Use standard, room-temperature medicinal olive oil (available at pharmacies). Do not use cooking olive oil, which may contain additives, sediment, or bacteria.
To use olive oil effectively at home, follow these steps recommended by healthcare providers like the NHS and Medical News Today : ear cleaning olive oil
: Overusing oil can make wax so soft that it becomes a "slush," which can occasionally obstruct the suction tools used by specialists. Safety Precautions Ear Cleaning Advice and Information | Specsavers UK Safety Precautions Ear Cleaning Advice and Information |
But sometimes, the system fails. For some of us, the conveyor belt stops. The wax becomes dry, hard, and impacted. It creates a plug that muffles sound and causes discomfort. The instinct is to dig it out with a cotton bud, but this is the worst possible move. As ENT doctors often say: "Never put anything smaller than your elbow inside your ear." It creates a plug that muffles sound and causes discomfort
While olive oil is natural, it is not universally safe. There are strict contraindications.
Do not use olive oil if you have or suspect: