Softening your ear wax for a few days before your appointment makes microsuction quicker and more comfortable. Olive oil is simple, inexpensive and available from any pharmacy.
Our recommendation
Apply 1 to 2 drops of olive oil into the affected ear twice a day, for 2 to 5 days before your appointment.
Ordinary olive oil works, but many people find a pharmacy olive oil dropper bottle or spray easier to use.
How to put drops in your ear
- Make sure the oil is at room temperature. Never heat it, as warm oil can scald the ear.
- Lie on your side with the affected ear facing up.
- Gently pull the top of your outer ear up and back to straighten the ear canal.
- Put 1 to 2 drops into the ear.
- Stay lying down for around 5 minutes so the oil can soak in.
- Sit up slowly and wipe away any excess oil from the outer ear with a tissue. If you need to treat both ears, repeat on the other side.
Is it normal for my ear to feel more blocked?
Yes. It’s completely normal for your ears to feel slightly more blocked after using the drops. This simply means the wax is absorbing the oil and softening, ready to be removed.
When not to use ear drops
Don’t put drops in your ear, and speak to a healthcare professional first, if you:
- have, or think you may have, a perforated (burst) eardrum
- have grommets or have had ear surgery
- have ear pain, discharge from the ear or signs of an ear infection
If you’re not sure, just ask when you book and we’ll tell you what’s best for you.
What to avoid
- Cotton buds: they push wax deeper and can damage the ear canal or eardrum.
- Ear candles: there’s no evidence they work, and they can cause burns.
- Overdoing the drops: more oil than recommended won’t speed things up.
Drops didn’t clear it?
Drops soften wax but often don’t remove it completely. If your ears still feel blocked, microsuction ear wax removal is a quick, gentle and water-free way to clear them, at your home anywhere in the LE postcode area, or at our Wigston clinic.