EVERYDAY EAR HEALTH
Clean the outside.
Leave the ear canal alone.
Earwax is protective, and ear canals usually clean themselves. The goal is healthy ears—not removing every trace of wax.
✓ A BETTER ROUTINE
Keep it simple and gentle.
- Wipe the outer ear and behind it with a soft, damp washcloth. Keep the cloth outside the ear canal.
- Let naturally migrating wax come out on its own. Avoid frequent or aggressive cleaning.
- If your ears feel blocked or hearing changes, arrange an examination instead of trying to dig wax out.
× KEEP THESE OUT OF YOUR EARS
Skip Q-tips and cotton swabs.
- Cotton swabs can pack wax deeper and injure the ear canal or eardrum.
- Do not insert fingers, hairpins, or other objects to remove wax.
- Avoid ear candles. They do not safely remove earwax and can cause burns or other injuries.
Ask before using drops or rinsing kits. These are not suitable for every ear. Get professional advice first, especially with ear tubes, a known or suspected eardrum hole, previous ear surgery, pain, drainage, or bleeding. Pain, drainage, and bleeding should be medically assessed.
Ear-care guidance: World Health Organization ↗ · ENT Health’s earwax dos and don’ts ↗