The safest and most effective way to remove ear wax is to steer clear of cotton swabs - or at least, refrain from jamming them in your ears this will only make things worse.
As for what you can use to remove ear wax effectively and safely, you have several options.
You can buy an earwax softener from the pharmacy, go to your doctor and have it removed by a professional, or get your hands on a handy ear cleaning kit.