Keep Cotton Swabs Out of the Ear Canal

Putting a cotton swab in your ear canal is the one cleaning habit MedlinePlus says to drop. The NIH medical encyclopedia says never to put any object into the ear canal to clean it, because reaching in can push wax deeper and block the canal instead of clearing it.

Ear wax has a job, MedlinePlus says. It traps dust, germs and small objects before they can damage the ear, and it protects the delicate skin of the canal when water gets in. Most of the time the wax works its way to the opening of the ear on its own, where it falls out or washes away.

In some people the glands make more wax than the ear can shed, and it can harden and block the canal. MedlinePlus says wax blockage is one of the most common causes of hearing loss. That hearing loss is often temporary, and in most cases hearing returns completely after the blockage is removed. Rarely, trying to remove wax can cause an infection in the ear canal or damage the eardrum.

For everyday care, MedlinePlus says you can wipe the outer ear canal with a cloth or tissue wrapped around your finger, not too often or too hard. If a plug will not clear or your ear hurts, see your provider, who can remove the wax safely. Hearing aid users should have their canals checked for excess wax every 3 to 6 months.