Cotton swabs “really weren’t made to clean your ears — all they do is just push the wax deeper down into your ear canal and this causes an impaction,” Dr. Tonia L. Farmer, who goes by Dr. Nose Best, ...

Diluted hydrogen peroxide is generally safe for loosening earwax and helping it exit the ear. Hydrogen peroxide may cause side effects like skin irritation and vertigo. Always check with your doctor ...

I’ve struggled with uncomfortable, unsightly and unhygienic earwax buildup my whole life, but after I stopped using cotton swabs like Q-tips to clean them — they can cut ear canals or perforate ...