The Dos and Don’ts of Proper Ear Cleaning

Cleaning your ears, just like caring for your lips, nose and eyes, is an important element of self-care and appropriate hygiene. However, it’s also important to note that our ears are sensitive paired organs that must be treated with respect and care in order to clean them appropriately. Unfortunately, it’s easy to damage your ear or cause harm if you’re not careful in your cleaning care. In this post, we’ll list three simple dos and don’ts to help you maintain the right practice.

Do: Use Simple Eardrops

If you’ve noticed that your earwax is building up, then simple over-the-counter earwax softening drops can be helpful. These will help soften the earwax and help you remove it from your inner ear more easily.

Do: Clean with a Soft Cloth

It’s important to use simple, non-invasive equipment to clean your outer ear and the surface of your ear canal without penetrating it. A soft cloth is perfect for this, especially when soaked in warm water. You can help clean with a small squirt of non-toxic soap in the water, but make sure not to fill your inner ear with soap. This way, you can clean your ear without causing harm. Cotton swabs can also be used but make sure to only use them in your inner ear.

Do: Book an Appointment with a Hearing Health Professional

If you believe that your light cleaning isn’t resolving the hearing concerns you have, then it’s important to book an appointment with a hearing health professional. They can better identify the issues and conduct a full evaluation to make that assessment.

Don’t: Use Cotton Swabs in Your Ear Canal

While cotton swabs may look like the perfect size and shape to clean out your inner ear, this can only cause damage. It may push wax down into the ear where it shouldn’t reside, impacting wax against your eardrum if you’re not careful.

Don’t: Ignore Changes to Ear Health

If you notice tinnitus, hearing loss or other hearing changes, it’s best not to ignore them or assume a cleaning will resolve that. Booking an appointment with your hearing health professional, as discussed above, can help you put any concerns to bed or help you find an appropriate treatment pathway. Early diagnosis can be very advantageous here, so don’t ignore the signs.

Don’t: Clean Too Frequently and Invasively

The truth is that earwax is present for a reason. It may not be the most appealing of materials but it can help lubricate and protect the inner ear provided it’s there in the right quantities. Overcleaning, over-removal and invasive cleaning may cause harm if you’re not careful, similar to how washing your hair too much can prevent the natural, healthy and protective oils within to build up as needed. With this advice, you’re sure to implement the correct dos and don’ts of proper ear cleaning.