You can clean your ears at home with a damp washcloth or over-the-counter drops. If your ears are impacted, a doctor can remove wax buildup. Do your ears feel blocked up? Excess wax can accumulate ...

Earwax may seem like just a nuisance, but it actually plays an important role in protecting the ear canal from dirt and bacteria. "Tests have shown that it has antibacterial and antifungal properties, ...

We don’t always have the answers, but we have some people on speed dial who do — which is why we present to you our series FYI where we have experts explain if lip balm is actually bad, how often you ...

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, ...

It may seem puzzling that your ears — which of course operate best when they’re not clogged up — produce a waxy substance that sometimes seems to do just that. But earwax actually plays an important ...

It's a habit so ingrained it feels almost automatic: grabbing a cotton swab to clean out your ears after a shower. For many, the satisfaction of seeing earwax on the tip provides a deceptive sense of ...

Luke Daugherty is a freelance writer, editor and former operations manager. His work covers operations, marketing, sustainable business and personal finance, as well as many of his personal passions, ...

Using cotton swaps inside your ear can cause damage, impacted earwax, or infection. If your ears feel plugged up, a healthcare professional can clean them. Many people use cotton swabs to clean their ...

Raise your hand if you've ever been personally victimized by a cotton swab. (Hi, yes, my hand is raised.) I've actually managed to get one stuck in my ear before. Ever since that moment, I've always ...