Cotton buds & cleaning ears

I was just reading the instructions on a packet of cotton buds just now (yes, i have such an interesting life :rolleyes:

), and it said that they shouldn't be used to clean the inner ear, as it's not safe. I've always used cotton buds to clean my ear canal, so basically I want to know if it's ok to carry on using them or not, and if not then how else are you supposed to clean the inside of your ears? Water alone won't do it, surely you need something to actually get it out? :confused:

Reply 1

Anthony Arundel

1

smirf83

I was just reading the instructions on a packet of cotton buds just now (yes, i have such an interesting life :rolleyes:

), and it said that they shouldn't be used to clean the inner ear, as it's not safe. I've always used cotton buds to clean my ear canal, so basically I want to know if it's ok to carry on using them or not, and if not then how else are you supposed to clean the inside of your ears? Water alone won't do it, surely you need something to actually get it out? :confused:

You shouldn't, in case (a) you puncture the drum (unlikely, yes) and (b) accumulate cotton fluff in the canal.

Wetting them helps, and just do it gently. All will be fine. :smile:

Reply 2

zain88

1

I've always used cotton buds in my inner ears, although not too far in, and although I still probably shouldn't I've never had a problem. Just be really gentle and slow and do it after a shower because then you're likely to have water in your ears and it helps bring out all the wax. Ear wax eeuuwww, it's gross thinking about it but so relaxing poking about with a cotton bud!

Reply 3

norelle

5

They only put that on the packaging in case you perforate your own eardrum. Like someone said above, wet it and the best time to do it is after a shower. And for heavens' sake don't push too hard.

Reply 4

Juno

20

IUt's not good

You can shove the wax down harder! Wax is a self cleaning mechanism for ears,. If you have a problem, use warm olive oil.

Reply 5

S

13

how do people normally clean their ears then? I always thought using cotton buds were the norm until I read the packaging and saw that advert on tv lol.

Reply 6

smirf83

OP

3

Juno

IUt's not good

You can shove the wax down harder! Wax is a self cleaning mechanism for ears,. If you have a problem, use warm olive oil.

Well it's not a problem per se, I just don't like the wax building up, as it has a tendency to go all over my earphones as they're in-ear ones. As people have said, currently I use cotten buds just after a shower, but I'm wondering if there's another way you're meant to do it?
(EDIT: quoted for clarity)

Reply 7

Bluelight

13

You shouldn't really be doing it , i've been to the doctors twice my hearing went all quiet for a week or so because i keep pushing the wax right to the bottom of my ears, but i just love cleaning my ears, infact i might go do it now, ive not done it for a while :redface:

Reply 8

silence

16

stick a wick in your ear and light it!

Reply 9

Zlatan

1

**** me sideways, I've been using cotton buds all my life.

Reply 10

Kwekubo

Never stick anything in your ear that goes near the eardrum. You can easily end up pushing away at what you think is earwax and burst a hole in your eardrum. Get Waxsol eardrops from the chemists (over the counter) and put them in you ear overnight for a couple of consecutive nights - one ear at a time understandably! They soften the wax and it should come out when you wash over the next day or two.

Reply 11

looking_fr_SomeOne

get some else to do it for you, it will be easy then !!! :biggrin:

Reply 12

Anonymous #1

my ex boyfriend had never heard of anyone using cotton buds to clean their ears until he saw me doing it once and looked at me like i was a psycho. I made him do it... the first time he needed about 10 cotton buds, it was disgusting!!!!!

Reply 13

Anonymous #2

Anonymous

my ex boyfriend had never heard of anyone using cotton buds to clean their ears until he saw me doing it once and looked at me like i was a psycho. I made him do it... the first time he needed about 10 cotton buds, it was disgusting!!!!!

Eeeugh...but it's so satisfying. That's part of the appeal of sticking things in your ears, along with the fact you're told not to do it.

Reply 14

jennyflake

Youre supposed to use things like audiclean, made specially for cleaning ears out of all the gunk they somehow accumulate. Having said that I personally use tissues (even worse!) despite knowing better.

Reply 15

croissantfever

12

Its pretty hard to perforate your eardrum, and you really can tell when you hit it. You can hear it. And its bloody painful before you perforate it. I always thought it was just to stop you compacting the earwax inside your ears and to stop the cotton bud companies from getting sued. But there really is nothing quite ;like giving your ears a damn good clean...

Reply 16

loopymeg

13

lakeofcake

to stop the cotton bud companies from getting sued.

Yeah, the same reason really that McDonald's had to print "CAUTION: HOT!" on their coffee cups, because some silly woman burnt herself with the coffee and sued them.
Actually, if you read many random items then you will find rather silly warnings written on them (eg. Nytol warns "May cause drowsiness" - well duh...)