Some people will say ear candles are the way to go, while others swear by cotton swabs. Although there are a few different ways to clean your ears, some are better than others.

Why do we clean our ears?

We are all want to clean our ears once in a while due to earwax. The body naturally produces ear wax. earwax helps protect and lubricate your ears. If you don't have earwax, your ears become itchy and dry.

So, what are the best practises to clean your ears?

• Visit a doctor

The safest way to clean your wax buildup is to visit your doctor. They will use special instruments such as a suction device, spoon-like tool and forceps to clear your ears and clean them for you. Many specialists also offer professional irrigation.

However, many people prefer to clean their ears at home; here are some of the safe ways.

• Damp cloth

Wet a soft cloth or towel with lukewarm water. Use the material to clean the outer areas of the ear.

• Earwax softener

Many pharmacies sell over-the-counter eardrops that soften the wax and contain mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, peroxide, hydrogen peroxide and saline. Place a particular number of drops into your ear as instructed, wait for some minutes and then drain and rinse your ear. When using an earwax softener, you must follow the instructions on the package.

• Irrigation

One can buy an irrigation kit that uses plain water or a combination of water and saline solution. You can also visit a doctor for professional irrigation. Always follow instructions when using this method. Not everyone can use irrigation to clean their ears including people with holes in their eardrums, individuals with diabetes, eczema or other skin conditions near the ear, which weaken the immune system or a tube in the eardrum.

Avoid using cotton swabs to remove earwax

The common method people use at home to remove earwax is cotton swabs. Cotton swabs have their risk, which includes pushing earwax deeper in the ear, injuring the eardrum, the swab getting stuck in the ear, and also the swab slowing down the natural process of earwax removal.

If you think you may be suffering from hearing loss, book an appointment to get your hearing checked. At Attune, our audiologists provide comprehensive hearing tests and provide solutions. Visit our website or contact us for more information.