Olive oil for ear wax: what the HSE advises and how to use drops properly

What ear wax does and why it can block

Ear wax is not dirt. The HSE describes it as a natural, protective substance made in the outer ear canal that traps dust and dirt and helps prevent infection. The NHS in the UK notes that ear wax normally just falls out on its own.

Sometimes it builds up and blocks the ear. The HSE lists these signs of a blocked ear:

• earache
• difficulty hearing
• itchiness
• dizziness
• an ear infection
• tinnitus, which means hearing high-pitched sounds from inside the ear

The HSE says these symptoms usually improve once the wax is removed. Olive oil is one of two oils the HSE suggests putting in the ear for this, alongside almond oil.

How to use olive oil drops the HSE way

The HSE gives a clear routine for olive oil or almond oil. Here it is step by step:

• Lie on your side with the affected ear facing up.
• Put 2 to 3 drops of olive oil into the ear.
• Keep lying on your side for 5 to 10 minutes after putting the oil in.
• Repeat 3 to 4 times a day, for 3 to 5 days.

A patient leaflet from Cardiff and Vale health board in Wales says the drops should be at room temperature. We stock Ultrapure olive oil ear drops, 100ml, at 5.95 euro, with the same directions on the product page.

The HSE gives the same method for almond oil, but says not to use it if you are allergic to almonds.

What to expect while the wax softens

The HSE says that over about two weeks, lumps of ear wax should fall out of your ear and your symptoms should improve.

Do not be surprised if the ear feels more blocked at first. The British Society of Audiology explains that softeners make wax expand, so hearing can come and go and there may be mild discomfort.

A Cochrane review of ten studies found that ear drops may help to remove wax from a partly or fully blocked ear canal, though it rated the evidence as low quality. Side effects were uncommon and mild, such as slight irritation or an unpleasant smell.

If you wear hearing aids, RNID notes that a large build-up of wax can make them whistle, or stop them working properly if it blocks the tube or speaker. The British Society of Audiology adds that olive oil can get into hearing aids, especially receiver-in-ear and in-the-ear models, so using the drops overnight when the aid is out may be advisable.

Olive oil and other ear drops compared

Olive oil is not the only softener. ENT UK says there is no evidence that any one softener works better than another.

Not sure which to pick? The HSE says a pharmacist can give advice and suggest treatments, and that with the recommended drops the wax should fall out on its own or dissolve after about a week.

When drops are not suitable, and what to avoid

The HSE says not to use drops if you have a hole in your eardrum, also called a perforated eardrum. RNID and our own product guidance add other times to hold off:

• a known ear infection, or signs of one
• ear pain or discharge from the ear
• grommets
• dermatitis or eczema in the ears
• recent ear surgery
• being told to keep water out of the ear

Whatever you use, do not put your fingers or objects like cotton buds in your ear. The HSE says this pushes wax further in and makes it worse, and RNID also warns against tissue and hair grips.

The HSE says there is no evidence that ear candles or ear vacuums get rid of ear wax.

Using drops before micro-suction

If drops alone do not shift the wax, the HSE lists two GP treatments: flushing the ear with water (ear irrigation) and suctioning the wax out (micro-suction). Guidance from the British Society of Audiology, citing NICE, says manual syringing should not be offered to remove ear wax.

ENT UK says softening drops are not usually needed before micro-suction, but using them for five days beforehand may make clearing the ear easier. If you are booking ear wax removal by micro-suction in Portlaoise with us, use olive oil 3 to 4 times a day for 3 to 5 days before your appointment.

ENT UK notes that suction is loud and can cause brief dizziness or a cough, and that it should not continue if it becomes painful. The British Society of Audiology adds that a long or very hard plug may not all come out in one visit, so you may need up to five more days of softener and a return appointment.

When to see your GP

The HSE says to see your GP if:

• your ear has not cleared after five days of drops
• your ear is badly blocked and you cannot hear properly, as an infection can develop if the wax is not cleared

Drops or micro-suction may not be suitable if you have any of the following, so speak to your GP first:

• significant ear pain that does not seem related to wax, now or in the last 90 days
• discharge from the ear
• a known or suspected hole in your eardrum
• grommets now, or within the last 90 days
• signs of an ear infection

Under 16s should see their GP about ear wax. Our micro-suction service is for ages 16 and over.

Common questions

Sources: HSE (2026), NHS (UK, 2024), RNID (2026), Cochrane (2018), British Society of Audiology (2025), ENT UK (2024), NHS Scotland East Region Formulary (2022), emc (2024), Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (2018)