What are the difficulties of Ear Wax Removal?

Quick answer

Removing ear wax yourself is hard because you can't see inside your own ear or check whether it's clear. Cotton buds and other objects push wax further in and can damage the eardrum. Ear drops are a safe first step at home. If your ear is still blocked after 5 days, or you have pain or discharge, get it checked. Professional removal, such as microsuction, lets the clinician see what they're doing.

Written and clinically reviewed by

John Beharrell

Consultant Audiologist

· HCPC

HAD00083

Published

10 Apr 2023

· Updated

23 Oct 2026

· Last reviewed

23 Oct 2026

Key points

You can't see inside your own ear, so home removal is hit and miss.
Never use cotton buds or other objects in your ear.
Ear drops are a safe first step at home.
Professional removal is done with a clear view of the ear canal.

Excessive ear wax build-up can become more than just uncomfortable or hinder your hearing if left untreated.

Left too long, it can cause ear pain and infections, leave you feeling dizzy or sick or create a buzzing sound in your ears (tinnitus).

It can be tempting to try to remove the ear wax yourself, and there are many different ways to do it (some safer than others).

However, trying to clear your own ears isn’t easy.

In fact, it can be extremely difficult, and if you’re not careful, you could end up with much bigger problems, like perforated ear drums.

Why is it hard to remove ear wax yourself?

Here are just a few of the problems you’re likely to run into by trying to remove ear wax yourself at home:

You can’t really see what you’re doing – this means that any application of home ear wax removal treatments may not be done properly which would make them less effective and can create a mess.
You can’t check to see if you’ve cleared your ears properly – without specialist audiology equipment, it’s difficult to see if you’ve cleared the earwax blockage.
Some home treatments, such as cotton buds, can be dangerous – pushing a cotton bud too far down your ear canal can cause damage to your eardrum and block your ear further.

What ear wax removal treatments can you try at home?

If you’re determined to try and clear your ears at home rather than see a specialist, there are two options that are safer to use.

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Ear wax removal drops

Eardrops are a non-intrusive liquid earwax removal treatment. The serum is gently administered into your ear to soften the earwax and break it down.

There are two different types of ear wax removal drops available over the counter without a prescription: water-based drops, such as sodium bicarbonate and oil-based drops made from olive or almond oil.

Ear bulb syringing

This ear-cleaning method uses warm water to soften hardened wax and blockages - simply fill a rubber syringe bulb with warm water and gently disperse it into the ear. This treatment is available over the counter and doesn’t require a prescription.

Note - those with damaged eardrums shouldn’t use this method, and it is recommended that anyone with damaged ear drums should seek professional ear wax removal.

For those interested in using home remedies for ear wax removal, it’s most important to remember to NOT try to clear ear wax using cotton buds.

Putting cotton buds down your ear will only push wax further down your ear canal, which could eventually cause an infection or lead to a perforated (burst) ear drum.

How are at-home ear wax removal difficulties avoided?

To remove ear wax without causing further damage, have it removed by a trained professional, for example by microsuction.

Microsuction is performed by an ear care specialist, meaning you’ll experience further benefits of professional treatment that you can’t access with at-home treatments. They include:

Receiving safe treatment from trained professionals – you can relax knowing you’re in experienced hands
A thorough assessment is performed before the treatment to identify any other issues that may need addressing, such as ear infections
Trained specialists use professional equipment such as surgical microscopes to gain a clear view of the procedure
The eardrum is avoided, decreasing the chances of any further issues or permanent damage