- 1). Lay a warm compress or heating pad against the affected ear. Lie down on your side, and press your ear to the warm pad. Make sure the pad is warm, not hot, so you don't burn the skin. Warmth eases pain, and loosens ear wax.
- 2). Use over-the-counter ear drops to loosen wax and pus from the infection. Lie on your side with the affected ear up. Have someone place several drops into your ear. Lie on your side for five minutes, allowing the drops to work on softening the wax.
- 3). Swab the ear gently with a Q-tip. Your ear is tender from infection, so don't press too hard or too deep into the ear with the Q-tip.
- 4). See your doctor. Your doctor uses a suction device to clean out any leftover wax or fluid from the infection.