How to Clean Your Ears

Earwax is part of the human body's natural self-cleaning process. Ears need cleaning along the exterior surfaces, but most people do not need ear canal cleaning unless the wax buildup is significant.

Things You'll Need

• Washcloth
• Warm soapy water
• Cotton swabs
• For pierced ears: rubbing alcohol or pierced ear Cleaning fluid

Instructions

Cleaning Your Ears

1. Wet a washcloth in warm soapy water and clean along the outside of each ear. Be sure to clean the creases between the ear and head and the ear and jaw area.

2. Rinse out the washcloth and re-wet with warm soapy water. Now use the washcloth to carefully clean the rest of the exterior surface of the ear. If ears are pierced, use rubbing alcohol or special pierced ear cleaning fluid with cotton swabs to clean around each piercing, front and back.

3. Wet a cotton swab with warm water and carefully clean inside the rim and ridges that form the ear. Do not put the swab into the ear canal.

4. Every time you wash your face or shower you can easily incorporate steps 1 and 2 of the ear-cleaning process. When you brush your teeth in the morning, you can easily complete step 3.

Tips & Warnings

• If ear wax is excessive or if hearing seems to be affected by ear wax, there are two options available. The first is to purchase an over the counter ear was removal solution to use at home. The other is to have a doctor professionally remove the wax buildup.

• Never insert anything into your ear canal. Putting things in your ears is dangerous and can compact ear wax into a plug that will need to be professionally removed.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish