Why Q-Tips are bad

Most people don't use Q-tips properly and wind up putting them inside their ears to feel "clean." Big mistake! Not only is ear wax good for you, but putting a Q-Tip anywhere except for the outermost parts of your ear can be a big detriment to your health.

William H. Shapiro, an audiologist and a clinical associate professor from NYU Langone, reveals why we should stay away from Q-Tips.

Produced by Corey Protin. Camera by Grace Raver.

[JesusIzLord]

That's why you scrape against the sides in a circular motion then remove the wax like you're trying to clean a pipe instead of pushing it further in like you're packing a Raw cone

[emobloom]

You'll take my q-tip from my cold dead hands.

[TheCuddleCactus]

Ok, I understand the insects part but, maybe you could show some actual INSECTS and not ARACHNIDS!

[chipchapin]

This is very good advice. A few days after swimming, my right ear still felt "clogged" and itchy, so I used a Q-tip to get the water out. The ear continued to itch, so I used more Q-Tips over the next few days until I realized that I was only irritating my ear and I stopped. But my ear continued to feel "clogged" and my hearing was impaired. After several months, I was still suffering the itchiness and "clogged" sensation, so I went to see an Ear Nose and Throat ("ENT") specialist. Upon examining my ear canal, the ENT specialist found, and removed, an old Q-Tip cotton tip wedged against my eardrum. Immediate relief and hearing improvement! The tip had been wedged in there for months, and I had not realized!

[DeShoujo]

But like the squishy feelings of wax like its overload and it really disgusts me and i wouldnt be able to do my routine with that feeling

[DoughBear]

Sticking q-tips in your ear is the best scratch ever

[ricky]

whats next? don't pick your nose?

[scent-bubbles]

I've gone to four different hearing doctors and they all advised me to use Q-Tips- but to not stick it in extremely far. Nearly everyone has over-waxed ears- so cleaning them with qtips/water/ear drops isn't bad at all.

[fosheimdet]

Guys, don't worry. Just ask a friend to give you a helping elbow, and your ears will be clean in no time.

[NandakDhurjati]

who else is watching this while using a q-tip?

[RyansChannel]

I use carefully Q tips every once in awhile when my ear itches or when I feel some ear wax. It’s very effective and gets the job done.

[trashpanda]

0:04


Anyone else try to put their elbow in their ear?

[xosummerdaysxo]

STORY TIME: I used a q-tip in my ears yesterday. Right after, all sound was completely muffled in my right ear. The muffling has not gone away. No, I did not roughly jab it in my ear. And no, I did not push it in extremely far. I tried cleaning my ear out myself with Debrox according to box instructions, and it is even more muffled. Using q-tips can push ear wax further into your canal. The ear wax buildup is what's muffling my hearing. So to anyone hating, this is a very real thing. I've learned the hard way. Now, I have to go to an ENT doctor to clean out my ear. 🥺

[fxmvyvw]

You're not supposed to stick them in your ear just clean up the end of the ear canal and the rest of the grooves

[naryrokobs]

so you are saying... that we should wait until wax clogs our ears and go to the doctor when we stop hearing stuff???

[toukairin]

I've done as you said in the past; Twice I virtually neglected "care" of inside of my ears. And twice I have to see a doctor because I ended up SHUTTING IT TIGHT with ear wax. I can't hear ANYTHING on that side of the ear.

The medical procedure to get it out is not exactly pleasing: You'd have a small, milimeter size water jet gushing through your ear to "carve up" and dissolve the wax. Then the byproduct is placed inside of a container. The worst case I have is a wax lump the size of a small cigarette butt. And the cost isn't exactly cheap either (will differ from country to country).

So now I routinely use q-tip to clean my ears, carefully not to push it further inside. Around once per 3 days and I've never had the medical case anymore.

And now you're saying don't use a q tip. So, exactly HOW do I maintain it? Can't use the info on the video, been here done that!

[theweedspot]

So as someone who's done this and still does it to this day I think it might be an addiction honestly, basically I go to far and start to hear the end of the q tip moving around in my ear because I have perforated my eardrum by pushing up through the wall into the middle and inner ear I've got hearing problems now and constantly get ear infections and thick earwax build up trust me guys it's really not worth it getting the doctor to clean out your ears alsoooo feels good

[miriamsarz]

you can still use them just dont shove them that far?? just around the surface so that its not sticking out disgustingly

[aymanoayman]

the only thing i thought about when he said wax is not dirty is how dirty is his ears lol

[emmanuelgarcia]

I had excessive earwax and ended up clogging my right ear for a whole month. After getting it flushed, I still have hearing problems.