Q-tips, or cotton swabs, are safe to use outside your ear, but they should not be stuck inside your ear to clear out wax. We'll discuss why and what to do instead.

After taking a shower, Abby Hoffman, 27, proceeded to try to clean her ears with a Q-tip, but that was when she discovered something unexpected—a whole trazodone pill lodged inside her ear.

I know I am not supposed to stick cotton swabs in my ears. We all know this. ... Any wax that you see on a Q-tip you have stuck into your ear is regular, ...

In fact, Q-Tip, the leading brand of cotton swabs, advises: “Do not insert swab into ear canal. Entering the ear canal could cause injury. If used to clean ears, stroke swab gently around the ...

And some experts say Q-tips and cotton swabs aren't a good method for cleaning your ears. These items may damage ear drums and leave more earwax than they remove.

Why You Shouldn't Use Cotton Swabs In Your Ears “One should not use a cotton swab or Q-tip to remove the wax from their ears, as wax is protective against microorganisms, and follow the hair ...

And some experts say Q-tips and cotton swabs aren't a good method for cleaning your ears. These items may damage ear drums and leave more earwax than they remove.

Hoffman, who admits to routinely using Q-tips despite common advice against it, noticed something unusual when the cotton swab wouldn't go into her left ear. After multiple unsuccessful attempts ...

Cotton swabs are made to clean the outer part of the ear, just the exposed part that you can see.