed and he used this sprayer type device that kept shooting water into my ear until the wax loosened and came out on it's own accord. I'm going to go with the ear drops another day and then I think I'll just let my doctor drown me again and get it over with.
• darbypitcher22

  

  just go to your doctor and have em drained.... easier than that drops bullshit.... they did that to me too before I had em drained
• Apple

  

  What?
• Swamp Fox

  You're right Darby! I think I'll just go see my doctor tomorrow and quit messing with it.
• BRF

  

  There's this Amish thing (that I've never tried) in which you stick a candle in your ear and light it. It's available at our local drug store.
  
  Me,......I just ram the Q-tip in and dig it out. Or just use my finger.
  
  Then I smell it, too.
• Gobuckeyes1

  I have had problems with this before, and messed around with drops, home irrigators, all kinds of methods...seems like for days on end.
  
  Then I went to the doctor and he had it handled in less than one minute. If you have a cheap co-pay, just go the the doctor and get it over with.
• ZWICK 4 PREZ

  

  Just clean your ears at night with a q-tip and some rubbing alcohol and you won't have this problem. The rubbing alcohol draws wax out to your outer ear. Hygiene people, hygiene.
• GoChiefs

  

  Manaze and BRF are right..the 'candling' method is very effective. I have used it on several occasions as I have an issue with wax buildup in my ear. By far the best method I have used.
• majorspark

  

  BRF wrote: There's this Amish thing (that I've never tried) in which you stick a candle in your ear and light it. It's available at our local drug store.
  
  Me,......I just ram the Q-tip in and dig it out. Or just use my finger.
  
  Then I smell it, too.

  After you smell it I hope you don't taste it.
• BRF

  

  GoChiefs wrote: Manaze and BRF are right..the 'candling' method is very effective. I have used it on several occasions as I have an issue with wax buildup in my ear. By far the best method I have used.

  Oh, I see now that Manaze mentioned this but threw me off with the "when it is light"..........he meant when it is "lit", I guess.
  
  Do you smell the stuff that you collect from this process?
  
  Also, do you have only one ear, Van Gogh?
• dancinbear

  +1 for the candles!
  
  Technical term is harmony cones I believe.
• GoChiefs

  

  BRF wrote: Do you smell the stuff that you collect from this process?
  
  Also, do you have only one ear, Van Gogh?

  No and no..I said in my 'ear' b/c I only have the buildup issue in one ear. Obviously.
• Chesapeake

  

  Tastes like chicken!
  
  
• Salmom

  It's called Ear Candleing. It is coned shaped and the heat draws out the ear wax. A lot more comfortable that having it done at the doctor's.