I use witch hazel - it has done great for my two who need ear cleaning. I wet a q-tip with it, clean around in the ear and gently a very little way into the canal and use as many q-tips as necessary to get everything out. Then I wet a cotton ball, wipe around the outside of the ear and squeeze a little down into the ear canal. It is drying and brings stuff up if there is anything there.
Two of mine have mild allergies and if they start scratching, I know the ears will need cleaning two.