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The Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment for Ear Wax

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Posted by Robin (Haines,Alaska) on 02/04/2006
 ★★★★★

I've used hydrogen peroxide for years to "bubble" my 5 sons' ears. One of my sons had deeply impacted wax so bad that an ear Dr. wanted to operate on him to remove it. I asked him if there was another alternative and he said we could try cleaning his ears with one of those over the counter kits.We opted for daily syringing of the ear with 3% hydrogen peroxide,and rinsing with a diluted apple cider vinegar solution afterwards to replace natural ph to the ear, after several days black rocks 1/8"in size began to come out of his ear! We worked on his ear daily for about 3 weeks. Upon returning to the Ear Dr. he gave him a clean bill of health. He was 3yrs. old then and is 20yrs. old now and has had no ear problems since!

Replied by Nysuccess
(Poughkeepsie, Ny, Usa)
08/11/2011

I am having a problem even after reading all comments. Since I was a kid I can't stand liquid filling up my ears. The pressure makes me jump and tilt my head to try to get it out. Once air is then able to get in, I calm down. I have never swam under water because of this; I just can't tolerate the canal being filled w/fluid. In the shower I block the water from getting in an always tell hairdresser to keep the water out of my ears. I use qtips but never farther than just a smidgen into the 'hole' of the entrance and gently use a wash rag to clean them because I'm overly sensitive to this. I need an idea on how to remove the wax via gently dripping liquid in but not filling it up. I have a blockage for sure in there and doc's nurse tried irrigation only to have me keep from trying to move away, so they said they couldn't help, told me to come back after a few days of using Debrox and they'll torture me again! I can't do it. The irrigation was a bad experience bc of my sensitive ears & the feeling of too much liquid.

Please, I'm desperate. Twice I tried small drops allowing them to flow a little into canal and I know I didn't use enough bc nothing came out when I tried tipping my head to release the few drops of peroxide/warm water mix, and I used the bulb squirter to gently whisk some warm water into the hole. I just can't do it. Tried super gentle using "loop" end of Bobby pin and was too scared to insert any more than a little. When I used Bobby pin gently, I insert a tiny bit & feel a "wall" that stops me from going further & am afraid to "dig into" it so I just give up. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET IT OUT. This is upsetting- I want to be able to hear fully again. :( is there a way to gently drip something in that will dissolve it on it's own? Or do I have no other choices? I can't let doc ram rod into my ear bc he will walk out with a black eye. :( Help please!

Replied by Tess
(Pb, Florida, Usa)
08/12/2011

Hydrogen peroxide will dissolve your ear wax. I have used this method for many years now. Use very small amounts of peroxide at a time since you are so sensitive. Try wetting a q-tip with peroxide and you won't have the feeling of liquid in your ear canal. That's a gentle method I used on my children. The peroxide should fizz up right away, but try not to shake it out. Since you are doing it in small amounts, you will probably have to do it day after day to slowly dissolve the wax. Best of luck.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Sarah (Annapolis, MD) on 11/18/2005
 ★★★★★

this peroxide treatment is wonderful..I have used it many times. I have been to the doctor for years due to my ear problems and nothing has ever helped long term except peroxide. It's great!!

Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Kevin (Jacksonville, FL) on 10/08/2005
 ★★★★★

I have used hydrogen peroxide successfully in the past to eliminate ear wax. Only recently did I begin to use it as a mouth wash. The cavity I had almost immediately ceased to hurt after I began using the hydrogen peroxide. Another form of oxygen therapy is biomagnets. Albert Roy Davis discovered that the North pole of a magnet has the opposite effect of the South pole. North pole energy increases the amount of oxygen in the body too.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by CS (Toronto, Ontario CANADA) on 08/30/2005
 ★★★★★

This works FANTASTIC!! I couldn't hear for a week out of one ear and the day I tried this home remedy I could hear again! I was reading that you should follow up this remedy by flushing out your ear with rubbing alcohol to dry out the wetness that the hydrogen peroxide may leave behind. Warm wet places are a haven for bacteria growth so the alcohol treatment is essential.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Ashley (Thousand Oaks, Ca) on 08/16/2005
 ★★★★★

I work with special needs teens, one of the clients kept playing with his ears. I took him to the doctor and his doctor told me about this technique. It worked wonderfully and my client actually ENJOYED it. He was giggling so much that another child wanted to do it too! (he also had build-up). He asks for "Tickles in my ear".

Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Amanda (Austin, TX) on 07/12/2005
 ★★★★★

At 21 years old, i can never remember a time that my ears bothered me. Not even the 6 years i was on swim team. However, recently I developed a dull ache in one ear that progressed to a full blow keep you up at night pain. I have tried everything and as a last ditch effort before resorting to the doctor, i attempted your suggestion. I left the peroxide in for a full 20 minutes and followed with rubbing alcohol to dry the ear out afterwards. it provided temporary relief but the pain returned. It is 4 am and I will try to get some sleep. I will keep you informed on how it feels in the morning. Thanks!

Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Donna (PA) on 07/11/2005
 ★★★★★

i had a bad ear wax build up for a whole week. couldn't hear a thing. my mom said get peroxide. so i tried it. it snapped cracked bubbled and after laying on my side, my hubby got the ear syringe and flushed it. out it popped a huge ball of wax. i trust my mom for everything. glad i do!

Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Samantha (UK)
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

I used hydrogen peroxide tonight for ear wax. I was woken 3 hours later with severe pain. I have called A&E and i must go to them as now i have a thermos burn in my ear. It's 3am in the morning i have 4 young children asleep in bed and i am waiting for my sister who lives 40mins away to get here to sit with them....so much for hydrogen peroxide.

Replied by Alicia
(St. Louis, MO/USA)
03/09/2009

My father used to do this to me when I was younger and had wax build-up. It worked every time I knew there was just "build-up". I tried to do the remedy once when my ear actually hurt. Bad decision. As soon as the drop hit the ear.... pain. Severe pain. I wouldn't recommend doing this remedy if you show signs of infection. For standard cleaning, this method works great. Except, if you give yourself a treatment on a Monday... wait a few days before doing another. Doing this on a daily basis may cause irritation or the "water" feeling in the ear.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Jade (Peoria, IL)
★★★★★

Our family has used this since I was a small child. I have never had any ear problems what so ever and continue to use this procedure today.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Linda (Asheboro, NC)
★★★★★

I had used hydrogen peroxide in my ears years ago, but I was not happy with the results. Last night, I read the information on this site, and I decided to give it another try. I realized that I had not been patient enough. I put the solution in both ears, and I spent up to 45 minutes on the process. I am happy to report that it was sucessful this time. Wax buildup in my right ear was affecting my hearing, and an enormous amount of wax came to the surface today that I was able to remove easily. I took my organic apple cider vinegar with me to work today and sipped on the ACV mixed with water and ice all afternoon. I will report the results after using it for a while. Thanks for the valuable information!

Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Joella (TN)
★★★★★

I have used hydrogen peroxide many times in the past 6 years to dissolve ear wax and had fabulous results! Last week, however, after doing my usual treatment of 10 minutes per ear, I awoke the next morning with pain in my left ear at the jaw bone. It was extremely sensitive to the touch! I thought I had an ear infection and called my doctor for a prescription. Took the ear drops and antibiotics and the ear pain did not go away. A few days later I actually went to my doctor's office for a visit and he saw no sign of infection! What he suspected was jaw pain from TMJ that was somehow triggered by the hydrogen peroxide treatment. I slept without a pillow for the next few nights and my jaw pain immediately went away. Thought your readers might like to know. Thanks.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Debbie (Tulsa, OK)
★★★★★

I love what hydrogen peroxide does for me! I have a hard time with ear pain, I don't have that much ear wax but I do have ear pain, so I take a small dropper, (barbie doll baster, the kind that diabetics use for glucose checks) and fill it up and use it in my ears, it feels good and it's relaxing and gets rid of the pain. I also sometimes notice that I do have ear wax on the cotton ball. I have used this for about 5 years now, never had a bad experience.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Shaniece (Charlotte, NC)
★★★★★

I used the peroxide for ear wax. Which was causing me to have extremely intense headaches, I imagine the wax wasn't allowing the pressure any room to flow out. So I read here on the site to try to remove the wax by using the peroxide. My mother have taught us to use peroxide for cleaning the ears, for as long as I can remember. So when I read here that you need to allow the peroxide to not only dislodge the wax it needs enough time to dissolve as well. That was the key to my pain, i wasn't allowing it enough time. So I then went home and layed on my side for about 40 minutes continuing to add the liquid as it dissolved. This did the trick! I feel the lady who did not agree probably did not allow enough time. Because it will dislodge and leave the ear feeling really uncomfortable if it's not completely finished dissolving.

Replied by Debbye
(Nashville, Tn)
09/13/2012

You are correct, the key is to be patient and continue to put a few drops of the hydrogen peroxide in the ear twice a day for possibly up to 2-3 days (depending on how clogged the ear is). My right ear was TOTALLY blocked/clogged to the point where I could barely hear in it..... I used this procedure along with a few warm drops of olive oil, each time I let the liquids drain from my ear and then follow with flushing the ear out with some warm water using the bulb syringe..... Well, like others are saying, on the 3rd day that I did this I was flushing my ear with the warm water and 2-3 big blobs of earwax fell out of my ear (disgusting, I know) and now I can hear fine again! The key is to be consistent and I promise you this procedure will do the trick! I was planning to go to a ENT doctor to help me but now I know I don't need one! Thank GOD! I feel so much better because it was very frustrating walking around with my ear clogged!

Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Susan (USA)

We heard about this treatment from an ENT (Ear Nose Throat) MD and have practiced it for years. We love it! We have passed the practice on to friends who have in turn passed it on their friends. However, before you try it, check with your doctor first! Some people experience severe ear or jaw pain after trying this remedy (see below).

NOTE: For safety, don't do this treatment before flying. Make sure there are a few days between the treatment and getting on a plane. Also, do not try this remedy if you have existing ear or jaw pain -- it may make the condition worse! If you have any doubts about trying this remedy, don't try it... Contact your doctor first and get his/her opinion. One more note -- do not do this remedy more than once in each ear. Wait a few days in between before trying it again if you feel it did not dissolve all the wax.

The recipe:
Lay a towel down on your bed or carpet. Then fill a dropper (buy at the pharmacy in the infant section) with drugstore bought 3% hydrogen peroxide (about .79 a bottle at any pharmacy). Lying on your side, fill one ear with hydrogen peroxide. After a few moments you will hear fizzing. Quite normal. After a minute or two, add more peroxide. Wait, relax, enjoy. After another few minutes, add more. The peroxide fizzes away, which is why you must keep adding more. Wait until the fizzing stops -- 10 to 15 minutes -- indicative that the wax has been dissolved. Shake remaining liquid from your ear onto the towel and repeat on the other ear. Since this takes time, you may want to do one ear one day and the other the following day.

If you feel a "slushing" in your ear following this treatment, you probably did not give the peroxide enough time. This will feel quite uncomfortable but don't be alarmed! The peroxide probably dislodged the wax but did not dissolve it. Try again. Trick is to keep the ear filled with liquid. You'll be amazed at how much it fizzes up. We did this on a friend a few years back and a huge piece of ear wax floated up and out of his ear. This same person had to go to an ENT every year or two to have chunks of ear wax removed so you can imagine how grateful he was to have a do-it-at-home treatment that actually worked!

If you use ear plugs, you can also clean them using hydrogen peroxide. Simply put peroxide in a cup and toss in the plugs... they will be back to perfect condition within 20 minutes or so.

Don't believe H202 actually helps to dissolve ear wax? Try this experiment:

Clean your ears with a q-tip. Add a few tablespoons of drugstore H202 to a glass and drop the waxy q-tip inside the glass. Within 10 minutes the q-tip will be white again, absolutely no wax left.

No question about it, H202 dissolves ear wax. Visible proof.


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