HOW CAN I CLEAN MY EARS WITHOUT COTTON SWABS?

Cotton swabs are harmful to your ear if misused. Often made of plastic, this disposable item also poses an environmental issue: waste reduction. The cotton buds as we know them today are thus replaced. There are several ways to clean ears without cotton swabs, such as B. with a towel soaked in hot water or an ear spoon. Ear spray can also be an option.

WHEN IT COMES TO CLEANING YOUR EARS, THERE ARE SEVERAL ALTERNATIVES TO COTTON SWABS. WHY ARE THESE OPTIONS PREFERRED? WHICH SOLUTION SHOULD I CHOOSE TO REPLACE IT? WE HAVE ALL THE EXPLANATIONS READY!

WHY SHOULD I CLEAN MY EARS WITHOUT COTTON SWABS?

IT’S AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE

Just like single-use plates and cups, plastic cotton swabs will no longer be sold as of January 1, 2020. (3) Why are they forbidden? The aim is to reduce the use of single-use plastic, thereby minimizing waste generation and polluting our oceans. Cotton swabs are retained at the inlets of sewage treatment plants and are one of the most common items found on beaches.

However, there are reusable cotton swab, cardboard or bamboo sticks, and even washable and reusable silicone ones. Are they recommended for cleaning your ears?

HEALTH EFFECTS

Cotton swabs are often misused and can be harmful to the ears. Even if cotton swabs can be used to clean the auricle, ENT doctors agree: that they should not be inserted into the external auditory canal.

The eardrum is located near the entrance to the ear canal. If such an object enters the ear canal, it is risky to touch and injure it. In addition, this method tends to push the cerumen deeper into the ear canal, where it accumulates, thus promoting the development of earwax blockage. 1 This disorder can cause various unpleasant sensations: hearing loss, irritation, ringing in the ears, etc. (2)

Learn more about the symptoms of earwax blockage

CLEANING EARS WITHOUT COTTON SWABS: WHAT ALTERNATIVE METHODS ARE THERE?

First and foremost: Do I need to clean my ears? The answer is yes: they are vital to our hearing and balance and deserve the best care. Clean your ears regularly to regulate the earwax in the ear canal. This preventative measure will prevent several problems, including the earwax clogs mentioned above. But which method should I choose? What alternatives to reusable cotton bud can I use?

THE EAR SPOON

This tiny object has a curved end, a small spoon-shaped scraper designed to pick up excess earwax. This instrument must be used with great caution: ideally, it should be used on the outer, visible part of the ear. Insertion into the external auditory canal involves risks: injury to the eardrum, irritation of the skin of the auditory canal, etc.

DIE OHRKERZE

Ear candles are supposed to work by sucking the cerumen out of the auditory canal through the negative pressure created during burning. Be careful. If you do not know how to use this method, it can cause injury, including burns.

THE HOT TOWEL

The ear’s outer part and the ear canal entrance can be cleaned with a cloth soaked in hot water, e.g. B. a washcloth or a towel to be cleaned. This method is gentle and suitable for cleaning the visible part of the ear. On the other hand, you cannot use it to regulate the amount of earwax in the external ear canal.

THE EAR SPRAY

The ear spray is a bottle with a tip used to spray a solution into the outer ear canal. When administered regularly and in appropriate doses, the ear spray regulates the amount of earwax in the ear canal.