Tips for Cleaning Your Ears

Almost anyone who has looked at a cotton swab has felt the urge to stick it into the ear canal to remove wax. The very design of these simple bathroom tools lends itself toward the shape and size of the opening to the ear canal. If you read no further in this blog, please resist the temptation to use a cotton swab to clean your ears!

If you’re curious to learn more, we’ll explain. As you will see, the risk of injuring or damaging your ear is not the only problem with sticking an object in the ear canal.

Your inner ear is a delicate balance of wax production with an array of functions, and disturbing this state of equilibrium can lead to ongoing problems down the road. Let’s consider the basic steps you can take to clean your ears safely and effectively with the general principle in mind that “less is more.”

Removing Surface Debris

Although it is best to pursue minimalism when it comes to cleaning your ears, a simple removal of debris from the outer ear is not a bad idea. Nobody wants to see an unsightly accumulation of earwax in the curvature of the outer ear, and dirt and debris can indeed be a problem, particularly sand or other dirty particulate.

The way to do so is quite simple. Using a clean soft fiber such as a washcloth, towel, or tissue, simply wipe out the outer portion of the ear that is visible to the eye. Take care not to press earwax or any other debris into the canal, because forcing anything into the ear disrupts the protective balance. When you wipe out the outer ear use a sweeping motion away from the ear canal rather than forcing the fiber inward.

Softening Hardened Earwax

Some people feel pressure, headaches, or localized pain in the ears due to compacted earwax in the ears. The ear canal should be able to naturally express excess earwax on its own, but if the earwax becomes hardened, it can become a health concern. If you feel like this may be the case, over-the-counter ear drops are available at your pharmacy to soften the earwax.

Other common liquids such as mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, hydrogen peroxide, or saline can do the trick, and only a couple drops in each ear will be necessary. After waiting the prescribed amount of time, you can rinse and dry the ears. The earwax that is naturally expressed after using these drops should only be removed from the outer ear, as well

Cleaning After Swimming

One of the times that you will want to devote concerted effort to cleaning your ears is after you take a swim. Particularly those who are susceptible to swimmer’s ear should take care that they remove all the liquid from the ear canal and achieve a dry inner ear after each swim.

Simply tipping your head and allowing the fluid to drain should be sufficient to remove water from your swim that might have contained harmful bacteria, and a clean dry towel can be helpful. A simple solution of rubbing alcohol, white vinegar, and distilled water can be used with an eyedropper to gently acidify the ear canal.

When to Seek Professional Help

If you feel an earache, headache, muffled hearing, plugging, itching, or more acute pain, resist cleaning your ears and contact your doctor for advice or a diagnosis. Impacted earwax should only be removed by a professional, and they have the tools and training to effectively and safely remove earwax buildup without doing damage to the tender balance of the inner ear.

When it comes to swimming, if any pain or feeling of trapped water persists, do not hesitate to contact your doctor right away. Once the bacteria from a swim are trapped in your inner ear, it can grow and become difficult to eradicate without prescription ear drops and even antibiotics. Swimmer’s ear, or otitis externa, is no laughing matter and can become very painful.

Once you have done your duty to clean and dry your ears safely, your job is done, and you should leave future treatment up to your ear health professional. Don’t risk going too far with ear cleaning, and always remember the rule that “less is more.” If you need help with cleaning your ears, contact us today!