Ear Cleaning Tools and Techniques

It’s important to clean your ears and keep good hygiene if you care about your aural health. However, it’s important to do so delicately and to make sure the methods we use won’t produce more harm than good. For example – many people know that cotton swabs can be used to clean the ear. However, thanks to their design, you may gain the mistaken idea that this should be used to clear out your inner ear canal. If you do this, earwax can be pushed down into the ear canal, potentially causing damage or harm to your hearing and inner eardrum.

Moreover, if you encounter an earwax buildup or blockage, it’s always important to speak to an audiologist first and foremost. They can help evaluate the full scale of the earwax and offer remedies and treatment. Do not use home earwax removal kits, because this can also result in wax being pushed in further to your canal.

Use Damp Cloths, Soaked in Warm Water and Strained, to Clean the Outer Ear

A clean cloth can be used to help remove excess earwax from the outer ear, debris and keep your skin in good condition. Soak it in warm water and a small amount of non-toxic soap. Make sure this solution doesn’t enter your ear canal but cleans outside of it. You can also use cotton buds to clean the outer part of your ear, but as discussed above, make sure not to insert anything into your inner ear.

Eardrops Can be Used to Soften Earwax

Over the counter or audiologist-recommended eardrops can help soften earwax which helps it release naturally. This can be the starting point to remedy any blockage, but of course, an audiologist’s advice in your particular case should always be sought.

Clean Devices You Place Against Your Ears

Those who wear hearing aids, prescribed by an audiologist, will commit to a gentle cleaning schedule that progresses similarly to the advice about cleaning your ear. In other words, non-toxic cleaning solutions, dry cloths and removed debris is the best way to start.

If you wear earbuds, it can also be worth cleaning those from time to time. This could involve an antibacterial wipe that helps sanitize the earbud, and you can run a cotton bud through the inner earbud mold to remove wax that may have built up inside. This way, everything you place in your ears will be clean. Just makes sure they’re dry and sanitary before you do.

Mention Any Earwax Clogs or Buildups to Your Audiologist

It’s best not to address earwax issues yourself, but to get a professional opinion if you’re concerned. An audiologist can help you with earwax buildup and will be able to provide treatment to ensure a full-scale solution. They can also ensure treatment is applied correctly, which can be hard to do yourself. From there, they can help assess any damage to the inner ear. With this advice, you’re sure to perfect your ear-cleaning schedule with the right tools and techniques.