Do you use Q-Tips?

[Sabine]

My husband is a doctor, and he has ALWAYS lectured me about my use of q-tips. He says earwax is normal and does not need to be removed. I use one in each ear every day after showering. I''ve had ear issues before when traveling if I don''t use them, and then start again, of pushing wax back into my ear and then clogging the ear. But after his most recent nagging, I gave in and said I wouldn''t use them.

After about a week my ears were so itchy I couldn''t stand it so I started using them again. And then my right ear got totally clogged. Dh just flushed it out with water for me and I''m disgusted with what came out of it. But dh made me promise to not use q-tips anymore because the wax itself is normal and it won''t back up if you don''t use q-tips to push it back.

In my head I think my dh is probably right, but this is going to be a hard habit to break. I also think I''ll be fine if I use them every day like I normally do.

So do you use q-tips?

 

[that_someone_special]

Yes, too much. I can''t STAND the feeling of ear wax and clean them obsessively. They get really bad sometimes where they get really dry and flakey because of the cleaning. I have tried to stop, lol but I can''t!! Whenever I try, the wax builds up, sounds *squishy* and feels wet after a shower. It gets itchy and then I clean them/ scratch them until it bleeds.

I clean them probably at least 6 times a week.

I''ve been told I shouldn''t.

 

[pinkstars]

Yes, of course I clean my ears! I can''t stand not too, it feels terrible!
When BF and I started going out he didn''t clean his ears out and they would be sooooo gross! Even when he would get them wet in the shower or whatever, there was still just a ton of earwax there...yucky! But, then he got these super nice earbuds and now he cleans his ears regularly (thank goodness!)

 

[Iowa Lizzy]

I do. Everyday. I can''t stop! I have really oily ears. I try to just use them around the outside of my ear and not go into the canal, but then I say "oh to hell with it" and twist that baby around in there. I kinda thought my ears always looked kinda oily and then one day I said something to my mother about it and her response was "Oh, you''ve had really oily ears since you were a child." Whaaaaaa? It was like she confirmed it and in the process, gave me a bit of a complex. I wish they made oil-blotting sheets for your ears.

 

[pennquaker09]

Sabine, I''m in the same boat, my hubby is a ped and he tells me all the time not to use them. He bought these ear drops that you use to dissolve the wax, but I can''t seem to find it. If I do, I''ll post the name of it or I''m sure you can ask your hubby.

 

[charbie]

My husband uses them daily. I do maybe once a week, and mostly just around the outside or barely inside...but it...just...feels...soooooooooo gooooooooooood! Haha!

 

[pinkelephant]

Hi everyone. This may sound strange, but Korean people (I''m Korean) use a tiny bamboo spoon to clean their ears. I use this spoon to kind of ''scoop'' out any ear wax and q-tips to clean only my outer ear. This spoon also has a white fluffy thing at the other end to kind of ''dust'' away any bits of wax. Anyway, this scoop really prevents any kind of blockage as it does not push the wax back into your ear. You do have to be careful that you do not go too far into your ear. You can buy it at any Korean market and they are really inexpensive, about a dollar each.

 

[Luckyeshe]

Date: 2/13/2010 12:12:58 AM
Author: janey
Hi everyone. This may sound strange, but Korean people (I''m Korean) use a tiny bamboo spoon to clean their ears. I use this spoon to kind of ''scoop'' out any ear wax and q-tips to clean only my outer ear. This spoon also has a white fluffy thing at the other end to kind of ''dust'' away any bits of wax. Anyway, this scoop really prevents any kind of blockage as it does not push the wax back into your ear. You do have to be careful that you do not go too far into your ear. You can buy it at any Korean market and they are really inexpensive, about a dollar each.

I am sooo going to have to try this!!! Thanks, janey!!!

I''m an obsessive ear cleaner!! I do it every day!! If I miss a day, I feel gross!!

 

[chiquitapet]

Yep, I clean my ears daily. I don''t push the Q-tips too far though and I never had any problems.

 

[Octavia]

Not nearly as much as I used to. When I was young, I would really "clean" my ears, but now I usually just gently swab to absorb excess water after I shower. Every couple weeks, I''ll clean a little more because it does get a bit gunky, but I don''t press hard or go too deep. I think it has helped my hearing, honestly, but I still couldn''t forego cleaning completely.

 

[sba771]

Yes constantly. I used to be their PR rep so I have a closet filled with q-tips. They do have a warning on the box saying they shouldn''t be used in the ear so the big marketing has been for makeup and stuff, but deep down we all know where people use the.

 

[gemgirl]

Date: 2/12/2010 10:37:42 PM
Author: pennquaker09
Sabine, I''m in the same boat, my hubby is a ped and he tells me all the time not to use them. He bought these ear drops that you use to dissolve the wax, but I can''t seem to find it. If I do, I''ll post the name of it or I''m sure you can ask your hubby.

My ENT told me about the ear cleaning solution you can buy over the counter after he yelled at me for using Q-tips everyday, which I still do because I don''t like that sticky,sappy, unclean feeling either. The ear cleaner is "Debrox".

 

[jewelz617]

I clean my ears daily. Honestly, if I don''t I get this nasty itchy feeling that screams for a Q-Tip.

With my daughter though I just use a warm washcloth (she''s almost 2).

 

[joflier]

I rarely ever use q-tips. If I do, I don''t use them too deeply. I''ve never had itchy ears.....but that sure doesn''t sound fun!

 

[elrohwen]

I use one in my ears most days after showering, but I''m very gentle and don''t go digging around in there

I just try to get off the stuff that''s rigth at the ear opening, otherwise it builds up.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I use Q-tips more to get the water out of my ears than clean them. I get a really bad headache if I have water in my ears and Q-tips are the only thing that works for me.

 

[April20]

Absolutely! I cannot stand the itchy feeling you''re describing when I don''t use them regularly. My grandmother is a nurse and always said the same thing your DH says. But I''ve been using them for years and no damage done.

 

[purrfectpear]

Nope. All the doctors are correct. A healthy body will cleanse itself of earwax.

 

[Lorelei]

There is an old saying to never stick anything inside your ears smaller than your elbow!

 

[Upgradable]

Date: 2/13/2010 12:34:00 PM
Author: Lorelei
There is an old saying to never stick anything inside your ears smaller than your elbow!

But I can''t get my elbow up there!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

i love q tips and don''t have any issues with using them. I try to be gentle and just keep it on the outside edge, but I use them everyday. I hate the feeling of earwax!

 

[kenny]

I use them but I'm careful to not push wax in.

I must admit, it feels good.
Very good.
Eyes rolling back good.

Seeing yucky stuff come out make you want to keep it clean even though I know nature wants it dirty.
Nature didn't invent toilet paper either.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/13/2010 12:37:24 PM
Author: Upgradable

Date: 2/13/2010 12:34:00 PM
Author: Lorelei
There is an old saying to never stick anything inside your ears smaller than your elbow!

But I can''t get my elbow up there!

ROFL!!!!!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 2/13/2010 12:49:41 PM
Author: kenny
I use them but I''m careful to not push wax in.


I must admit, it feels good.

Very good.

Eyes rolling back good.


Seeing yucky stuff come out make you want to keep it clean even though I know nature wants it dirty.

Nature didn''t invent toilet paper either.

I agree! Isn''t it crazy how blissful it feels??

 

[zoebartlett]

I use Q-tips because I can''t stand to have water in my ears. My husband likes to use hydrogen peroxide though. I think that''s what he uses anyway. He puts some in his ears (one at a time) during a shower and lets it drain back out a minute later. It works for him, but I don''t like to have that clogged feeling and I''m not patient enough to let it do its thing.

 

[IloveAsschers13]

We just had an ear doctor come in and talk to my class (The Deaf Community and Sign Language) and she said just make sure not to put the q-tip in too deep. Also make sure not to do it too much, but other than that it''s totally safe!

I use them maybe once a month.

 

[joflier]

Date: 2/13/2010 12:37:24 PM
Author: Upgradable

Date: 2/13/2010 12:34:00 PM
Author: Lorelei
There is an old saying to never stick anything inside your ears smaller than your elbow!

But I can''t get my elbow up there!

But the sad thing is - how many of us - when we heard that saying, actually tried to?

 

[Octavia]

This thread is making me want to grab a q-tip and clean my ears NOW! It''s a serious craving, almost as bad as my craving for mac n'' cheese after the thread in FHH.

 

[packrat]

I do it. I generally leave the kids alone unless I can see it-then I clean just the very outside. I used to get those little kid qtips for them that were really big and just barely went inside. I don''t dig or anything w/my ears, but I can''t stand taking a shower and getting the insides of my ears wet and then not using a qtip to dry it. Or after swimming too..I can''t stand it.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 2/12/2010 11:37:11 PM
Author: charbie
My husband uses them daily. I do maybe once a week, and mostly just around the outside or barely inside...but it...just...feels...soooooooooo gooooooooooood! Haha!

Q-tips do feel SO GOOD! I use them even when I don''t have to just for the love of it.