I also have tinnitus and have had it all my life.

Although you are not supposed to, I use Q-tips (very gently) after taking a bath. I tend to take baths rather than showers. Another thing you can use (if you have it) is a waterpik with warm water, but you have to run it very slowly with your head over a sink.

If you have constant wax build-up (enough to affect your hearing), you need to see a doctor, as it could be the result of an infection, and no matter how much you clear it out, it will come back.

Go get some Debrox. Works wonders.

I have tinnitus too. Didn't start having a problem with blockage until about 16 months ago. Have been to the ENT at least 4 times for a recurring problem. At this point in time I've been clear (knock on wood) for about 4 months. I'm real careful with Q-tips although the doc said that's not a contributing issue.

Yep, Debrox

I use hydrogen peroxide, let it sit and bubble in my ear for 5 minutes and then oil for a few days. I have a bulb thing that I use to squirt warm water in my ears after a few days of using the oil. I usually always have to go to the Doctor to get my ears cleaned out but this time I didn't. I didn't go out for a month just a few weeks ago because my ears were blocked. I could hear the bubbling of peroxide in one ear but not the right ear. I actually thought I had gone deaf in my right ear because I couldn't hear my brother when he talked to me and he was sitting to my right. I worked on my ears for weeks. Finally, I had put the oil in the night before and then the peroxide the nexr day, used the water bulb squirter and squirted the water in my ear a few times and finally I could hear out of my right ear. I was shocked at the dark crap that came out of my ear, lots of it. What a relief it was to hear again. You can also buy an ear cleaning kit at the drug store which comes with a tiny bottle of something and the bulb squirter. If you have an allergy or sensitivity to peanuts read the ingredients because sometimes they use peanut oil. This has been a life time battle with me.

I have a little round rubber or latex bulb with a small tube coming out about an inch and a half.

From time to time when washing face or hair I fill it and squirt a few shots vertically up into each ear. Often some material comes out, I wiggle the ear lobe some to help the liquid drain.

Sometimes I can hear some better after, sometimes it doesn't seem to make much difference.

I'm hard of hearing anyway, so any improvement is appreciated.

ole joyful

https://www.debrox.com/how-does-debrox-work

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will buy some debrox. I never heard of it. Oldjoyful...I have one of those little bulbs too and tried to put the peroxide in with that. Every time I use it I remember when I bought it...for my first baby to clean out his nose and I still have it 50 plus years later. The debrox will be less annoying than the water pressure the nurse uses which can hurt.

You know, I know we aren't "supposed" to but I have habitually cleaned my ears with a q-tip for as long as I can remember.

I have never had buildup or needed a nurse to clean out my ears.

I've also never punctured my ear drum or had any ear issues. Almost anytime I'm getting out of water, I end up using a q-tip to "wipe out" my ear canal. If my ears start itching, I use a q-tip to clean them out.

Never had ear problems.

I won't use q-tips on my daughter's though, since I can't gauge how deep/uncomfortable it may be for them and I DON'T want to cause damage.

As they have gotten older, I've encouraged them to use a q-tip gently themselves. When they were younger, they did have to have their ear canal cleaned out by a nurse in order to even see their eardrums/check for infection.

I'm not one to normally eschew modern medical science but I think the main reason the general public/average layman is told to not stick anything smaller than a finger in our ears is because of idiots who try to shove things in other peoples ears without knowing what they are doing.

Unless you are a trained medical professional, you shouldn't be shoving things in anyone else's ears. But, if we are talking about taking care of only yourself, I really think an individual person can and should be able to clean their own ears using their own personal, gentle gauge to tell if you are getting to close to your own ear drum.

Texas gem for people with wet ear wax using q-tips can compress the wax causing very hard blockage. I like to watch medical videos on YT. After seeing the layers of compressed wax being removed for people with the wet type of wax with pieces of cotton rinsing out the ear either by a bulb or even just a warm shower aimed at the ear is probably better for them. I have the other type, dry type, and while it can be compressed it is less likely to happen.

You have a point there with compression occurring using Qtips while wet. I know my ear wax gets compressed shoving earbuds in every day. It's a little better today. Now if I could just rid on the tinnitus. When it is absolutely silent, it rings very loudly. Other times during the day when there's outside noise, it is less noticeable but always there. I've always had it.

First use the Debrox, then use the bulb with warm soapy water. The Debrox will soften the was and the soapy water will expel it. Sometimes it can take 10 - 15 minutes but it will finally come out. Be patient.

Oh boy, I get ear wax build up regularl. But I saw this fix on Dr. Oz and it has really made a difference! Can’t remember when I had to go to the docs last to get cleaned out.

A turkey baster!! Yep, that works! I take a cup into the shower (where the plastic Turkey baster lives) fill cup with warm shower water and squirt water into my ear! Maybe 2 times twice a week. No more trips to the doctors!

i was told, that when you chew while eating that helps to move the ear wax forward and out of the ear. Well, I am missing 2 back teeth, so that causes the issue, as I don’t chew in the back.

works for me!

Q-tips and baby oil or mineral oil. I put a little mineral oil....not a lot....on a Q-tip and it will pick up the ear wax.

Texasgem, I didn't have a problem for 64 years either ... until I did.

Lily, my ENT says hearing aids often help alleviate tinnitus.

I could have written the exact same comments as TG. I'll add what she maybe does too, soap and an indirect stream of water to rinse when showering, and then a gentle wipe in the ear canal when done. It's been a lifelong habit and have never had a problem.

One challenge - the Q-Tips (and their equivalent) with wooden sticks that I prefer to use are getting harder to find. CVS has them but a recent change (a spec change or new supplier) has made the sticks thinner and too easy to break. Still looking for a suitable replacement.

Timely thread, I’ve used the peroxide before but it didn’t work very well. I’m going to give the Debrox a try. Thanks for the link Mdln, as always, very helpful. :c)

A turkey baster is the same principle as the little ear bulb. You suck up the warm water then squirt it in the ear.

We have earwax problems around here from time to time too. We use the debrox type product and sometimes also use a small squirt bottle filled with warm water instead of the bulb. This can make a little better stream- more like the equipment they use at the dr's, but better to do it on yourself to make sure you have the stream gentle enough.

My son has continual problems with this. He bought the Elephant ear washer because that is what they used on him in the doctor's office.

I will also second (or third) Texas Gem's comments. I very gently use Q-tips in my own ears. It works well for me. I would never dare try to use a Q-tip in someone else's ear but I'm competent to handle my own. ;)

Elmer - my local CVS stopped carrying the wood ones last year. Amazon or Walmart home delivery still have them though. Quality is indeed becoming a problem. It's not uncommon to throw out a few from every box, but they're still better than the cardboard ones IMO.

You're awesome, Patrice. Thanks so much. The local CVSs in my area (California) put their brand on a one year (it seemed like) hiatus a few years ago, during which I did order from Amazon. What was being sold at the time was acceptable, perhaps better than what CVS has today, but I think the brand offered has changed. I checked Amazon a few days ago, coincidentally, but nowhere else.

I followed your suggestion and found this one on walmart.com, ironically described as "ear wax remover". Is this the one you've used? For the price, I'll order it anyway and see. Thanks again

Wood stick cotton swab

Clt3, that Elephant Ear Washer is pretty cool! Thanks for sharing.

My ear has returned to normal without me doing anything other than then peroxide, but I will be following your instructions on preventive measures. Thank you.

My boys inherited the ability to develop earwax plugs from their father. I didn't even know such a thing existed. One nurse said to squirt a 1:1 ratio of warm water and hydrogen peroxide into the ear. I use a syringe with a special tip that I bought at a pharmacy. Sometimes I get huge gobs of ear wax out. My middle son had a plug I couldn't get out last week so I had to take him in to the doctor. It was stuck fast. Even the doctor had a hard time getting it out.

I have a little lighted device that I bought from the pharmacy that allows me to look into my kid's ears. The old ear wax is black. Normal eardrums look clear. An infected eardrum is red.

Avoid using undiluted peroxide on tender tissue.

Those are the ones Elmer. Buy a truckload, because apparently they're akin to finding gold these days. Ha ha.

Thanks, Patrice, you've given me an earful.

Ha ha. :) Hope you like them as much as I do!