How to Safely Clean Your Ears?

Warnings about how to clean your ears with cotton swabs have been widely publicized. Professionals in the medical community have been front and center, alerting the public about the level of care required during the process of this common practice.

The following post breaks down how to safely clean your ears and why in an easy-to-digest format. In doing so, you can improve your ear hygiene and simultaneously protect against hearing impairment.

First though, we take a closer look at what causes ears to get dirty and whether they even need to be cleaned? Read on for answers to these important questions and more below.

Why Do Ears Get Dirty?

Ears naturally produce a substance called cerumen, generally referred to as ear wax. On the whole, it is a beneficial material that actually helps to protect the ears. It has antibacterial properties, moisturizes ears, and prevents harmful substances from entering ear canals.

Additionally, ears are to a certain extent self cleaning. The cerumen gradually journeys through the outer canal and to the ear’s opening. As it does so, it pushes dirt, dust, and other contaminants out along with it.

Why Should You Clean Your Ears?

While ear wax can be beneficial as previously stated, problems will normally arise when there is an excessive build-up of ear wax outside of the ear canal. Such an issue can hamper hearing, cause discomfort, and also damage self-confidence, seeing as no-one wants to be seen with grubby ears.

When this occurs, safely cleaning the area with an ear swab is a sensible and effective way of addressing the problem. But how can you routinely clean your ears without risking any damage? As we’re about to see, the answer to this question is: quite easily.

How To Clean Your Ears?

The main thing to bear in mind when cleaning your ears with any type of swab is not to insert it into your ear canal. It goes without saying that you should never push any object directly into your ear. Doing so can force the wax deep into your canal, causing a blockage and potentially damaging your eardrum.

Instead, focus on the opening of your ear and the surrounding area. If your ear-cleaning efforts remain outside of your canal you should be able to proceed risk-free. Specifically, use your swab to carefully wipe the edge of your outer ear canal in a circular motion. Thereafter, gently but firmly, rub any other parts of your outer ear, which have developed a waxy build-up.

Repeat this process until you’ve satisfactorily cleansed your ears of dirt and ear wax. If you experience any problems with your ears, such as hearing loss or pain, then immediately seek medical help. Your GP or an ear nose and throat specialist will be able to quickly ascertain if you need any treatment.

Maintain Your Ear Hygiene While Protecting The Planet With LastObject

By carefully following the instructions above, you can use LastObject’s zero waste swabs to safely clean your ears. You’ll also be playing your part in protecting the environment.

The LastSwab was designed to replace single-use cotton swabs and curtail our carbon footprint. In England alone, around 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton swabs were used each year before the government introduced a ban. An estimated 10% of these were flushed down toilets, eventually making their way to the ocean.

One of the main benefits of LastObject’s reusable swabs is that they’re made to last. Each one can be used up to a thousand times. Not only does this drastically reduce plastic waste itself, but it also saves the environment from all the pollution that would otherwise stem from the production and transportation of a thousand single-use swabs.

So whether it’s for wax removal while cleaning your ears or to keep your conscience clear by minimizing waste, you can’t go wrong with LastObject’s LastSwab.