If you are asked this question : How should you clean your ears properly? You will probably answer: well with a cotton swab!
And if I tell you that using a cotton swab to Are you cleaning your ears in the most inappropriate and least recommended way? Do you believe me? Because that is indeed the case. Using traditional cotton swabs to clean your ears is bad for our ear canal. In fact, a cotton swab will certainly remove excess earwax, but it will also push it deeper into the ear canal, which can cause a deep blockage to form in the ear canal, and that can have serious consequences.
How can you clean your ears safely ?
Before anything else, it’s important to understand what this famous cerumen is used for, which we also call earwax or human wax.
What is earwax for?
The earwax is produced by the sebaceous glands. It is a yellowish natural human wax that plays a protective role for our ears. Its function is to protect our ear canals in preventing the formation of germs and bacteria and thus reducing any risk of infection and irritation.
To note: earwax secretion is constant. To address this "problem", we are equipped with a function ofthe natural self-cleaning triggered by chewing. However, it should be noted that we are not all equal. Some individuals produce more earwax than others, and significant hair growth in the ear canal can cause an earwax blockage which can lead to hearing loss and certain conditions such as ear infections. If you notice hearing loss, do not hesitate to consult a specialist such as an ENT doctor or a hearing aid specialist.
How to clean your ears properly?
To avoid any inconvenience, there are 4 methods and 3 well-known accessories, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:
- Cotton swabs
- Les sprays
- Soapy water
- Ear picks (oriculi)
The cotton swabs
Let's start with the least effective and most polluting method: cotton swabs. They are generally made with plastic sticks and cotton tips. These small accessories are among the most polluting waste items and the ones most often found in our oceans, as explained this item
Less effective and polluting product: two reasons to ban cotton swabs from our bathrooms. As mentioned at the beginning of the article, cotton swabs have the effect of push earwax into the ear canal, which can create a blockage. In addition, the small rigid sticks can easily irritate or even perforate your eardrums. However, they can be useful for cleaning the outer ear, in other words the entire outer ear canal, more commonly called: the conch.
Unfortunately, cotton swabs will be difficult to banish from our bathrooms, as these small accessories are very often used by women when applying their makeup. In artistic circles, they are also regularly used to create certain finishing touches.
A solution to the pollution problem, however! Did you know that there are cotton swabs made from materials other than plastic?... The bamboo! Yes, our iconic plant has made its way into the manufacture of these accessories, making them quite cleaner, eco-friendly, environmentally responsible …
For an eco-bamboo bathroom, I invite you to take a look at Our bathroom accessories collectionwhere you’re sure to find a few bamboo versions of utensils that can replace plastic ones.
Ear spray or saline solution
The use of ear sprays remains the most reliable and safe way for cleaning your ears. They are generally made from seawater and are easily found in pharmacies. You can also use saline solution. As with the spray, simply pour a few drops into your ears while tilting your head and gently massage your eardrums, then tilt your head to the other side, which will drain the liquid along with the excess earwax.
Soapy water
⛔ Not recommended for people who have had a perforated eardrum. Wash your ears with soapy water; it’s the most affordable and simplest way. While taking a bath or shower, direct the spray from your shower head toward the opening of your ears, taking care not to use water that is too strong or too hot. (do not exceed body temperature, i.e. 37 degrees, to avoid dizziness).
You can also use a wash bulb to replace the shower head, thus avoiding any risk of burns and excessive pressure.
Ear picks (oriculi)
The ear pick is the most practical way to clean your ears properly when you're on the go. These small accessories fit perfectly into a toiletry bag. They are washable and reusable. Made of bamboo or stainless steel, they are equipped with a curved, rigid tip designed to scrape all the inner and outer walls of your ears to dislodge all dirt.
However, be extra careful when using them so as not to damage your eardrums.
A safer way to clean your ears yourself would be to use our ear pick with a camera, allowing you to view your ear canal and thus minimize the risks, click here for more details.
Questions / answers: how to clean your ears properly?
How should you clean your ear when you have an ear infection?
A very common illness in young children. Ear infections can affect different parts of the ear: the middle, outer, and inner earIt is recommended to consult a doctor to treat this benign condition in the best possible way.
The latter will be able to prescribe the appropriate treatment depending on the part of the ear that is infected as well as the appropriate cleansing lotionFor the outer part, I recommend using a damp cotton swab to clean around the outer ear and gently wiping it with a paper or cloth tissue.
How do you clean a baby's ears?
Question delicate, requiring our full attention. Your baby deserves the utmost vigilance, and that’s perfectly natural. Like any good parent, you want what’s best for your child. There’s a strong chance you took childbirth classes and read a whole stack of books on the subject, so you probably already know the answer.
There are cotton swabs for toddlers. Their tips are designed so that the earwax ends up being pushed to the bottom of the ear canal to Avoid creating a clog.
If you want to avoid using a cotton swab to clean your baby's ears, bath time is the ideal moment. Your little one will be relaxed, and the warm water will have softened the earwax. All you need to do is use a compress or a tissue to wipe around the outside of their ears. Note that you can also use a spray for infants which you can find in pharmacies.
Why does cleaning our ears with a cotton swab give us a feeling of well-being?
Many people love putting these little sticks deep into their ears. For some, it is almost pleasurable. Why? The phenomenon is explained by a high concentration of nerves in a part of the body that is generally spared any contact and therefore more sensitive. The ear is recognized as being a erogenous zone of our body. It is therefore recommended, as explained throughout this article, not to overuse cotton swabs.
