Some parents obsess about warning their children of the dangers of Q-tips and earwax. Others, like mine, never bother to tell their children. Do you think it's OK to use cotton swab to clear that cerumen -- ear wax -- out of your ears? It's a tempting quick fix to reach for the Q-tip and clean when you start to feel the waxy build-up, or worse, feel like you're suffering from hearing loss. But over-using or mis-using cotton swabs can cause infections in the outer ear canal (or, swimmer's ear) and even cause eardrum damage.

For healthier alternatives to the quick cotton-swab fix, the U.S. National Library of Medicine and
National Institutes of Health recommend using mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, or commercial drops to soften wax in the ear, or detergent drops such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Another method is called irrigation. Some people recommend olive oil, but using water can be just as effective. Here's how:

With the head upright, straighten the ear canal by holding the external ear and gently pulling upward. Use a syringe to gently direct a small stream of water against the ear canal wall next to the wax plug. Tip the head to allow the water to drain. Irrigation may need to be repeated several times.

If you want a quick fix, wrap your finger in a tissue and gently clean. If deeper cleaning is needed, head to a Ear Nose and Throat doctor, who can do a "curette" cleaning procedure. Whatever you do, don't use "candle waxing" at-home products -- research has found this is dangerous and ineffective!

What is your ear-cleaning method?