NationStates

Earwax. We need it, it has it's functions, but when there is too much of it we sure like to get rid of it. So, how do you get rid of your excess earwax?

I use a cotton swab. I have heard that you aren't supposed to, but it does the job well in my case. It sure beats using maggots to clean your ears like this tribe in Indonesia does.

Bread Herbert wrote:Earwax. We need it, it has it's functions, but when there is too much of it we sure like to get rid of it. So, how do you get rid of your excess earwax?

I use a cotton swab. I have heard that you aren't supposed to, but it does the job well in my case. It sure beats using maggots to clean your ears like this tribe in Indonesia does.

I’m not ashamed to say that I often just pick it out with my finger.

every time i remove earwax journalists from heavy metal magazines ask for review copies of my great new blackened sludge opus.

Pacomia wrote:

Bread Herbert wrote:Earwax. We need it, it has it's functions, but when there is too much of it we sure like to get rid of it. So, how do you get rid of your excess earwax?

I use a cotton swab. I have heard that you aren't supposed to, but it does the job well in my case. It sure beats using maggots to clean your ears like this tribe in Indonesia does.

I’m not ashamed to say that I often just pick it out with my finger.

No shame there

Dumb Ideologies wrote:every time i remove earwax journalists from heavy metal magazines ask for review copies of my great new blackened sludge opus.

Is that all they do with it?

Cotton swabs. I seldom fashion "swabs" by rolling the corner of facial tissue when I don't have any cotton swabs available.

Pacomia wrote:

Bread Herbert wrote:Earwax. We need it, it has it's functions, but when there is too much of it we sure like to get rid of it. So, how do you get rid of your excess earwax?

I use a cotton swab. I have heard that you aren't supposed to, but it does the job well in my case. It sure beats using maggots to clean your ears like this tribe in Indonesia does.

I’m not ashamed to say that I often just pick it out with my finger.

Finger doesn't seem to work for me.

Abarri wrote:Cotton swabs. I seldom fashion "swabs" by rolling the corner of facial tissue when I don't have any cotton swabs available.

Pacomia wrote:I’m not ashamed to say that I often just pick it out with my finger.

Finger doesn't seem to work for me.

Neither does it for me. Eventually I just give up.

I don't usually have excess earwax except when I'm around allergens for some reason. Even then, I muddle through aside from keeping my outer ear clean looking. I don't like to poke stuff in my ears.

Bread Herbert wrote:Earwax. We need it, it has it's functions, but when there is too much of it we sure like to get rid of it. So, how do you get rid of your excess earwax?

I use a cotton swab. I have heard that you aren't supposed to, but it does the job well in my case. It sure beats using maggots to clean your ears like this tribe in Indonesia does.

Yeah... that's how you get impacted wax and end up with either an ear infection or clogged ear canals. Research how to do it but use a water/hydrogen peroxide blend in your ear to help soften the wax. Don't use to much hydrogen peroxide because it is an irritant and can cause discomfort. Usually in my case I'll either use an ear cleaning kit I have at home (little water jet thing you use to softly clear your ears) or let it naturally work its way out. Make sure to consult a doctor first though!

I use the eraser end of a pencil pretty often, but in a pinch I'll use my finger.

I find I'm always cleaning my ears after a shower--that makes sense, I think, but they just feel dirtier then--I'm not sure if I'm more sensitive to dirt at that particular moment, or if my ears are just wet and it feels like earwax. It's actually not the best time to use a q-tip--they just get all soggy.

Scomagia wrote:I don't usually have excess earwax except when I'm around allergens for some reason. Even then, I muddle through aside from keeping my outer ear clean looking. I don't like to poke stuff in my ears.

It gets really bad for me in allergy season.

I once got a long (1-2 centimeters?), solid chunk of the stuff in there that had to be removed with treezers by a parent. Most of it was a dark color.

Other than that horror, I don't give much thought to earwax.

Stellar Colonies wrote:I once got a long (1-2 centimeters?), solid chunk of the stuff in there that had to be removed with treezers by a parent. Most of it was a dark color.

Other than that horror, I don't give much thought to earwax.

Yeah that stuff was compacted. If it had a redish or blackish hue then there was probably a little blood in it.

Pacomia wrote:

Bread Herbert wrote:Earwax. We need it, it has it's functions, but when there is too much of it we sure like to get rid of it. So, how do you get rid of your excess earwax?

I use a cotton swab. I have heard that you aren't supposed to, but it does the job well in my case. It sure beats using maggots to clean your ears like this tribe in Indonesia does.

I’m not ashamed to say that I often just pick it out with my finger.

Same here. Actually there should be a poll about this.

I used warm water to flush them out in the shower.

Stellar Colonies wrote:I once got a long (1-2 centimeters?), solid chunk of the stuff in there that had to be removed with treezers by a parent. Most of it was a dark color.

Other than that horror, I don't give much thought to earwax.

Well, that’s disgusting.

I saw an episode of mythbusters about earwax. They made a candle out of it but it didn't burn well. They said that earwax smells horrible when burned and that it crackles a lot.

My earwax has always been in balance, I really don't ever have to clean out my ears. My wife's old cat loved eating human earwax, it was seriously one of her favorite things. If the cat saw the Q-tips, she'd jump up and wait for a tasty snack.

I’ve always cleaned my ear with an ear bud [swab]. However, for the sake of the pleasure of scratching the itchy, I succumb to my urge and dig deeper every time.

Bluelight-R006 wrote:I’ve always cleaned my ear with an ear bud [swab]. However, for the sake of the pleasure of scratching the itchy, I succumb to my urge and dig deeper every time.

I know the feeling. Do you ever stop to sniff the wax? It smells awful.

I never get any problem with earwax.

The Great Swedish Empire wrote:I never get any problem with earwax.

Why not?

Bread Herbert wrote:

Bluelight-R006 wrote:I’ve always cleaned my ear with an ear bud [swab]. However, for the sake of the pleasure of scratching the itchy, I succumb to my urge and dig deeper every time.

I know the feeling. Do you ever stop to sniff the wax? It smells awful.

I never smell it. I am only happy when the earwax is extremely dark. To me it means they’ve been stuck there for a longer time, and it’s great to have them out.

Bluelight-R006 wrote:

Bread Herbert wrote:
I know the feeling. Do you ever stop to sniff the wax? It smells awful.

I never smell it. I am only happy when the earwax is extremely dark. To me it means they’ve been stuck there for a longer time, and it’s great to have them out.

Light coloured earwax which is still gooy can be kind of fulfilling too

Bread Herbert wrote:

Bluelight-R006 wrote:I never smell it. I am only happy when the earwax is extremely dark. To me it means they’ve been stuck there for a longer time, and it’s great to have them out.

Light coloured earwax which is still gooy can be kind of fulfilling too

I prefer to think of the darker ones. I honestly have a vague liking for them. Light coloured earwax disappoint me.