Has anyone put olive oil in their ears to clear them? If so what's the method?

Answer 1

This is done to soften the wax in them for removal.

Sweet oil is better because it isn't prone to bacterial contamination like the food, olive oil.

If you choose to use either, you use an eye dropper full of the oil, held under hot water until it warms to just above body temp (test it on your inner wrist like you would a baby bottle) when it is warm enough, tilt your head and drip the oil in the ear canal while tugging gently at the earlobe in a forward motion, this will allow the oil to go deeply into the canal.

Wait about 10 minutes and then use a ear bulb (you can get at any pharmacy) to gently rinse the ear with water slightly warmer than the oil. Rinse until the water no longer shows oil.

If your ear is still plugged, stop and call your doctor. Any wax removal requiring more than this will need his/her assistance.


How do I know all this? My daughter averaged 18 ear infections a year for two years before we finally put ear tubes in so her ears could drain.

I swore by "ear candling" back then but I am not certain about it today. Go to your local health food store and ask about "ear candles" to get a good education on another method.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Take a small amount of olive oil, in a small glass/container. Set
it over a dish of very warm (not hot) tap water. Allow the oil time to warm, it works better this way. Get a clean dropper,
and load it with just a few drops. Test one or two on the inside of your wrist. Comfortably warm? Now tilt your head and put dropper barely inside ear canal. (Do not do this, if you can't control it, or get someone else to do it for you.)
Now, drop 2-3 drops, keeping your head in that position till you feel the oil run into your ear a little. Now do the other ear.
It Willl Really Soften ear wax, and it will expel easily. Do not stick anything in your ear...be very careful doing this.

Answer 3

Sweet oil (another name for extra virgin olive oil) has been used for years to soften ear wax and to aleviate ear pain in children. With the advent of newer, safer products it is no longer recommended.

To clear the ear invest in an ear bulb syringe available at any drugstore. It's even available in a kit (Murine Ear Cleaning Kit) along with the next product I'd recommend, a carbamide peroxide solution for the ears. Another brand name for the solution is Debrox. I know most folks still use cotton swabs in the ear, but their use can backfire by acting like a ramrod and impacting the ear with debris.

You can also use a 1:1 solution of 70% isopropyl alcohol and 3% hydrogen peroxide to clean the ear canal. Mix only enough for immediate use and discard the rest.

I hope this helps.

Rick the Pharmacist

Answer 4

Wow now I know how to clean my BBQ cool.

I would suggest instead to just q-tip your ears after a shower gently. It's what I do. While showering you're sitting in hot water, so it softens it up.

Otherwise, if you use oil, just dip a q-tip in it and gently massage it around your ear, wait a bit, then wipe with another qtip. I doubt you have to heat it.

Also there's a method that you can get done at some top notch salons called ear candling that sucks the wax out of your ears. The heated part of the candle which doesn't touch your ear but instead creates a small vacuum that sucks it out. It's supposed to be very effective.

Answer 5

Divers use a mixture of alcohol and vinegar (old school). I use swimmers ear its specially made for the ear and doesn't burn or smell funky. But oil in the ear is not a good idea because the part that makes ear wax is a modified sweat gland and you could clog it by doing that and cause a nasty infection.

Answer 6

I have used olive oil in my ears when i used to have earaches. I would use an eyedropper and put 2 - 3 drops in and hold my head sideways for a few minutes to make sure it got all the way in. It always worked for me.

Answer 7

Yes one drop every 2-3 weeks advised of this by the ear Doc.

Answer 8

We used to use it for ear aches as well
Pour a spoonful and heat it over a flame, not too hot
dip a cottonball onto a sppon and let it lap it up
plug your ear with the cottonball, tilt your head to let it seep in
and break up the wax, then the same to let it drain

Answer 9

Did you know that ears are self cleaning and they do not require cleaning on the inside by the human finger....my problem is that mine itch so bad on the inside so i use a q tip every day to scratch them and i know its not good but its better than putting your nasty finger in there...i was also advised that peroxide is the worst thing to put in your ear...as it dries and leaves a nasty residue inside your ear so it is no cleaner...good luck

Answer 10

no. but i've used peroxide like my mother and grandmother did. use a q-tip, dip it in the peroxide, gently rub the ear canal...wait a couple of minutes and rinse with water. I haven't had to do that in a while. I clean my ears everyday with just a dry q-tip after every shower every day.