How to Unblock Your Ears: What to Do When Ear Wax Is Causing a Blocked Ear
Few things are more irritating than waking up with one ear feeling completely blocked.
Sounds can become muffled, conversations are harder to follow and you may feel pressure or fullness inside the ear. For some people, the first instinct is to reach for a cotton bud and try to clear whatever is causing the problem.
If ear wax is responsible, that can actually make things worse.
Fortunately, there are safer ways to tackle a wax blockage – from purpose-made ear wax softening sprays to professional microsuction.
How Do You Tell If Your Ears Are Blocked with Wax?
Ear wax is completely normal. In fact, your ears need it.
Wax helps protect and lubricate the ear canal and usually moves gradually towards the opening of the ear before falling away naturally.
Sometimes, however, wax builds up faster than it can leave the ear.
Common symptoms of an ear wax blockage include:
Muffled or reduced hearing
A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear
Feeling as though the ear is “clogged”
Earache or discomfort
Itching
Ringing or buzzing in the ear
Occasionally dizziness
The blockage may develop gradually, meaning you don't always notice how much your hearing has changed until the wax is removed.
How Do You Know If You Have Impacted Ear Wax?
Impacted ear wax is wax that has become tightly lodged in the ear canal.
It may be hard and dry or simply form a large enough plug to block sound travelling through the canal.
You cannot always tell from the symptoms alone whether wax is impacted. Several other ear problems can also make an ear feel clogged.
The best way to know for certain is to have the ear examined with an otoscope. An ear wax removal practitioner can look into the canal and see whether there is a wax blockage and how significant it is.
How Can I Unblock My Ears Quickly?
If ear wax is causing the blockage, there are broadly two approaches:
Soften the wax and give it time to clear naturally
Have the wax professionally removed
What you should not do is attempt to dig it out.
Cotton buds are particularly good at cleaning the outer folds of your ears, but they should not be pushed into the ear canal.
Doing so can push existing wax further inside, turning it into a more difficult blockage.
The same applies to fingers, hairpins, tweezers and other objects.
If you want the quickest solution to a significant wax blockage, professional removal such as microsuction will usually provide a faster result than waiting for wax-softening products to work.
How Do You Unblock Ears Full of Wax at Home?
If symptoms are mild and you want to try managing the wax yourself first, the usual approach is to soften it.
NHS online guidance recommends oil-based drops as one option for softening an ear wax build-up.
However, many ear wax professionals recommend using a purpose-made ear wax softening spray or oil preparation rather than simply reaching for olive oil from your kitchen.
Products specifically intended for the ears are readily available from high-street pharmacies and online.
Earol is one well-known example. It uses pharmaceutical-grade oil and a metered spray designed for application to the ear.
A practitioner may recommend using a product like this twice per day for several days, particularly if the wax feels hard or you have a microsuction appointment approaching.
How Do You Use Ear Wax Softening Spray?
The exact instructions depend on the product, so always read the manufacturer's directions.
For sprays of this type, the process will often involve:
Applying the spray to the affected ear as directed.
Gently massaging the tragus, which is the small flap of cartilage immediately in front of the ear canal.
Allowing the oil to distribute around the wax.
Repeating the process, often morning and evening for several days.
The aim is not to flush the wax out with the spray.
Instead, the oil gradually softens and lubricates hardened wax so that it can move naturally or be removed more easily by a professional.
Why Massage the Tragus After Using Ear Spray?
When you apply an ear spray, gently massaging the tragus can help move the preparation further into the entrance of the ear canal and distribute it around the wax.
You don't need to press hard.
Simply gently massage the small cartilage flap at the front of the ear opening for a short period after applying the spray.
Most importantly, there is no need to follow the spray with a cotton bud or any other object inside the canal.
How Long Should You Soften Ear Wax For?
Always follow the instructions supplied with the product you purchase, as these can vary.
A commonly recommended method for an olive-oil ear spray is:
Hold the spray as directed and apply it to the affected ear.
Gently press and massage the tragus – the small piece of cartilage at the front of the ear opening.
Continue massaging briefly to help distribute the oil.
Repeat as directed, often morning and evening when preparing for wax removal.
You do not need to insert anything else into the ear canal.
In particular, avoid using cotton buds after applying the spray, as this risks pushing softened wax further into the ear.
How Do You Get Wax Out of Your Ear That Won't Come Out?
This depends on the severity and consistency of the wax.
For a relatively mild build-up, several days may be enough to soften it considerably.
General NHS self-care advice suggests using a softening preparation for several days and allowing time for the wax to leave naturally.
When preparing for microsuction, many ear care professionals similarly recommend softening wax for several days beforehand. Some advise twice-daily use of an oil spray leading up to the appointment.
Very hard or impacted wax may need longer.
If you have already booked an ear wax removal appointment, follow any preparation advice provided by your clinic.
How Do You Flush Out Your Ears?
You may hear people talk about having their ears “flushed”, “syringed” or irrigated.
Professional ear irrigation uses controlled water to encourage wax out of the ear canal.
That does not mean you should aggressively flush your own ears with a syringe, shower head or other improvised device.
There are circumstances where introducing water into the ear canal may be unsuitable, particularly for people with certain previous ear problems or surgery.
Microsuction provides a different approach. Rather than using water to flush wax out, a practitioner removes it using a fine suction device while looking directly into the ear canal.
Can Microsuction Unblock an Ear Straight Away?
If wax is causing the blockage and it can be successfully removed, the difference can be very quick.
Microsuction physically removes excess wax from the ear canal rather than waiting for it to soften and naturally make its way out.
This means people with a significant wax blockage may notice clearer hearing and a reduction in the clogged or full sensation immediately following successful removal.
Pre-softening particularly hard wax using a purpose-made ear oil spray can make removal easier, which is why it is commonly recommended before appointments.
Why Does My Ear Feel Clogged But There Is No Wax?
This is an important question because not every blocked ear is an ear wax problem.
If an examination shows that your ear canal is clear, there are other possible causes of the clogged sensation.
These can include:
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Your Eustachian tubes help regulate pressure between the middle ear and the back of the nose.
Colds, allergies and pressure changes can prevent them from working normally, causing fullness, popping, crackling or muffled hearing.
An Ear Infection
Inflammation or infection can cause pain, pressure and changes to your hearing even when the ear canal is not blocked by wax.
Fluid Behind the Eardrum
Fluid within the middle ear can produce a blocked sensation and muffled hearing.
Hearing Loss
Sometimes a change in hearing can be interpreted by the brain as a physical blockage even though there is nothing obstructing the ear canal.
This is one of the reasons having the ear examined is useful. If no wax is present, repeatedly using wax-softening products is unlikely to solve the problem.
When Should You Have a Blocked Ear Checked?
An ear wax assessment may be worthwhile if:
Your ear has remained blocked despite using a wax softener
Your hearing is noticeably reduced
The blockage keeps coming back
You regularly suffer from excessive ear wax
You wear hearing aids
You aren't sure whether wax is causing the blockage
You want the blockage professionally removed
Symptoms including sudden hearing loss, severe pain, bleeding, discharge or significant dizziness require appropriate medical assessment and should not simply be assumed to be caused by ear wax.
Ear Feeling Blocked? MK Ear Wax Clinic Can Help
If you suspect ear wax is blocking your ear, MK Ear Wax Clinic can examine the ear canal and determine whether wax is responsible.
Where appropriate, we can then professionally remove the blockage using microsuction.
Appointments are available at our Croydon, Richmond and West Wickham clinics, with home visit ear wax removal also available across London, Surrey and surrounding areas.
If you are attending with particularly hard or impacted wax, we can also advise you about using an appropriate ear wax softening spray before your appointment.
Book an appointment with MK Ear Wax Clinic today and get your blocked ears professionally assessed and treated.
📞 Call: 0203 576 2944
📧 Email: info@mkearwaxclinic.co.uk
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