Whether you’re descending from a ridge in the Cairngorms or surfacing after a cold-water dip, knowing how to unclog a blocked ear quickly and safely is worth having in your kit. The cause matters as much as the cure, and getting it wrong can make things considerably worse.
Why Your Ear Feels Blocked
According to Emily J. Taylor, Au.D., FAAA, who goes by Dr. Earwax on social media, there are two main culprits. ‘Ears typically feel clogged for two different reasons: one of them being an impaction of earwax blocking airflow to the eardrum,’ she explains. ‘A clogged sensation can also be related to sinus and Eustachian tube issues.’
Earwax itself is a normal product of sweat and oil. For most people it works its way out on its own, but for others it collects in the ear canal and interferes with hearing. The Eustachian tube, which runs from the back of the throat to the middle ear, is the second common cause. When it swells, whether from illness or allergies, it can create an imbalance of ear pressure that produces that familiar blocked sensation.
That same Eustachian tube pressure problem is also why your ears can feel stuffed after a long descent off the hill, a flight, or a deep dive. A change in altitude or ambient pressure is enough to throw things off balance.
Telling the Difference Before You Try to Unclog a Blocked Ear
The remedy depends entirely on the cause, so it pays to work out which one you’re dealing with. A wax blockage tends to feel like you’ve got earplugs in. A pressure-related blockage feels more like being underwater. Taylor recommends using an ear camera, a handheld device that lets you look inside the ear canal, though she notes it is not mandatory.
Taylor Listening Center’s profile of Taylor, who holds a Doctorate of Audiology from Towson University, outlines her clinical focus on ear health. Her advice on home diagnosis reflects that grounding: knowing what you’re looking at before you start poking around is half the battle.
If you want to go the self-diagnosis route, a video otoscope is a practical investment. WIRED notes that an at-home video otoscope costs about $35, making it an accessible bit of kit for anyone who spends time in conditions that regularly affect ear pressure or wax build-up.
Home Remedies That Actually Work
If wax is the issue, Taylor recommends wax-softening drops combined with a bulb syringe, both available at a pharmacy, to rinse out the canal gently. ‘This process might have to be repeated a number of times if the wax is very hard,’ she says. Patience is the operative word: rushing it or using force risks pushing the blockage deeper.
For pressure-related blockage, the fixes are straightforward. Yawning, chewing gum, or drinking water can all help open the Eustachian tubes. The Valsalva manoeuvre, where you pinch your nostrils shut and attempt to blow air gently through your nose, is another well-known option for equalising pressure, and it is particularly useful mid-flight or after a rapid descent. The NHS advises caution with the manoeuvre if you have a cold or active sinus infection, since the pressure change can push bacteria into the middle ear.
What to Avoid When Trying to Unclog a Blocked Ear
Ear candling has found a following online, but Taylor is unequivocal: it is ‘dangerous and actually does nothing to help the situation.’ The same verdict applies to cotton swabs. ‘In fact on the box, it says not for use in the ear,’ she notes. Despite that, the habit persists.
‘People who truly do generate earwax and use a Q-tip will just be pushing the wax deeper in their ear canal, making it more difficult and painful to remove,’ Taylor warns. For regular outdoor types who get wet ears, swim in cold water, or spend time at altitude, that is a particularly easy mistake to make when looking for a quick fix after a long day out.
Work out the cause first, use the right remedy, and leave the candles for the bothy.
