Ear Wax Removal Tool by Tilcare - Ear Irrigation Flushing System for Adults & Kids - Perfect Ear Cleaning Kit - Includes Basin, Syringe, Curette Kit, Towel and 30 Disposable Tips

Product Information

Watery earwax differs from the kind you get after swimming; it might signal otitis externa, commonly known as swimmer's ear. This watery discharge can also occur from a middle ear infection, which isn't exactly earwax but pus from the infection. If you suspect an infection, antibiotics can help. Seek your GP's advice for proper diagnosis and treatment. While this tool—which looks like a drill—may appear promising, it’s important to keep in mind that ear canals aren’t a straight cylinder. He added: ‘In unskilled hands this could cause serious damage ... I am amazed that this product and similar ones are available to the lay person.’

Ah, TikTok, home of makeup tutorials, lip-syncing tunes, cute animal content and—earwax removal videos? Emily J. Taylor, AuD, F-AAA, audiologist and owner of Taylor Listening Center in Baltimore, says that at-home ear irrigation is a relatively safe option for people to try at home if they wish. While it might seem like an inconvenience, earwax serves several important functions. One of its main roles is to act as a protective barrier for the delicate skin of the ear canal.

Types of earwax removal kits

However, he cautioned that many people with impacted ear wax are still likely to need professional ear wax removal treatment even after using drops. Components: These kits contain three to eight tools, including specially designed curettes that remove the wax without damaging your eardrum. Most tools have some type of barrier built into the handle to prevent you from inserting the curette too far into the ear. Some kits have tools with LED lights, so you’re better able to see what you’re doing as you remove wax from your child’s ears. As mentioned earlier, generic cotton swabs are generally regarded as a no-go by experts. “They will mostly push the wax in deeper, past the middle narrowing of the ear canal which is called the isthmus,” says Dr. Chandrasekhar. (Plus, they can scratch the skin of the ear canal, leading to bleeding, pain, and even the risk of infection.) That’s where this handy tool is different. While it may be similar in use to your average Q-tip, it contains a spiraled head that gives wax a place to go: namely, outside your ear, versus farther inside.

Earwax kits with an irrigation system are also fairly common. The principle behind this type of kit is simple: you flush the ear with water to help remove excess wax from the ear canal. Gently press on the syringe to allow water to enter the ear. If a person feels pain or pressure, they should stop irrigating. As our experts said, certain ear cleaning solutions are safer than others, but at the end of the day, the less you do the better. If you have nothing on hand, your pinky finger will suffice, though Dr. Chandrasekhar says a washcloth is also “fine as it cannot go deeper than the meatus” (or the front opening of the ear canal).

Safe, Effective Ear Wax Removal

Private ear wax removal options can be pricey, so it’s no surprise people are attempting DIY treatments, but our snapshot investigation found that there are products you'd be wise to avoid. Professor Munro considered that this product, and ones like it, could seriously damage the ear canal or ear drum, and potentially worsen wax impaction by pushing wax deeper in. He also said he knew of no independent studies that evaluated how safe and effective this type of tool is. We love that this kit comes with every component you’ll need to perform the cleaning. This version uses a saline solution to loosen ear wax and flush it out, and it even comes with a basin and towel for easy clean-up. (Plus, you'll also get an ear bulb to remove any excess water.) Some users said it worked better than other products they used that were almost twice the cost. More broadly, the clinical evidence says that inserting foreign bodies into the ear canal is potentially dangerous and can cause injuries to the ear canal or ear drum. If you’re nervous about injuring your ear with metal tools, you can also find earwax removal tool kits with disposal plastic curettes. You don’t have to worry about sanitizing the tools because you simply throw them away when you’re finished using them.