# DIY ear canal irrigation **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 22, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diy-ear-canal-irrigation/530004 "2010-02-22T18:35:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JerseyFrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@JerseyFrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyFrank)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diy-ear-canal-irrigation/530004/1 "2010-02-22T18:35:33Z")
Is there a product that is best for this? Is there a recommended solution (solution, in the sense of a liquid) to use? I love my nasal rinser. Jamming my ears with Q-Tips for 30+ years probably hasn’t done me any favors. My ears just itch sometimes and using a Q-tip is definitely compulsive behavior for me at this point. I do it at LEAST twice a day. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diy-ear-canal-irrigation/530004/2 "2010-02-22T19:34:40Z")
> [@JerseyFrank](#): > > Is there a product that is best for this? Is there a recommended solution (solution, in the sense of a liquid) to use? > > I love my nasal rinser. Jamming my ears with Q-Tips for 30+ years probably hasn’t done me any favors. My ears just itch sometimes and using a Q-tip is definitely compulsive behavior for me at this point. I do it at LEAST twice a day. Use a bulb syringe to rinse your ears with a solution of debrox and warm water. You can buy the two as a pair for under $10 at any pharmacy. The Q-Tips are almost certainly irritating your ear canals, and may be causing the compulsion to itch. Any doctor would tell you to never do that, and I think the Q-Tips explicitly say as much right on the box. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diy-ear-canal-irrigation/530004/3 "2010-02-22T19:49:31Z")
I have a thing for peroxide, I love the bubbly bedspins =) bubbles the wax and guk into oblivion and then you pour out the dead peroxide into papertowels =) no qtips needed =) ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diy-ear-canal-irrigation/530004/4 "2010-02-22T19:54:28Z")
you can use glycerin (you can get with peroxide in solution) put a few drops in and let set for 10 minutes. then use an ear syringe with warm water to flush out. you can get these in drug stores as kits and with replacement drops. using q tips can compress the wax, irritate the ear, risk ear drum damage. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diy-ear-canal-irrigation/530004/5 "2010-02-23T19:01:25Z")
I use one of [these](http://www.retrooutlet.com/proddetail.php?prod=112KM). $3.99 for two. I use it with warm water. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diy-ear-canal-irrigation/530004/6 "2010-02-23T21:24:37Z")
For the interim, while your ears are healing from the slight abrasions, get some of the neosporin that has pain reliever in it. Put this on the q-tip any time you feel the urge to “clean” them. It will numb the area and stop the urge. And rinse with Hydrogen peroxide, twice a week at the most. IANAD etc. . .etc. . . ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diy-ear-canal-irrigation/530004/7 "2010-02-24T02:21:08Z")
Don’t put anything else in your ears. Stop using Q-tips. See your doctor. There may be impacted wax in your ear which he/she may have to remove manually. The itching could be anything—simple irritation from the Q-tips, fungus, etc. Your doctor may recommend irrigation as posted earlier, but only he/she can determine that. ---
**Author:** ![corefive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@corefive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corefive)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diy-ear-canal-irrigation/530004/8 "2010-02-25T04:50:00Z")
[This](http://www.medicalmailorder.com/browseproducts/Elephant-Ear-Wash-System.HTML)is what my doctor used most recently. It’s fantastic. Use with warm water after peroxide treatment. Much faster, less messy, and more satisfying than a bulb syringe. The next time my ears are full, I’ll buy one.