For the Love of Q-Tips: Why You Shouldn’t Use Them to Clean Your Ears
Let’s be honest—almost everyone has used a Q-tip to clean their ears. It feels satisfying, it seems harmless, and how else does one dry out their ear canal? But for the love of Q-tips…your ears would really prefer that you stop!
So, what is ear wax and why do we have it? Contrary to what many people believe earwax is not dirt and is actually protection for the ear. Earwax, also called cerumen, is a natural substance made by glands in the ear canal. It’s a mix of skin oils, sweat, and dead skin cells, and it plays an important role in keeping your ears healthy. It protects the ear canal by trapping dust, debris, and bacteria; thus, reducing the risk of infections. Earwax also helps keep the skin inside the ear from becoming dry and irritated.
Earwax only becomes an issue when it builds up or becomes impacted. This can happen if wax is pushed deeper into the ear (often by cotton swabs), if the ear canal is very narrow, or if a person produces more wax naturally. When too much earwax is present, it can cause muffled hearing, pressure in the ear, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), or dizziness.
Well… if you are supposed to ditch the Q-tips then how does earwax leave the ear? Your ears are designed to clean themselves. As you talk, chew, and move your jaw, old earwax slowly moves outward toward the opening of the ear. Once it reaches the outside, it usually falls away or can be gently wiped from the outer ear. It can also wash away when showering.
When we interfere with that process, problems can start. I know you are thinking, “but my ears feel dirty and I feel like I have to clean them!” Despite what it feels like, Q-tips don’t remove earwax. Instead, they usually push wax deeper into the ear canal and even pack it closer to the eardrum. Over time, this can lead to impacted ear canals.
Ironically, the more Q-tips are used, the itchier and more uncomfortable the ears can become, leading to a cycle of repeated cleaning and worsening symptoms. Remember as stated earlier, one component of earwax is oils from your skin and if you remove these oils by a Q-tip—it will make your ear canal feel dry and itchy.
In some cases, Q-tips can even scratch the ear canal or puncture the eardrum—injuries that can be uncomfortable and affect hearing. These are injuries I have seen many times throughout my career and can be very painful.
Another dangerous practice for removing earwax is ear candling. Ear candling involves placing a lit, hollow candle into the ear. As an audiologist, I want you to know this method is NOT safe or effective. There’s no scientific evidence that proves it removes wax. In fact, studies show the wax found after candling usually comes from the candle itself—not your ear. Worse, ear candling can cause burns to the ear or face, candle wax dripping into the ear canal, eardrum perforation, or even hearing loss.
If you think you have wax buildup, the safest step is to leave the ear canal alone and seek professional help. An audiologist or healthcare provider can look in your ears and remove wax safely using proper medical tools. And if you think earwax is causing hearing changes, it’s imperative to get it checked. Hearing loss can lead to many additional issues such as loss of balance or cognitive decline.
The takeaway is that earwax is a normal, healthy part of your body. Most ears take care of themselves—and when they don’t, help is simple and safe when done by a professional. Keep the Q-tips and flames away from your ears and let the professionals safely handle the removal of earwax.
