My left ear is very painful and feels clogged. i took a damp washcloth to try and clean out my ears and there was very dark black gunk that came out.

Multiple causes: Multiple possible explanations. The "dark black gunk" could have been old earwax, or could have been an infection of the ear canal, both of which can cause pain and clogging. If the symptoms still did not resolve, try using an earwax softening drop overnight, or possibly Afrin/saline nasal spray in the left nostril to cover the possibility of simultaneous Eustachian congestion. See MD.