12 Home Remedies for Clogged Ears [Infographic]

Clogged ears can happen for many different reasons. Changes in elevation or air pressure can give you a feeling of fullness in your ears. Congestion due to a cold, allergies or sinuses can also lead to clogged ears, and you may also develop the problem due to an ear infection. When clogged ears are caused by something other than an infection, home remedies can help you get relief without having to resort to using medications. You can try some of these home remedies for clogged ears to clear out that fullness or pressure and promote better hearing.

Try the best home remedies for clogged ears to get rid of the discomfort and congestion 

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1. Mint Leaves

First on our home remedies for clogged ears, we have mint leaves. The essential oils contained by mint are beneficial for the whole respiratory system. This herb has a vast array of benefits ranking among the highest antioxidant-rich foods. Also, fresh mint leaves are ideal as a home remedy for clogged ears since they are very rich in menthol. The intense smell helps reduce ear congestion and offers relief in mild cases.

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Instructions

• Heat up a pot of water.
• Add a handful of fresh mint leaves and 1 tbsp of regular salt in the pot.
• Cover the pot and let steep for 3 minutes.
• Remove the pot from the stove.
• Place a clean towel on your head and lean over the pot to inhale the steam.
• Keep taking deep breaths for 15 minutes.
• Rinse your face with cold water after you are done.

2. Salt Water Gargle

Salt water gargle is an old remedy used to treat bronchitis, sore throats, common colds and maintain oral hygiene. As a remedy for clogged ears, it is recommended you use warm water. As this home remedy has no possible side-effects, the treatment can be repeated whenever needed.

Instructions

• Add 1 tbs of salt to a glass of warm water.
• Use the solution to gargle for 20 seconds.
• Spit it out and rinse with clean water.
• Repeat as often as needed.

3. Baby Oil and Glycerin

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Another great addition to our home remedies for clogged ears list is glycerin as it will soften the wax and free up the ear canal. The baby oil acts as a lubricant and protects the delicate interior of your ear canal, so the two ingredients work perfectly together.

Instructions

• Place a small pot of water on the stove.
• Add 5 drops of glycerin and 5 drops of baby oil to the hot water.
• Lie on your side.
• Use a medicine dropper to gently pour a few drops of the solution in the affected ear.
• Switch sides and repeat if both ears are clogged.
• Drain out the excess solution, after 2-3 minutes.
• Repeat 3 times per day.

4. Yawning

This might just be one of the simplest home remedies for clogged ears but it’s often very effective. When you yawn, pressure changes in your sinus cavities and ears, and your facial muscles stretch. In mild cases, yawning will be enough to clear the congestion or to reset the pressure in your ears. There are no side effects to trying yawning as a clogged ears home remedy, and it only takes a few seconds to attempt. Unfortunately, yawning may not always be enough to completely eliminate feelings of fullness, so you might need to follow it up with another remedy.

Instructions

• Open your mouth widely. Normally, this will cause you to yawn.
• Try to do it a few times in a row to alleviate ear fullness if once does not work.

5. Lavender Oil

The are many uses for lavender oil, as well as the ways to apply this essential oil, but every single time the result is more than what one could have hoped for. Lavender oil is also very effective in solving the problem of clogged ears when you have a cold. The active substance in lavender, called linalool, contributes to loosening ear wax and mucus. As a result, lavender oil is a great home remedy for clogged ears.

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Instructions

• Heat up a bowl of water.
• Add 5 drops of lavender oil.
• Cover your head with a clean towel and lean over the bowl.
• Inhale the hot steam until you feel your ears popping.
• Do this in the evening before going to bed.
• Repeat for 3 days.

6. Witch Hazel

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Witch Hazel is a natural home remedy for clogged ears that can also help with an infection, as well as to clean the ears of sweat or oil. This remedy using dried witch hazel leaves is recommended due to its anti-inflammatory effects, this can be used to treat clogged ears by putting several drops into the affected ear, below you will find all the necessary steps for that.

Instructions

• Boil ¼ cup of dried witch hazel leaves in two cups of water.
• Let it steep for 5 minutes.
• Wait for the mixture to cool down and then strain it to eliminate the leaves.
• Use a medical dropper to pour the mixture into the affected ear.
• Wait 5 minutes and lean over the sink for the solution to drain out.
• Repeat as many times as necessary.

7. Clove Oil

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Clove oil acts as a natural painkiller, being recommended against several infections. Often used in dentistry as an antiseptic and analgesic, its active substance is eugenol which has anti-inflammatory and anesthetic properties. As clogged ears are often caused by a change in pressure, clove oil has been shown to help alleviate the discomfort.

Instructions

• Heat a ¼ cup of clove oil in a frying pan.
• Let the mixture cool down for 20 minutes.
• Lay on your side and pour a few drops in the affected ear.
• Rest for 10 minutes and wait until the clove oil cools down.
• Repeat 2 or 3 times a day.

8. Valsalva Maneuver

Doctors sometimes recommend the Valsalva Maneuver for ear fullness. It’s been around since the 17th century when an Italian physician first invented it to treat ear infections. Today, we know that the Valsalva Maneuver does not get rid of an ear infection, but it does change the pressure in your ear canal. It can be enough to alleviate ear stuffiness and even some types of ear pain. However, it is very important that you do the Valsalva Maneuver as gently as possible. Being too forceful will not make this clogged ears remedy more effective, and it could potentially injure your eardrum.

Instructions

• Sit in a comfortable chair.
• Close your mouth.
• Use your thumb and index finger to press your nostrils mostly closed.
• Breathe in through your nose with your fingers still pressing in.
• Breathe out using with the level of force that you normally would. Do not blow out hard the way you would if you were blowing your nose.
• Repeat this until your ears give a popping sound or until you have tried 10 times.

9. Olive Oil

If earwax is to blame for the symptoms, then olive oil will be more than a very effective home remedy for clogged ears. Also, you can use any type of olive oil from the grocery store. The idea behind using olive oil as a clogged ears home remedy is that it can soften the ear wax and make it easier to remove. There is always a risk whenever you are administering anything into your ears that you might irritate the ear canal or even injure your eardrum, so be careful not to insert anything too far into your ear.

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Instructions

• Boil about 1 cup of water on the stove.
• Place 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small glass.
• Set the glass inside of the boiling water.
• Wait about 1 to 2 minutes until the oil gets warm and then remove the glass.
• Lie on your side.
• Use a medicine dropper to put 5 drops of the warm olive oil into your ear.
• Rest for 10 minutes.
• Sit up and tilt your ear over the sink to let any excess oil drain out.
• Use a cotton swab to gently clean the beginning of your ear canal.
• Repeat the process on the other side if both ears are clogged.

10. Warm Compress

This home remedy for clogged ears is best for symptoms caused by a cold, sinuses or allergies. Doctors sometimes recommend this clogged ears home remedy because it is known to be effective and is very simple to do. A warm compress can help clogged ears by loosening congestion that is contributing to the problem. You may not experience complete relief from your symptoms, but the compress should help you feel better and at least partially eliminate the stuffiness.

Instructions

• Allow the water to run from your sink tap until it reaches a hot yet still comfortable temperature.
• Hold a clean, soft washcloth under the water.
• Ring out the washcloth to remove excess water.
• Lie down on your side.
• Hold the washcloth over the ear and allow it to remain in place for at least 10 minutes.
• Repeat on the other side if it is also stuffy.

11. Hydrogen Peroxide and Water

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This particular home remedy for clogged ears is best for stuffiness caused by wax, but it may also work if you have a cold, sinusitis or allergies. Like the other home remedies for clogged ears discussed so far, this method of addressing ear stuffiness has been used for centuries. Available at all drugstores, hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant that bubbles up when it comes in contact with germs. When you add it to your ear, it foams up, and its bubbling action can help to loosen ear wax. Water is used in this home remedy to dilute the hydrogen peroxide and reduce the risk of irritation.

Instructions

• Allow the water from your tap to run until it is a comfortable temperature.
• Fill a measuring cup with 1/2 cup of warm water.
• Add 1/2 cup of 3 % hydrogen peroxide to the water.
• Stir with a spoon.
• Lie down on your side.
• Use a medicine dropper and add 10 to 15 drops of the liquid to your ear.
• Rest comfortably until the fizzing stops.
• Sit up and tilt your ear, allowing the liquid to drain out into the sink.
• Repeat on the other side if it is also feeling stuffy.

12. Garlic

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Garlic has been used as a home remedy for clogged ears in the Mediterranean region for generations, and many people do reportedly get relief from ear pressure due to a number of causes when they try this method. There are three main reasons why this remedy is beneficial. First, garlic has anti-inflammatory benefits and could potentially ease any swelling that is contributing to the clogged feeling. Secondly, garlic has antibacterial properties, so it can help to purify the ear canal. Lastly, the oil solution can soften wax, being one of the best home remedies for clogged ears.

Instructions

• Peel 2 cloves of garlic.
• Use the back of a spoon to mash them up.
• Put 2 tablespoons of olive oil or vegetable oil in a saucepan.
• Place the oil on the stove over medium-high heat.
• Add the smashed garlic to the oil when it starts bubbling in the pan.
• Allow the garlic to cook in the oil for 30 seconds.
• Remove the oil from the stove.
• Allow it to rest until the temperature is lukewarm.
• Lie down on your side and with a dropper add 15 drops of the oil to your ear.
• Rest for 1 minute.
• Sit up and tilt your ear, allowing the oil to drain out into the sink.
• Use a towel to dry.
• Repeat as many times as necessary.

Conclusion

If you’re not certain why you’re experiencing ear problems, it’s best to see a doctor before trying any home remedies for clogged ears. If you have an infection, you will need antibiotics to clear it up. You may also have impacted ear wax, which is difficult to safely treat with a home remedy for clogged ears. Should the problem persist for more than a few days despite using clogged ears home remedies, consult a doctor. Please feel free to let us know in a comment below which remedy worked best for you!