How to clean your ears safely without damaging them.
A guide to cleaning your ears safely without causing further blockages or damages including pain and hearing loss.
Did you know that only 12% of people that use cotton buds, do so correctly? That means that a whopping 88% are potentially damaging our ears, and are most likely using plastic buds to do so! If you are not sure how to go about cleaning your ears in a safe but effective way, here are some tips from us to you.
A good way to soften ear wax is to use a dropper to drop in an oil like almond oil. Gently drop it into the ear canal and turn your head to the side and let the oil warm to your body temperature and slowly penetrate the build up of wax.
After some hours you can then use a rubber bulb syringe to gently squirt a bit of warm water into the ear. Tilt your head and gently massage around the outside of the ear before tipping your head back to let the water out.
You can also do this in the shower, using a low-power jet of warm water. When you have finished, gently pat the area dry with a towel or clean cloth. You can also then use eco, zero waste, biodegradable cotton swabs to clean around the outside of the ear to remove any residue, being careful not to insert it into the ear canal.
Depending on how much build up you have in the ear, you may need to repeat this process a couple of times to ensure that all of the wax has been removed from the canal. If after two or three attempts, you still have issues, do not be tempted to dig deeper. If this is the case, it is advisable to seek medical assistance from your GP.
It is not advised to use eco, zero waste, biodegradable cotton swabs to clean your ears as inserting them into the ear canal can actually push the wax deeper. This can lead to the wax compacting and being significantly harder to remove. In addition to this, the shape and point of the biodegradable cotton swab can also damage the sensitive ear canal or the eardrum, leading to serious issues including loss of hearing.
The best way to take care of your ears and to prevent waxy buildup is to adopt the above oil and water method and do it at least once a week, taking care to be gentle at all times. Also make the swap to eco, zero waste, biodegradable cottons swabs to take care of your ears and our planet too!
