Should you clean earwax at home?

Earwax is protective and usually needs no removal without symptoms. Cotton buds, ear candles and sharp objects can push wax inward or injure the ear.

What should you know?

Gently clean only the outer ear. Blockage or reduced hearing warrants assessment of the canal and eardrum. Avoid home irrigation and unprescribed softeners with a perforation, tube, previous ear surgery, pain or discharge. In suitable cases a clinician may choose drops, electronic irrigation, microsuction or instrument removal. Do not assume sudden hearing loss is merely wax and wait.

Assessment and next steps

The ear canal and eardrum are examined; hearing tests and tympanometry may be needed. Do not insert cotton buds or other objects. If you have a perforation, a tube or previous ear surgery, a clinician should choose drops or irrigation.

Care and when to seek help

Sudden hearing loss, facial weakness, severe dizziness, swelling behind the ear or rapidly worsening pain require urgent assessment.

This information does not replace an individual consultation. Diagnosis and treatment depend on a medical assessment.