Should you clean your ears? – In a 2018 studyTrusted Source of 206 college-aged students, the vast majority practiced ear-cleaning. Seventy-five percent said they believed the practice to be beneficial for their health. But the thing is,

you don’t really need to clean earwax out of your ears. Earwax isn’t dirt. Earwax serves an important purpose: lubricating and protecting your ears. It even helps reduce your riskTrusted Source of ear infections, since it has antibacterial properties. The risksTrusted Source of removing your earwax can outweigh the potential benefit. Cleaning out earwax with a cotton swab can damage or irritate your ear canal or even puncture your eardrums. You should also understand that when you clean out the earwax you can see — using an object you put in your ear — you’re also shoving earwax deeper into your ears, which can lead to earwax impaction (blockages) over time. Home remedies for earwax removal – You should not attempt to remove ear wax if you have a perforated eardrum, ear infection, ear surgery, tinnitus, or any other ear complications. In these instances, you should consult with your doctor to help with ear wax removal. Also if you feel pain or discomfort at any time during any of these procedures, stop immediately and consult with your doctor. Baking soda – You can remove earwax at home using baking soda: Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 2 ounces of warm water. If you have a dropper bottle, pour the solution into it. Tilt your head to the side and gently drip 5 to 10 drops of the solution into your ear, 1 drop at a time. Leave the solution in the ear for up to 1 hour, then flush with water. Do this once a day until the earwax clears up. It may happen within a couple of days. Don’t do this for any longer than 2 weeks.