Many people use lukewarm purified water with this type of kit, while others use a solution of warm water and hydrogen peroxide.

Other kits use a spray bottle dispenser and a small plastic tube to direct the water into your ear. The principle behind this type of kit is simple: you flush the ear with water to help remove excess wax from the ear canal.Ĭomponents: Some of these kits include a bulb or syringe that makes it easy to squeeze a small amount of water into the ear without putting too much pressure on your eardrum. Irrigation systemĮarwax kits with an irrigation system are also fairly common. Price: Earwax removal kits with softening drops usually range in price from $4 to $19. After you’ve given the drops time to work, flushing the ear with warm water helps to wash the loosened wax from the ear and provide faster results than just using the drops alone. Many earwax removal kits with softening drops also include a tool for irrigating the ear. In most cases, the instructions will recommend that you use the drops more than once a day over the course of a few days to fully remove all the wax. Repeat the process on the other ear if it’s also affected. When you sit up, blot the auricle, the outer portion of the ear, with tissue to remove any residue. It’s important to stay still for about five minutes so the drops have time to soften the wax. To use the drops, lie on your side with the affected ear facing upward and administer the recommended number of drops to the ear. Use: This type of kit is the easiest to use, though it requires more patience to see results. Both hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide employ a foaming action that works extremely well in softening hardened earwax. Formulas with carbamide peroxide are very effective and often recommended by doctors and pharmacists. John’s wort, mullein, and calendula to soften the wax. Some drops rely on a blend of natural extracts like garlic, St. Ingredients: Ear softening drops usually contain mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, hydrogen peroxide, and/or carbamide peroxide. The drops work by softening the hardened wax in the ear canal so the wax can then work its way out of the ear on its own. If you’re experiencing earwax buildup or blockages, you might notice some key symptoms, including the following:Įxcess earwax can also lead to an ear infection, so it’s important to see your doctor if you develop any of the following:īestReviews Types of earwax removal kits Softening dropsįor mild earwax buildup, a removal kit with softening drops is often the best bet. Individuals who use hearing aids or earbuds could have an issue with wax buildup and blockages, too. Blockages are sometimes caused by using cotton swabs to clean the ear canal because the swabs actually wind up pushing the wax in deeper. That excess wax can harden and cause a blockage that can affect your hearing. In some cases, your ears may produce too much wax. The cerumen eventually makes its way out of the ears so it can be washed away. It helps keep dust, microorganisms, foreign particles, and even water from entering and irritating your ears. It’s actually a waxy oil called cerumen that’s produced inside the ear canal. While it might seem like a nuisance, earwax serves an important function in protecting your ears. Both middle-ear and external-ear infections can result from an earwax blockage.

Ear wax removal tool