How to Clean Your Ears Safely: What You Should and Shouldn't Do

Let’s talk about something we all deal with but rarely discuss: earwax. It’s one of those things you don’t think about until you really notice it — maybe your hearing feels muffled, your ears feel full, or you’re just curious about keeping your ears clean.

Before you reach for a cotton swab (don’t do it!), let’s walk through how to clean your ears safely.

First Things First: Do You Even Need to Clean Them?

Believe it or not, your ears are self-cleaning. Yep — earwax, or cerumen, is actually there for a reason. It traps dust, debris, and bacteria, keeping your ears healthy. Over time, it usually makes its way out of the ear canal naturally, especially when you move your jaw (like when you’re chewing or talking).

So most of the time? No special cleaning is needed.

When You Should Clean Your Ears

Sometimes earwax builds up more than usual, leading to a blockage or feelings of fullness, itchiness, or hearing difficulty. That’s when some light cleaning can help — as long as you do it safely.

Safe Ways to Clean Your Ears

1. Use a Warm, Damp Cloth

The easiest and safest method is to clean only the outside of your ears.

Wet a washcloth with warm water.
Gently wipe around the outer ear (pinna) and behind it.
Avoid sticking anything into the ear canal.

2. Over-the-Counter Ear Drops

You can find earwax softening drops at any pharmacy.

Brands like Debrox or Murine are designed to break down wax.
Lie on your side, add the drops, wait 5–10 minutes, and let it drain.
Follow with a warm water rinse using a bulb syringe if needed.

What Not to Do

🚫 No Q-Tips or Cotton Swabs
These push wax deeper into your ear — or worse, can cause injury.

🚫 No Hairpins, Keys, or Other Objects
It sounds ridiculous, but it happens. Don’t do it. Seriously.

🚫 No Ear Candles
Despite claims, there’s no evidence they work, and they can actually burn you or cause wax blockages.

Signs You Should See a Doctor

Some earwax problems need more than self-removal. Contact an audiologist if:

You’re experiencing pain, hearing loss, or ringing.
You think your ear is blocked or infected.
You’ve tried safe methods and nothing works.

An audiologist can remove earwax professionally and safely.

Final Thoughts

Your ears are amazing at taking care of themselves — most people don’t need to do anything at all. But when you do want to clean them, gentle and safe methods are key. When in doubt, contact your local audiologist.