It seems like nearly everyone has an opinion on what’s right when it comes to cleaning your ears. Q-tips are bad, but baby Q-tips are okay. Some swear by cleaning their ears after every shower, while others maybe do it once a week – if at all.
So, what’s the truth? Here, Ilaaf Darrat, M.D., a pediatric ear, nose and throat specialist at Henry Ford Health, provides the facts when it comes to properly caring for your ears.
- Fact #1: You don’t need to clean your ears. Yes, you read that right. “Wax development is a normal process and it’s there to protect the ears,” says Dr. Darrat. “For the majority of people, the wax also naturally works its way out of the ears, so there really isn’t a need to manually clean them.” If you see wax coming out, wipe the wax away with a wet washcloth. There’s no need to go further into your ear to remove wax.
- Fact #2: Q-tips can be extremely dangerous. “The Q-tip itself is the same size as the entrance into the ear canal, so when you use a Q-tip you are actually pushing the wax further in,” says Dr. Darrat. “While you will see some wax on the Q-tip, most of it is getting pushed further into the canal.”
Q-tips can also cause serious — and sometimes permanent — damage when forced through this opening, including hearing loss. Other issues including vertigo or dizziness, breaking the bones in your ear if pushed through the ear drum, and scratching the inside of the ear, which can lead to infection.
“On a Q-tip box it specifically says they aren’t meant to be used in ears,” says Dr. Darrat. “Q-tips can cause many serious health issues and even the cotton part of the Q-tip can fall off and get stuck in your ear.”
How To Safely Clean Your Ears
If your ears are plugged, Dr. Darrat recommends the following options for removing excess wax:
- Create a mixture of half hydrogen peroxide and half water. Insert a few drops into your ears to loosen any wax buildup.
- Use a dampened washcloth after you take a shower to wipe away any wax that is visible in your ear.
- If your ears are still plugged, make an appointment with an ear, nose and throat specialist who can use special tools designed to remove ear wax safely.
Some people have more wax production than others, so if you feel your ears are clogged, the best thing to do is talk to your doctor. Never put foreign objects into your ears to remove wax. This includes candling, which involves inserting a lit, hollow candle into your ear to suction out wax. This process is ineffective and can lead to serious injury.
Reviewed by Dr. Ilaaf Darrat, a pediatric otolaryngologist (ENT) who sees patients at Henry Ford Medical Center – Fairlane in Dearborn, Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital.
