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What Is the Proper Procedure for Cleaning Ears?

Routinely cleaning the ear canal to remove buildup of wax is an important part of personal hygiene. While it is important to remove surface wax to prevent it from becoming impacted in the inner ear canal, also remember that ear wax is part of the ear's natural mechanism for self-cleaning. Follow the tips below for keeping your ears in tip-top shape.

  1. Misconceptions

    • It is important to note that there are a number of more safe and effective solutions for cleaning the ears than the common cotton-tipped swab. In fact, inserting a swab into the ear canal may just push the wax deeper into the ear canal, making it more difficult to remove and possibly causing additional injury or problems with hearing. As a general rule, the inner ear canal should never be cleaned at home. Visit a physician to find out which ear-cleaning option is best for you.

    Solution Cleanse

    • A liquid solution such as water or saline can be used to dissolve ear wax. Ceruminolytic agents or wax-dissolving solutions can be dropped into the ear with an eye dropper. After the solution is added to the ear, you should lie on one side to prevent the liquid from draining out. The solution should be left in for a few minutes to penetrate the wax.

    Stream Cleanse

    • A physician can use a syringe or other medical device to introduce a stream of solution into the ear to help remove wax buildup. No individual should ever attempt to inject a stream of water into the ear canal using an instrument such as a Waterpik as it can cause potential damage to the eardrum.

    Tools

    • A physician may use a special medical instrument such as a suction device to manually deep clean the ear canal. This is a more extreme way to clean out ear wax and is not usually a necessary procedure unless you have a particularly high buildup of wax of if you wear a hearing aid.

    Warning

    • A process known as ear candling, which involves the insertion of a paraffin coated candle into the ear canal and then lighting it, is a popular alternative ear-cleaning technique. When the candle is lit, the ear wax is drawn up out of the ear canal and collects at the bottom of the paraffin tube. Although the wax is pulled out, there are risks associated with this method, such as burns to the head, neck or face from the candle wax, and is not worth the risk.

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