Q: My mom used to always clean my ears with cotton swabs, but now I'm hearing that's not good. Would you use them to clean earwax?
A: About as much as we'd use a jackhammer as a fork. Earwax is a kind of sweat that our ancestors valued since it prevents dust from hitting our eardrums. If you use the cotton swab like you are muzzle-loading a cannon, you'll shove the wax deeper—and that will compromise your hearing and potentially injure your eardrum. Use a finger with a thin shirt to gently twist out the wax (especially after softening the wax in the shower). If you need more help, try mineral oil to loosen up the wax. |
