Blocked ears: why not to use cotton buds and how they are cleared

Your ear feels blocked, as if you were on a plane coming in to land, or suddenly you hear worse on one side. And the first thing you do is reach for a cotton bud. That is exactly what you should not do.

The summary: earwax is not dirt, a cotton bud pushes the blockage further in, and if it really bothers you, the best thing is for a professional to check it before you put anything in your ear. I will explain why and how we do it.

Earwax is not dirt

Earwax (cerumen) is made by the ear canal itself and has nothing to do with how clean you are. Everyone has it. It serves a purpose: it protects the ear from infection and stops dust, water or anything foreign getting further in. It usually comes out on its own, little by little, towards the outside.

That is why you do not need to “clean out earwax”. If it does not bother you, leave it alone.

Why cotton buds make things worse

A cotton bud does not remove earwax: it pushes it inwards and packs it down. That is one of the reasons a blockage forms. And if you push too far, you can damage the canal or even the eardrum.

For daily hygiene, cleaning the outside with a towel or cloth is enough, without putting anything inside. Nor the so-called “ear candles”: there is no evidence they work and they carry risks.

How to tell whether you have a blockage

The most common symptoms are:

• A blocked feeling in the ear.
• Hearing worse on one side.
• A whistling or ringing sound.
• Itching or discomfort in the ear.
• Sometimes a little dizziness.

It can appear suddenly, in the shower, at the beach or while diving, and it is often noticed after a swim. But be careful: those same symptoms can be something else, such as an infection. That is why the only way to know for sure is to look inside with an otoscope.

What you can do at home

If there are no symptoms, nothing. If there is mild discomfort, there are two sensible things:

• Softening the earwax with pharmacy drops intended for this (cerumenolytics) or with water or saline solution, following the instructions on the pack. Then keep your head tilted for 5 or 10 minutes, resting on the healthy ear. After a few days of drops, the blockage often breaks up.
• Waiting a little. Some blockages clear on their own.

And what not to do:

• Do not put cotton buds, hairpins, keys or anything else in your ear.
• Do not use drops if you suspect a perforated eardrum or an ear infection (pain, discharge).
• Do not try home irrigation with pressurised syringes. Irrigation is better done by someone who knows how, because it can irritate and injure the canal.

How a blockage is removed in the clinic or at home

First I look in the ear with an otoscope and ask you some questions, because they change what can be done: whether you have had a perforated eardrum, infections or ear surgery, whether you take anticoagulants, whether you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, and whether you use hearing aids.

If the blockage is hard, I sometimes recommend drops for a few days first to soften it. Then:

• Irrigation with warm water, at low pressure and aimed gently at the wall of the canal, so the water carries the blockage out. It is the most common method.
• Manual removal with suitable instruments, when irrigation is not appropriate.
• I check that the canal is clean and that the eardrum can be seen clearly.

Irrigation is not always done: if a perforation, an infection or discharge is suspected, I do not do it. And if I cannot remove it safely, I refer you to an ENT specialist. It is normal to feel a little dizzy or a passing discomfort during irrigation.

If we remove it at home

I come to you, look in the ear, review your history and remove the blockage with the safest method for you. If it needs softening first, I explain it and we come back another day.

→ See the home earwax removal service

Informational content. It does not replace the assessment of a healthcare professional or a medical consultation.

Last reviewed: 29 October 2026