Tips on how to clean and remove earwax from hearing aids

For Miracle-Ear wearers, earwax buildup is one of the leading causes of hearing aid repairs, along with moisture and battery issues. When wax blocks the device, sound can become weak, distorted, or stop altogether. 

The good news is that there are simple steps you can take at home to keep your Miracle-Ear hearing aids in top shape between visits to your hearing care professional. 

• Hearing aids are prone to wax buildup, which can be managed with frequent at-home cleaning.
• Set a regular time to clean your devices so you remember to do it daily.
• Change out wax guards at least every four weeks to protect the technology inside your hearing aids.
• Use proper tools, such as those in a hearing aid kit, to remove wax without causing damage.
• Sit in a well-lit space while carefully removing earwax from hearing aids.
• Meet with a hearing care professional as needed to do a deep clean and answer questions.

Before we cover the details, here are few tips to help you get started:

• Make sure you have the right tools. These typically include items like a small brush and a set of wax guards, which we’ll cover below. Keep these accessible so that you’ll be prepared to use them frequently.
• Set a schedule for when you’ll clean your hearing aids. Decide when you’ll clean your hearing aids each day — perhaps first thing in the morning or right before bed. It may help to leave yourself a reminder note or set an alert on your phone.
• Talk to your hearing care professional about how to remove earwax from hearing aids. They can demonstrate the process during your visit and answer questions about how to care for your specific hearing aid model.

To keep your cleaning tools organized and in one place, a kit can be helpful. Kits may be included with your hearing aids, but can also be purchased from your hearing care professional. You can also buy individual pieces and build your own kit. Create your own hearing aid cleaning kit with these helpful tools:

• A small brush to gently clean wax from the hearing aid dome
• A wire loop or wax pick to extract wax from the hearing aid dome or sound bores
• A vent cleaner to push wax through longer vents that wax picks or loops can’t reach
• A soft, dry cloth to wipe away moisture, dirt or debris on the hearing aid shell

Wax guards are tiny but mighty, protecting your hearing aid technology and allowing for clear sound quality. To do their job, they need to be replaced every four weeks. If you’re prone to producing a lot of earwax, replacing them even more often is a good idea. Hearing aid wax guard replacement takes just a few seconds. Find steps for how to do so here.

As powerful as hearing aids are, they’re also very delicate. Sharp objects and excessive force can cause damage, so stick with the standard cleaning tools and use them with care. Work at a smooth surface, such as a table or desk, with bright lighting to make your cleaning process easier.

If any specialized adjustments are needed, always talk to your hearing care professional rather than trying to figure it out on your own.

In addition to a regular at-home cleaning routine, professional cleanings will help keep your devices functioning at their best for as long as possible. A hearing care professional will be able to do a deep cleaning, check all hearing aid parts, and address debris buildup to maintain your devices. 

Because earwax and hearing aids are both located in the ears, hearing aids will inevitably encounter wax. Earwax is one of the leading causes of hearing aid problems.

Here’s how it can affect your devices:

• Blocks sound: Earwax can clog the microphone, receiver (speaker), or vents, making sounds seem faint, muffled, or distorted.
• Stops function completely: If the wax filter or guard becomes fully blocked, the hearing aid may stop producing sound altogether.
• Causes repairs: Earwax is one of the most common reasons people need hearing aid repairs or replacements, along with moisture damage.
• Reduces lifespan: Consistent wax buildup can strain the delicate electronics inside, shortening the device’s overall life.
• Impacts fit and comfort: Earwax buildup in the ear canal itself can push against the hearing aid, making it uncomfortable or less effective.

It’s important to not get your hearing aids wet unnecessarily. Stick to the advice and recommended tools above for proper cleaning. A soft, dry cloth or small hearing aid brush will remove wax without exposing your devices to liquid, moisture, or products that could harm them.

Now you may be wondering, “How often should you change wax filters in hearing aids?”  If you’re prone to extra earwax, replace wax filters as soon as you notice wax buildup. This timing will vary from person to person; it may be a week, a month, or somewhere in between. When you notice excess wax, replace filters right away to maintain hearing aid performance.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to safely remove and replace wax guards in hearing aids. These tiny filters protect the speaker from earwax, but once clogged, they should be swapped out—not cleaned.

Wax guards (also called wax filters) are tiny protective components that sit at the opening of many hearing aids, especially in-the-ear and receiver-in-canal styles. Their job is to keep earwax and debris from reaching the delicate speaker inside. They should not be cleaned and reused.

Because they are so small and designed to trap wax, attempting to clean them is usually ineffective and can damage the filter. Once a wax guard is clogged, the best practice is to replace it with a new one.

Wax guards are meant to be replaced, not cleaned.

Audiologists and hearing care professionals avoid unsafe methods like cotton swabs or sharp household objects, which can push wax deeper or damage the eardrum.