He noted that there is little evidence that one type of ear drop is generally better than any other, and there is only weak evidence that pre-treatment drops on their own are enough to cause ear wax to soften and be expelled from the ear – and only in a small proportion of people. This product looks to be a hi-tech solution to home ear wax removal. It's a tiny camera on a pencil-like device, like an endoscope, sold with the aim of helping you to see what’s happening in your ear canal (via your phone) as you remove wax using a tool.

Best and worst hearing aid providers - see how users rate major providers to help you find the bestEar wax is normal and protects your outer ear, helping to stop bacteria and fungi growing, and cleaning and lubricating your ear canal by trapping dirt, dust and hair. Usually, your ears get rid of it naturally. You should only follow this method if you’re 100% certain that you have no infections or perforations in your eardrum.

There are many ear drop products that soften wax in the ear, and some like this include bulb syringes that allow you to squirt water into the ear for irrigation after using the softening treatment. Pre-treatment eardrops use a variety of active ingredients. Some are water based; others are oil-based or contain sodium bicarbonate or hydrogen peroxide. Products that you'll commonly find in major high street chains aren't necessarily your best bet either. The theory is that the suction created by ear candling pulls wax and debris from your ear when you light the candle and place it in the ear canal.However, you might find the drops cause their own discomfort, such as making your hearing worse or irritating your ear. Historically, people were warned not to irrigate their own ear due to concerns that the high water pressure could damage the ear. However, studies show that rubber bulb irrigation, which uses lower pressure, could be worth trying - and could be successful in around half of cases. 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. Eardrops, some of which are sold under the brand name Debrox, earned a nod of approval from the doctor. A popular method of DIY ear cleaning is ear candling, this involves placing a lit, hollow, cone-shaped candle into the ear canal, while many people online claim how effective it is, we don’t recommend it as a treatment. This is because it can cause serious injuries and burns, and has been known to pierce the inside of the ear.