How to Unclog Ears: Causes, Tips, Remedies, and More (2024)

Ears can become clogged for various reasons and lead to additional symptoms such as difficulty hearing, pain, and ringing in the ear. Some common causes of clogged ears include earwax, infection, allergies, water in the ear, and more. Treatment may depend on the underlying causes.

This article covers how to unclog your ears at home and when to follow up with a healthcare provider.

Ways to Treat Clogged Ears

There are various options for cleaning and unclogging ears. The best options depend on what is clogging them and which part of the ear is clogged. For example, the middle ear or outer ear may be blocked, requiring different approaches to getting them unclogged.

Tips for a Clogged Middle Ear

A clogged middle ear often involves a blockage of the tube that connects the middle of the ear to the back of the nose (eustachian tube). Children are more prone to experiencing middle ear infections due to narrow eustachian tubes that can become clogged. Eustachian tube dysfunction happens when the eustachian tube is clogged often or for an extended period. There are various ways to treat clogged middle ears, outlined below.

Nasal Spray or Oral Decongestants

Sometimes, the middle ear becomes clogged or infected due to nasal congestion. In this case, over-the-counter (OTC) nasal sprays and decongestants can help to reduce nasal congestion and swelling, thus unclogging the middle ears. However, nasal sprays and oral decongestants may not be the proper treatment for an ear infection.

Tips for a Clogged Outer Ear

The outer ears can become clogged from exposure to external factors like water while swimming or earwax build-up and may involve an infection. Clogged outer ears can be painful. If you're looking for relief at home, here are some things you can try.

Mineral Oil

Some people have found relief for a clogged outer ear when using mineral oil. It can help when earwax build-up causes your ears to become clogged. The oil helps soften the wax so it can be removed more easily.

Hydrogen Peroxide or Carbamide Peroxide Otic

Carbamide peroxide otic is an OTC medication that treats clogged outer ears caused by earwax build-up. This treatment option has been shown to be effective. Both carbamide peroxide otic and hydrogen peroxide can help unclog earwax by making the earwax softer and looser.

OTC Ear Drops

Many healthcare providers recommend OTC ear drops to remove earwax. These drops soften hard, sticky earwax that can get stuck or pushed deeper into the ear canal.

Ear Irrigation

Some people opt for ear irrigation at home or in a healthcare provider's office to unclog ears. Ear irrigation involves using warm water pushed into the ear to loosen earwax.

Warm Compress or Steam

Steam or a washcloth soaked in warm water and placed on the ear uses heat and moisture to loosen earwax and unclog the ear. This can also help to relieve ear pain.

Position Changes

Moving your head to different positions can help to unclog your ears. For example, if you have water in the ear, tilting that ear toward the ground while standing or lying on that side can help the water drain. This can help to prevent infection caused by water in the ear.

Use Caution When Cleaning the Ears

Using caution when cleaning your ears is crucial since some standard methods can worsen the situation. While using a cotton swab to remove wax from the ears may be tempting, this method may exacerbate the problem by pushing wax further into the ear. A healthcare provider such as a pediatrician, primary care practitioner, or otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) can help you determine the best way to clean your ears.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

While treating clogged ears at home has benefits, it is sometimes best to seek the support of a healthcare provider.

Signs that it is time to see a healthcare provider include:

• Difficulty hearing
• Fever
• Liquid, pus, or discharge draining from the ear
• Symptoms that last longer than a couple of days
• Symptoms that increase in severity

A healthcare provider can look inside the ears, evaluate your symptoms, and provide treatment options.

Summary

The best choice for treating clogged ears depends on the cause. Depending on the cause and location of the blockage, clogged ears can be treated by loosening and softening the earwax with substances such as mineral oil and hydrogen peroxide. Seek the support of a healthcare provider if home remedies are ineffective or if symptoms last more than a couple of days or increase in severity.