Make caring for your ears a habit with these simple tips.
Taking care of your ears doesn’t have to be complicated! There are a few simple ear care tips that anyone can add to their daily routine to keep them in tip-top shape. Plus, they shouldn’t take more than a few minutes a day!
Here are some of the easiest ear care tips you can add to your daily routine:
- Clean the exterior ear with a washcloth
- Don’t stick anything in your ears
- Apply sunscreen when going outside
- Bring on-the-go hearing protection
- Take precautions when flying
- Turn the volume down
Let’s look at how to make these ear care tips into long-term habits!
Clean the exterior ear with a washcloth
Your ears don’t need a lot of cleaning — you don’t have to really scrub them or even use soap! Instead, just gently wipe around the exterior of your ears with a soft washcloth that’s been wetted with warm water. And as mothers and grandmothers everywhere have advised, don’t forget to wash behind your ears!
Don’t stick anything in your ears
Did you know that the interior of the ear is self-cleaning? That means you don’t need to stick anything in your ears to remove earwax, including cotton swabs (which can actually push dirt deeper!). There’s nothing easier than not sticking things in your ears, right?
If you feel like your hearing is muffled from an earwax buildup, it’s best to see a medical professional to have it removed or see if they recommend an over-the-counter treatment. At-home treatments can include drops of baby oil or wax removal liquid, which can soften earwax and help it come out naturally.
Apply sunscreen when going outside
When you’re applying sunscreen to your face and neck, take a few extra seconds to cover your ears too! It’s possible to get sunburn and skin cancer on your ears, but people often forget to put sunscreen there. It’s worth taking the extra step to protect your ear health! If you use hearing aids, just be sure to take them out before applying sunscreen and wait to put them back in until it’s dry.
Bring on-the-go hearing protection
You can’t always predict when you’re going to be around loud sounds suddenly. That’s why it’s a great idea to keep some earplugs tucked into your wallet or purse. If you work or spend a lot of time in an environment with frequent loud noises (airports, industrial environments, etc.), you can also invest in some heavy-duty earmuffs. When you notice loud sounds around you, especially those with dangerous decibel levels, just quickly pop in the earplugs or put the earmuffs on!
Take precautions when flying
Most of us have experienced the discomfort of “airplane ear,” but luckily, there are some super easy ear care tips that can help alleviate it! For instance, try to swallow, yawn, and chew gum during takeoff and landing to help equalize the pressure. Check out these tips for preventing ear pain while flying too.
Turn the volume down
Whether you love jamming out to music or watching your favorite shows, avoid putting the volume on full blast. You don’t have to click it so low that you’re straining to hear it, but be judicious! This is especially important if you’re listening through earbuds or headphones, which pipe the sound much closer to the ear. Explore some of the best headphones for your ears here.
All together, implementing these ear care tips — gently washing your ears, avoiding cotton swabs, applying sunscreen, popping in earplugs, preparing for flights, and lowering the volume — doesn’t take much time or energy at all, but can make huge difference in protecting your hearing health over the long run. Head to our blog for more advice on hearing care and more!
