Though your ears are self-cleaning they can get dirty from time to time. There are many ways and reasons why your ears may become more dirty than normal and the little self-cleaning organ is unable to keep up. So what should you do if your ears are producing more wax than normal? Well you need to help your ears out. You need to protect them to help keep them clean. So how do you help to keep them clean?

How do ears get dirty?

Before we look into ways to help keep your ears clean let’s look at ways you may help to get them dirty. There are honestly probably a million and one ways to get your ears dirty to the point that they need help being cleaned either by you or a professional. Your ears can become excessively dirty due to your work environment or your play environment.

For example at work if you happen to work in the trades you may be outside all day around large machines and working in the dirt. All of this dirt and debris floats around in the air and can easily get into your ears if they are not protected. However, with that being said, taking out and putting in earplugs with dirty hands can cause dirty ears as well. A play example could be anything from golf to motocross. Once again there are things in the air such as seeds, bugs, mud that can easily get into your ears and dirty them up. Well how can one prevent dirty ears?

Keeping your ears clean

Simply put, to keep your ears clean, keep them away from things and places that could cause them to get dirty. While it may seem challenging to prevent your ears from getting dirty, there are a number of little things you can do to assist. To help prevent them from getting dirty and from things getting into them, wear hearing protection in loud and dirty environments, such as work and loud play environments.

It is even a smart idea to wear hearing protection when mowing the lawn to protect your hearing and to also help prevent grass from getting into your ears. When at work try your hardest to remove and place hearing protection in your ears with clean hands.

Tips for cleaning your ears

Remember, nothing smaller than your elbow should go in your ear to clean it! So how do you keep your ears clean and free of debris? Simply use a damp cloth or towel to clean the outer edge of your ear. If you see any visible wax on the outside of your ear, gently wipe away and then dry your ears. Be careful using too many over-the-counter treatments or drops to keep ears clean, while these can help in the short-term they can dry your ear out or cause it to produce more wax than is needed!

If you follow these tips to keep your ears clean and you are still experiencing wax build-up or any other problems, don’t hesitate to schedule a visit with a hearing care provider in your area!