Many people use Q-tips or cotton swabs to clean their ears, believing that this is an effective method due to the Q-tip’s ability to remove earwax and the satisfying sensation it provides. However, using a Q-tip to clean your ear could actually do more harm than good, leaving your ears vulnerable to injury and potentially increasing your risk of hearing loss.
If you can’t use a Q-tip, then what are you supposed to do to clean your ears? There are safer techniques, which we outline below.
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Why you should stop using Q-tips for ear cleaning
The cotton swab, also known as the Q-tip, is the most commonly used device used for cleaning your ears. But their shortcomings highlight the fundamental problem with using these kinds of instruments for earwax removal.
Because of their long, narrow shape, Q-tips are more likely to push earwax deeper into your ear than remove it. Using one to clean your ear canal can actually compact the wax, creating a blockage that makes it harder to hear.
Worse still, if you push a Q-tip too hard or too far into your ear canal, you may actually puncture your eardrum. The ear canal is only about an inch (2.5 centimeters) deep, so there’s not a lot of margin for error. One ear, nose and throat specialist CNET previously spoke with has treated patients who seriously damaged their eardrums by answering the phone with a Q-tip still in their ear. That’s a phone call that can truly ruin your day.
In general, it’s best to use cotton swabs — or even just a tissue or damp, clean rag — to clean the outer portion of your ear, outside the canal.
There are several methods to avoid when cleaning your ears and Q-tips are one of them.
Who shouldn’t clean their ears at home?
Individuals with diabetes or those who rely on blood thinners should exercise extra caution when cleaning their ears. These conditions make it more difficult to stop bleeding, and that’s particularly problematic if you get tiny cuts inside your ear from cleaning it too roughly.
Those aren’t the only people who should think twice before digging into their ears, though. In most cases, it’s best to leave ear-canal cleaning to the professionals. They have better tools and a better view and can help you remove earwax safely.
The safest way to keep your ears clean is to wet a cloth with warm water and wipe around the outer ear. Using warm water is best because it’ll help “degrease” the area. You can also use the irrigation method to rinse your ear. While you might feel that the long, narrow shape of a Q-tip makes it the most effective way to keep your ear clean, its design can lead to injuries, especially if a Q-tip is pushed in too deep.
While earwax may seem gross, removing it isn’t actually necessary. This waxy substance plays a key role in keeping the inner parts of your ear protected and lubricated. You should only look into removing earwax if it’s causing you ear pain or some degree of hearing loss.
Earwax protects and moisturizes your ears, so it’s best not to remove it all. If you feel that you have too much earwax in your ears, you should consult your doctor.
