- Ear wax is part of the ear’s self-cleaning system and usually falls out on its own.
- Cotton buds push wax deeper, which can turn a little wax into a hard plug.
- The HSE says there is no evidence that ear candles or ear vacuums get rid of ear wax.
- The HSE’s self-care advice is olive or almond oil drops, three to four times a day for three to five days.
- If wax has not cleared after five days, the HSE lists irrigation or micro-suction as ways to remove it.
Cotton buds, ear candles and suction gadgets are all sold as ways to clean your ears. The evidence points the other way: cotton buds push wax further in, and there is no evidence that candles or home vacuums get rid of it.
Why ear wax is there at all
A 2018 Cochrane review describes ear wax as part of the ear’s self-cleaning system. It is usually expelled from the ear canal naturally, and impaction (wax building up and blocking the canal) happens when that process fails.
Wax is normally made only in the outer third of the ear canal, according to a patient leaflet from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board in Wales. The HSE notes that ear wax usually falls out on its own, and a Welsh Government care pathway says that in the majority of cases it does not need to be removed.
Cotton buds push wax deeper
The HSE advice is plain: do not use your fingers or other objects like cotton buds to remove ear wax, as this will “push the wax in and make it worse”.
The Cardiff and Vale leaflet names cotton buds, matches and hair clips as one of the most common causes of impacted wax. Wax is forced deeper into the canal, where it can form a hard plug against the eardrum.
The HSE also lists putting an object like a cotton bud too deep into the ear as a cause of a perforated eardrum. In the US, a study in the Journal of Pediatrics found that about 263,000 children under 18 were treated in emergency departments for ear injuries from cotton buds between 1990 and 2010, roughly 34 a day. A quarter of those injuries were a perforated eardrum.
Ear candles do not work
Ear candles are sold on the idea that a lit candle held in the ear creates suction that draws wax out.
Research published in 1996 found ear candles created no suction, removed no wax and left candle wax in some ears. Candling has also caused burns, blockage of the ear canal with candle wax and, occasionally, a perforated eardrum.
The HSE and NHS both say there is no evidence that ear candles get rid of ear wax. A Welsh Government pathway states that ear candling should not be used, and the US Food and Drug Administration has described ear candles as dangerous when used according to their labelling, with a high risk of burns and ear damage.
Ear vacuums and home gadgets
Home ear vacuums, spiral tools and camera tools with small scoops are also sold for cleaning ears, but the HSE and NHS both say there is no evidence that ear vacuums get rid of ear wax.
A randomised trial in the US, published in 2025, tested a cotton swab, a home irrigation device and powered and non-powered spiral tools on 147 people with moderate to excessive wax. In 130 of them (88%), the wax showed no improvement or got worse, with no significant difference between devices. The authors concluded the results do not support routine use of over the counter wax removal devices.
An audiologist quoted by Harvard Health Publishing in 2024 said that putting tools like these into your ear is most likely to make an ear problem much worse, and the article describes people coming in with scratched and bleeding ear canals or perforated eardrums.
How to remove ear wax at home
The HSE advises putting two or three drops of olive or almond oil in the affected ear, then lying on your side for five to ten minutes.
- Repeat this three to four times a day.
- Keep going for three to five days.
- Avoid almond oil if you have a nut allergy.
- Do not use drops if you have a hole in your eardrum.
Over about two weeks, the HSE says lumps of ear wax should fall out and your symptoms should improve. We stock Ultrapure olive oil ear drops (100ml, €5.95), which you can use for this routine.
Some softening drops contain urea hydrogen peroxide instead of oil. Product information for one such drop describes a mild, temporary fizzing in the ear and says not to use it if the eardrum is known or suspected to be damaged, or if you have dizziness. Ask a pharmacist before using them.
When wax needs removing
The NHS lists the symptoms of ear wax build-up as hearing loss, earache or a feeling that your ears are blocked, ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus) and vertigo, which means feeling dizzy and sick.
A patient leaflet from Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust says irrigation or micro-suction should only be carried out when hearing is reduced or there is pain from impacted wax, and not on a regular or routine basis.
If drops have not cleared the wax after five days, the HSE lists two ways it can be removed: flushing it out with water (irrigation) or sucking it out (micro-suction). A 2023 article in the British Journal of General Practice describes micro-suction as the method of choice in secondary care, meaning hospital ear services. Irrigation does not suit everyone, for example people with a perforated eardrum, grommets, an ear infection or only one working ear.
Our page on ear wax removal by micro-suction in Portlaoise explains how appointments work.
From Monday 9 November 2026, a pharmacist offers micro-suction in a private consultation room, Monday to Saturday, for ages 16 and over. It costs €50 for both ears or €40 for one ear, and the €20 online booking fee comes off the price on the day.
When to see your GP
Ear wax usually falls out on its own. See your GP if:
- wax has not cleared after five days of drops
- your ear is badly blocked and you cannot hear properly, as you can get an infection if it is not cleared
- you have significant pain or discharge from the ear
- your hearing has changed suddenly or is getting worse quickly
- you know or think you have a perforated eardrum
- the person with ear wax is under 16
The NHS treats sudden hearing loss in one or both ears as needing urgent medical attention. In Ireland, contact your GP or out of hours GP service the same day.
Common questions
Is it ever fine to use a cotton bud inside the ear?
The HSE and NHS both advise against it. A cotton bud can push wax further in, and the HSE lists one put too deep into the ear as a cause of a perforated eardrum.
Do ear candles remove any wax at all?
Research published in 1996 found they created no suction and removed no wax, and some people were left with candle wax in the ear.
How long should I use olive oil drops?
The HSE advises two or three drops, three to four times a day, for three to five days. If wax has not cleared after five days, see your GP or, if you are 16 or over, ask us about micro-suction.
Should I have my ears cleaned out regularly?
No. An NHS trust leaflet says irrigation and micro-suction are not recommended on a regular or routine basis, only when hearing is reduced or impacted wax is causing pain.
What if I think a cotton bud has damaged my eardrum?
Contact your GP. According to the HSE, a perforated eardrum will usually heal on its own within six weeks if you keep water out of the ear.
Can my child have micro-suction at the pharmacy?
The service is for ages 16 and over. Children under 16 should see their GP.
Sources: HSE (2026), HSE (2025), NHS (2024), NHS (2023), Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (2018), Seely et al (1996), Welsh Government (2020), US FDA (2025), Nationwide Children’s Hospital (2017), Kamm et al (2025), Harvard Health Publishing (2024), Aaron et al, Cochrane (2018), Munro et al, BJGP (2023), Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (2022), emc (2024)
