HomeAbout MicrosuctionPricesHow to PrepareAbout UsAreasFAQsEar wax questionsContactBook Appointment
Home / How to Prepare
Pre-appointment

How to prepare

Softening the wax with olive oil spray for a couple of days before your appointment makes the procedure faster, more comfortable and more effective. Here’s exactly what to do.

Book Appointment
Recommended preparation

Olive oil spray for 2–3 days before

This single step makes the biggest difference to your appointment. Most people who skip it find that hard, dry wax takes longer to remove or sometimes needs a second visit.

1
Buy olive oil spray
Earol or any pharmacy olive oil ear spray. Available from us or any other pharmacy. About £5–£7.
2
Tilt head sideways
Tilt the ear you’re treating upwards so the canal points to the ceiling. Stay tilted for a minute or two after.
3
Spray twice a day
Once in the morning, once at night. Two pumps in each ear is enough. Do this for 2–3 days before your appointment.
4
Come in for microsuction
By the time you arrive, the wax will have softened. The clinician removes it gently with microsuction.
Which product

Earol, or any pharmacy olive oil spray

Earol is a small olive oil spray sold in chemists — simple, pure, and easy to apply because the spray reaches the canal evenly. Any equivalent pharmacy own-brand spray works just as well.

Available at Timperley Late Night Pharmacy
Around £5–£7 a bottle
Pure pharmaceutical olive oil — no additives
Spray works better than drops for most people
Avoid these

What not to do

A few common home remedies do more harm than good. Skip these.

Don’t use cotton buds
They push wax further down and can damage the eardrum. Cotton buds are one of the leading causes of impacted wax in the first place.
Don’t syringe at home
Home syringing kits carry a real risk of perforating the eardrum and causing infection. Leave it to the professionals.
Don’t use ear candles
There is no evidence ear candles work, and there’s a real risk of wax burns and trapped wick debris.
Don’t over-use drops
Two to three days of olive oil drops is enough. Excessive softening can sometimes make the wax messier to remove, not easier.
On the day

What to bring

Nothing fancy needed. Just turn up about 5 minutes before your slot so we can welcome you in and run through a quick history.

Yourself — no need for a chaperone
A list of any medications you take
Hearing aids if you wear them (so we can check them after)
Any notes about previous ear surgeries or perforations
Blocked ears? We can help today.
Late-hour appointments available 7 days a week. Call us or book online.
Book Appointment📞 0161 948 5066