Ear cleaning (adults)
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17876
Printed Date: 17 October 2025 at 9:44pm
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Topic: Ear cleaning (adults)
Posted By: pepsi
Subject: Ear cleaning (adults)
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 6:19pm
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I have a question for you ladies. How often do you and/or your partner clean your ears, and do you use cotton buds?
Personally I tend to clean mine with cotton buds every couple of days - They aren't particularly dirty, I just like that they feel cleaner 'n stuff.. This is just something I have always done since I was a child and my mum is the same (although she does hers daily). DH on the other hand never uses cotton buds until his ears are feeling really blocked. This time around they got so blocked, after 3 days of feeling like he can't hear out of one ear and using the chemist drops, he had to go to the doc who syringed a huge blob out  . He has always gone on about the fact that he was told it is really bad to use cotton buds cause they can damage your ears.
My ex was also the same and never used cotton buds. Both guys have had bad ear blockages and I myself have never had such problems... I'm guessing because I clean my ears? So... what do you reckon?. What is the norm around here? |
Replies:
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 6:23pm
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I'm the same as you Pepsi, every couple of days with a cotton bud.
Dh uses cotton buds too but not as often. Maybe every couple of weeks. Neither of us have had problems with blockages or anything else. ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 6:31pm
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I'm a cotton bub user as well and haven't had any problems either. Dh does the same as well. I do it every few days and I have no idea how often DH does it. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 6:36pm
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I do mine whenever they feel gunky but it's not that often, maybe once every couple of months? Far less regular than cutting my fingernails. I've never had probs with blockages. I've heard that they are bad as well but I thought that was only if you went in too far? I've never heard of anyone doing it daily or even weekly before lol!
Also, having showers vs baths will impact it as soaking in the bath can clean them out. -------------  |
Posted By: pepsi
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 6:38pm
Funny, cause that's what DH said too! He has baths every night with Alyssa - whereas I have showers. |
busymum wrote:Posted By: queenbean
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 7:33pm
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Heya,
Thought I might comment since this is kinda in my field. Whether you get blocked ears or not really has little to do with if you clean your ears with cotton buds (and I'm supposed to say you shouldn't do that, but then I'd be a hypocrite  ) Some people just make more wax than others unfortunately. If your DH can find an ear nurse to suction his ears, it's far better and safer than having your ears syringed.
-------------   
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Posted By: pepsi
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 7:40pm
Thanks queenbean  What is the deal with cotton buds anyway, is it just a problem if people use them too far in or what?
So I guess my DH is just a waxy mofo..kind of reminds me of Shrek when he makes than candle out of his ear wax hehe ewww.... 
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Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 7:55pm
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I'm every couple of days too, I do the kids each time they have a bath.
I knew a lady that used a hair clip one of those bobbie pin types, she was a nurse too and swore it was a better way to clean than using cotton buds.------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
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Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 7:58pm
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Funny, we have a similar argument here - DH believes nothing should ever be poked in as ear as they're self-cleaning (and he's never had any probs). I on the other hand am a big fan of the cotton tips... because it feels so right! ------------- Andie |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 8:07pm
the doc told me to so that too. cotton buds push the wax in deeper and it is probably not good to clean them that often as the was is there for a reason, but i cant remember what it is.. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 8:10pm
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I do mine when I remember or when they get waxy and bug me, Willie is forever poking cotton buds into his ears, he must clean them almost daily I reckon. Strange man. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 8:20pm
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So if cotton buds aren't the way to go how shoud we be cleaning our ears (and our kids ears)? Please don't say hairclips
I'm a regular cotton bud user for myself and for Michaela who has always been a wax factory. -------------  
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 8:32pm
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you should only be cleaning the outside bit of the ear not in the canal anyway with a damp flannel. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 8:34pm
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I use a baby cotton bud around Josh's ear as that is waxy. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 8:36pm
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I use a hair clip... sorry ladies. Dosen't push the wax in. Don't do it often, my ears are fine. I clean round the outside of mine and the kids ears with a facecloth, but don't clean the wax out, I was told not to by both my dr and practice nurse? I just clean what I can see with a clean tissue on my wee finger, like the doc said. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 9:06pm
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I do mine with a cotton bud every time I shower, I hate the feeling of water in my ears. DP just had his suctioned out last week, a dr in the UK (where hes from) told him the wax build up was the ears way of protecting themselves (he was a DJ so very noisy job). He used to get them syringed out but the nurse told him ACC doesn't allow them to do it anymore and he had to go to an ear specialst health place. -------------  
 
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Posted By: FionaS
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 9:08pm
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I do mine every 2 or 3 days too, when I wash my hair. I have never cleaned Elles...never seen any sign of wax. DH says he never does his. ------------- Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley |
Posted By: FionaS
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 9:09pm
Oh and yes, I do use cotton buds. I don't believe my ear wax has a personality and hence do not think it will be offended by being pushed and proded  despite what the ad says.------------- Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley |
Posted By: LuluBelle85
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 11:15pm
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Lol. My mum always said to me 'Never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear'.
But... I love cleaning my ears with cotton buds. I'm not sure if it actually does any cleaning, but I feel cleaner afterwards. Lol. I used to have to have mine syringed once a year when I was a kid, a trait which my mother says runs in the family (as a couple of my uncles were the same). *shrug* 
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Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 03 June 2008 at 11:32pm
| Yep I believe ears are self cleaning so never clear out mine with a cotton bud or my kids. I do however clean the outa ear as it get shampoo and condition etc in there. I just dont use anything in the ear for me or my kids. |
Posted By: queenbean
Date Posted: 04 June 2008 at 10:01am
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Yeah, wax is definitely a cleaning mechanism, and in theory is supposed to move dust and dirt out of the ear but for some people it just builds up. Cotton buds are actually fine as long as you don't go jamming them right in there, I've seen so many cases of bleeding canals and a few cotton tips which have fallen off and gotten stuck down there, gets infected and gross If you get heaps of wax, I wouldn't recommend buds either as they definitely cause wax impaction.
Hehe at the Shrek candle, I love those movies. -------------
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 04 June 2008 at 10:32am
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Am with queenbean. I had a very passionate, though slightly odd, audiology lecturer who showed us lots of photos and scans of people who had used lots of weird and wonderful things that resulted in ear wax impaction, production of more wax, and perforation of the ear drum. Since then (10 years ago), I've never touched a cotton bud. I use a flannel (or my finger - sorry!) to clean what I can feel but don't go fishing for wax. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 04 June 2008 at 11:48am
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I used to use cotton buds until I managed to push some wax into the ear and had to have it syringed out. The feeling of water being pumped into my ear was yuck!
The doctor told me off for using cotton buds (but I still do sometimes) -------------  
 
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 1:35pm
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We both use them in all parts of the ear..and Ethan has special baby ones.. I have an inner ear problem but have never had infection or anything or needed them syringed or anything.. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 1:51pm
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I use my finger in the shower! Not nearly as clean as you ladies
I really need to do Hannah's ears... hers are grosssss. She refuses to be submerged in water these days
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Posted By: Jay_R
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 1:55pm
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I use cotton buds every month or so. But I have to wet the buds first as the feel/squeaky sound that dry cotton makes absolutely grosses me out (think nails down chalk boards).
I clean the outside of Joshua's ears, but don't ever get the bud inside his ear. |