Skip to content
HearingTracker
Log in

Cleaning ears out with 70% alcohol. Is that okay?

This topic is closed.

31 replies11.4k viewsLast reply

Jump
Link to this topic

Braden, I have a perforated ear drum. What do you recommend for cleaning/disinfecting hearing aids particularly the dome? I have a with the receiver/dome in the ear canal. My concern is to protect the middle ear from bacteria/infection while not causing a problem due to the disinfecting agent. Thank you!

Be very cautious with rubbing alcohol right on the skin! My dad cleaned his ears with alcohol dipped Q-tip daily as long as he was alive. But I tried doing that, and got a SUPER inflamed ear canal from the potency of alcohol on my sensitive skin. Thing is, I tend to abraid my ear canals as they ITCH during the day, and I gently rub that with a Q-tip. It’s a no-no, but I’d go CUCKOO if I didn’t scratch 'em.

I’d also stay away from Miracel as that is another “foreign” ingredient applied to an ear canal into which a pretty unbreathable mold is inserted. Naw. Best thing is to make sure the AIDS are cleaned in a UV/heat sanitizer nightly. Even putting alcohol wipes on them can damage the aid. I’ve done that myself!

I have no issue with wax AT ALL either, but dang those ears itch with just wearing silicone domes. I even dry them with a hair dryer after showers - get the canal as dry a possible before putting aids in.

I buy boxes of small alcohol prep pads right at Amazon5. Doesn’t mean they’re a good thing for my ears or my aids. :neutral_face:

VERY true!!! That is now the protocol I’m following. Remove domes, wipe with alcohol. When dry, put them back on the speakers.

As a doctor myself, alcohol is fine. Geez, we use it to disinfect the skin before injections all the time. Chlorhexidine can kill germs, but not instantly like alcohol. It takes hours to kill germs. Used to be used as a contact lens disinfection solution way back in the day. 4 hours minimum.

@OpenFitted said:

So… What’s wrong with a water-wet qtip and a gentle scrubbing?

For you, that’s okay!

Everyone is different in what they need! No one is the same. What might be right for me, might not be right for you.

I’ve been on steroids for over 30 years which also reduces my immune system, re: one of the reasons I get a lot of infections.

Also, it is funny to me how literally everyone in the health industry is discouraging the usage of qtips to clean your ear canal because that can lead to a clogged ear, but for me is by far the best method to leave my ear canal sparkling clean!

Could it be that us deaf folks know better our own ear canal shape?

Another interesting topic. Great! I liked all the different replies. It seems there are no two ears alike. I am not saying that everyone should do this, but I use either peroxide, or 91% IPA on a Q-Tip in my ears. Sometimes, not often, I will flood my ears with peroxide, then clean with a dry Q-Tip. I have Chlorhexidine, but it is in a mouthwash prescribed by my dentist. I get itchy ears after a few hours wearing my aids.

My audi uses hydrogen peroxide when I find my ears need to be badly cleaned. Then after 5 minutes he uses a squeeze bulb with water to flush it out. If I had any questions I would call him first. I don’t make a habit of putting anything in my ear unless I know for sure it’s safe

Related discussions