This Is How You Really Should Be Cleaning Your Ears—No Q-Tips Required

If you’ve ever heard about how dangerous it is to use a Q-tip to clean your ears, we’re sorry to say that the rumors are true. Ear, nose, and throat specialist Michelle Yagoda, MD, warns that sticking cotton swabs in your ears can cause serious, potentially permanent damage. Even when used carefully, Q-tips can push earwax deeper into your ear canal, causing painful blockages. Improper use may also increase the risk of ear damage, infection, eardrum punctures, and hearing loss. 

Still, a 2025 survey study published in Cureus found that almost all adults reported using cotton swabs for ear care—even though more than 90% were aware of warnings and nearly one in three experienced complications. Most respondents said they wanted to learn safer ways to care for their ears, but they weren’t aware of better alternatives. 

The good news is that the safest solution is surprisingly simple, according to James Hubbard, MD, MPH, one of the nation’s top survival medicine experts and author of The Survival Doctor’s Complete Handbook. His go-to water irrigation method helps gently remove excess wax or foreign material without the risk of damage. 

But first, a word of wisdom from Dr. Yagoda: don’t overdo it when it comes to cleaning your ears. Earwax plays an important role—it traps debris, has antimicrobial properties, and helps the ear clean itself naturally. Even so, excessive wax buildup can be pretty uncomfortable, so next time you find yourself reaching for a Q-tip, talk to your doctor about trying Dr. Hubbard’s safer solution for how to clean your ears. 

How to clean ears safely

1. Pour clean, lukewarm water into a bowl. (Using water that’s too hot or cold can stimulate the auditory nerve—which also controls your balance—and may cause dizziness.) Add a few drops of household-strength hydrogen peroxide if you wish.
2. Hold a towel or another bowl under the affected ear to catch the water as it drains out.
3. Using the water in the bowl, fill up a bulb syringe, a medical syringe without the needle, or a plastic bag or bottle with a pinhole in the bottom. Make sure to avoid using high-pressure devices. 
4. With the opposite arm (for example, your left arm if you’re irrigating your right ear), reach behind your head, gently pull your ear back and slightly upward.
5. Squeeze the bag, bulb, or syringe to let the water flow into your ear canal with steady, gentle pressure.
6. You’re finished when the debris or glob of wax comes out. Stop immediately if you feel pain or dizziness, or if irrigation hasn’t worked within about five minutes. You can try again in a few hours when the wax may be softer.
7. After you’re done, put a couple of drops of rubbing alcohol (mixed with peroxide if you want) in your ear to help dry up excess water.

Importantly, avoid irrigating your ears if you have an active ear infection, drainage or discharge from your ears, hearing loss, or a perforated eardrum. Always follow your doctor’s guidance on caring for your ears as they heal. 

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