Stop cleaning your kids' ears with cotton swabs
![Stop cleaning your kids' ears with cotton swabs](https://childrenswi.org/-/media/chwlibrary/newshub/2017/stop-cleaning-your-kids-ears/child-ear-cotton-swab.jpg?h=514&mw=900&w=900&hash=A1A61A06D2B987E52E2EF631D6709BDA)
When parents see wax in their children’s ears, their instinct is to remove it, usually with cotton-tip swabs (such as Q-tips). What parents don’t realize, however, is how much harm cotton-tip applicators can do.
![](https://riversedgehealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ear_wax.jpg)
Should You Clean Your Ears With a Cotton Swab? - River's Edge
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/nintchdbpict000369686714.jpg?w=620)
This is why you should NEVER use cotton buds to clean your ears
![](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/51f878ada08a177b8b9b920fbcfdc9ae80cde358/hub/2023/07/31/b524541d-9b02-41e3-8d8f-7db4ecc32217/gettyimages-186840724.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=900&width=1200)
How to Safely Clean Your Ears (and What to Absolutely Not Do) - CNET
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2019/03/21/09/cotton-bud.jpg)
Nearly 90% of British people use cotton buds incorrectly - here's
![](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/cropped-image-of-woman-cleaning-ear-with-cotton-royalty-free-image-932251758-1541106376.jpg)
Pimple In Ear: Causes and How to Get Rid of Ear Acne
![](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/-mm-/92663c1c190df0bba17fe60ed0fcaf19a54b40a1/c=0-33-654-402/local/-/media/2017/01/05/USATODAY/USATODAY/636192075387583152-EAR1099288-11-20170104112145.jpeg)
Now hear this: Stop cleaning your ears!
![](https://www.healthyhearing.com/uploads/images/qtip-cotton-swab-ears-hh19.jpg)
Why it's dangerous to use Q-tips and cotton swabs in your ears
![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/17cf4623daa5520dd50f6004f29ed65ad7373104/0_171_5118_3071/master/5118.jpg?width=1200&height=900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&s=203692ffe3be9bfed0f9fe4d9314d963)
Put down the cotton buds – a quick guide to cleaning earwax
![](https://www.thehits.co.nz/media/3201517/earsmain.jpg?rmode=crop&rnd=132633163018900000&height=349&width=620&quality=95&scale=both)
If You Use Cotton Swabs To Clean Your Ears, Stop!