If you have been advised that treatment is needed to help clear your wax. For ease, comfort and safety
earwax should be softened prior to seeing the nurse for removal. Depending on the extent of your
earwax build-up, our nurses will use a method called micro-suction, which essentially sucks out the
earwax build-up without any contact with the eardrum or sensitive skin of the ear canal.
Removing impacted earwax is generally pain-free. It might feel a little strange to have someone poking
around in your ear but try your best not to move during the procedure, just to prevent any potential
damage to the ear canal caused by a sudden movement.
Our nurses will talk you through the procedure before they begin so you’ll be aware of the steps being
taken to remove the wax.
To soften your wax you should ideally use olive oil this can be from the chemist with a little pipette or
you can use plain kitchen olive oil. If you find putting drops into your ear hard or have no one else to
help you, you may find olive oil spray called EAROL more helpful.
How to use olive oil
If using olive oil with a pipette
Whilst lying down on your side place 2 drops into you ear and stay on your side for 10 minutes. If
treating both ears repeat this on the other side.
If using olive oil from your kitchen stock
You will need an assistant to help place the olive oil into the ear using a spoon.
Place one drop of olive oil on a warm teaspoon, the heat from the spoon with warm the oil and make
it more viscous.
Once lying on your side, ask your assistant to drop the warm olive oil from the teaspoon into your ear
canal, and stay there for 10 minutes.
DO NOT put cotton wool into ears – this will draw the oil away from your wax.
If using EAROL spray
Place into effect ear and spray twice each day.
How long should you treat your ears?
Repeat this at least daily for 10-14 days before your micro-suction appointment. It is important to
follow this procedure as it is not possible to suction hard ear wax. There may be a temporary shift in
hearing ability due to the olive oil blocking the ear canal further, but this will be relieved by the removal
of ear wax by the micro-suction.
DO NOT be tempted to poke and prod in the ear, this can push the impacted wax further into your ear
canal making it more difficult to remove as well as potentially damaging the ear canal and ear drum.