BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.

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So, you might like to know that the BBC makes loads of other podcasts.

Really?

Wow.

Many of them are very funny.

Which I think means...

A hatful of ha-hars. And energy. Even if we do very funny. Which I think means a hatful of ha ha haas.

And energy.

Even if you do say so ourselves. I agree 100% of that. Find them all on BBC Sounds. Just tell us a joke. Come on, tell us a joke. Tell us a joke. Come on, tell us a joke. Just search comedy on BBC Sounds. I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in. Hello, I'm Greg Foote and welcome to Slice Bread, the show that investigates the wonder products promising to make you happier, healthier or greener.

Each episode, we follow the crumbs of evidence to find out if one of your suggested wonder products is indeed the best thing since sliced bread or marketing BS.

And today's suggestion comes from Martin Lazzell from Hampshire. Welcome to the studio, Martin. Thank you, Greg. What wonder product

would you like us to investigate today? Well, it's earwax removal and whether you should use the drops,

have them syringed or have this micro suction. I think it's called. I think earwax fits into the same category as our previous episode on foot fungus.

I remember that.

Where it feels slightly gross, but it is a really common issue that affects lots of us.

So is a buildup of earwax something that you're affected by?

Occasionally, it hasn't affected me seriously, but it's one of these things that happens from time to time. And in the past, I've always used this Otex ear drops, which after three or four days, the ear sort of pop, and I think it's cured. Ah, so you have previously used these products, and they have helped? Yes. Of course, it would be good to go through all the options, just in case the issue ever comes back. Yes. Any other methods that you've tried? Have you tried the syringes or the suction? No, not yet. When I went to an audiologist, she recommended something called sodium bicarbonate, which I'd never heard of. Oh, so that's another type of drop. And then this week, actually, I went for the actual hearing test, and she recommended something called ear oil, which is the old olive oil. Olive oil. So you've got it in front of you there. It's an olive oil spray. Yes. You haven't tried that one yet? No. Well, I'll be interested to ask the expert about that. You are not the only one who's asked us about earwax removal products, Martin. Plenty of emails sent in to slister.bred at BBC.com.com. On this subject, listener Christian says he's seen water jets that are squirted down the ear to dislodge wax. Have you seen those? I haven't. But actually, on one of the Otex drops, they do sometimes provide a squeezy bottle that you can use to syringe your ear

afterwards. Listener Helen mentioned she's seen ear wax scrapers advertised. Listener Katie has tried

hoppy ear candles and also seen cleaning sets that come with an app and a camera if you want to be

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