Cleaning your hearing aids is essential—here's how (2024)

Getting into a new routine can be challenging, but the repetition tends to be helpful. The same can be said for establishing a routine for cleaning hearing aids, which should be done every few days or around once per week.

Hearing aids that have less wax on them work better and last longer, which is all the more reason to clean them thoroughly. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, earwax and other types of ear drainage can damage hearing aids.

This article teaches you how to clean hearing aids using my own personal method. Below, you’ll also find links to cleaning kits and other tools to ensure your expensive hearing aids remain in tip-top condition.

How to clean hearing aids using my method

As someone who mainly cleans my behind-the-ear Phonak hearing aids when wax builds up and the device doesn’t work as well, I don’t tend to have the fanciest supplies on hand. That said, this has been my routine for close to a decade, and it’s proven remarkably effective:

1. Take the hearing aids out of your ear.
2. Remove the hearing aid domes and place them in your hearing aid case.
3. Remove the small white wax guards using the unused (empty) end of a new wax guard applicant. These applicants should come with your hearing aids.
4. Use a napkin to get any noticeable earwax off the device.
5. Put new white wax guards on the hearing aids by inserting the opposite (white-tipped) end of the applicator into your hearing aids.
6. Throw the old white wax guard and applicators, as well as tissues, in the trash.
7. Put the hearing aid domes back on the hearing aids and put the hearing aids back in your ears.

I buy my white wax guards from Amazon in a bulk package that costs around $25.

Replacing the wax guard using my method will solve the vast majority of hearing aid issues that may crop up, but there are ways to give your hearing aid a more thorough clean. This video from TruHearing shows you how.

• Clean the microphone ports on the base of the hearing aid with a soft bristle brush. You’ll know where the microphones are because there’s usually a little hole there. Hearing aids often feature multiple microphones, so make sure to brush each one.
• Remove debris from the vent, which is the hole that offers access from one end of the hearing aid to the other. Cleaning kits often have a specialized vent cleaner to reach into this space, but a brush may get some debris off the surface.
• In the event debris can’t be removed, you can detach the hearing aid mold from the base and soak it in warm, soapy water. Just make sure the mold is totally dry when reattaching. If you have any doubts, skip this step and consult a professional first.

Hearing aid cleaning kits and cleaning tools

There are also inexpensive cleaning kits for hearing aids that have more supplies for people who desire a detailed approach to cleaning and caring for their hearing aids, but you’ll still need to buy wax guards separately.

These cleaning kits include brush tools, a cleaning cloth, and a vent cleaner that helps remove wax buildup from the harder-to-reach areas of hearing aids like the microphone ports. Different parts of the cleaning kit may also need to be cleaned regularly as well.

Walmart sells cleaning kits starting around $7, and Amazon has a cleaning kit for around $10.

Hearing aid dryers

Sometimes, using a cleaning kit is not enough to get ear wax out of your hearing aids, or you want to make sure your hearing aids have not been negatively impacted by humidity or your sweat.

This is where hearing aid dryers can come in handy. Many audiologists have these in their office, but consumers can also buy cheaper versions for home use, which could save money if insurance coverage for audiology appointments is spotty.

Amazon has a well-reviewed hearing aid dryer for just under $60, which takes around 45 minutes to dehumidify your assistive devices.

Uncooked white rice

If you do not have a hearing aid dryer but still want to remove moisture from hearing aids, uncooked white rice may be a cheap and effective alternative. White rice’s place as a hearing aid drying agent is perhaps not that surprising given that people sometimes use white rice to dry out other technology, like phones, if they become wet.

A 2017 study published in the International Journal of Audiology found that, white rice could be an efficient hearing aid drying method when needed, more research is required to fully understand its potential.

Earwax removal

While this is not directly related to cleaning hearing aids, if someone has excessive ear wax in their ears, they can try to remove some of it at home. It was once believed that people with hearing aids have more earwax overall, but a 2015 study published in the Journal of Audiology & Otology seemingly disproves this myth.

According to Harvard Medical School, buying and using over-the-counter eardrops to break up the buildup of earwax can be effective. Avoid using Q-tips, as these can push earwax farther back into the ear. People can also get earwax removed professionally if that is preferred. I once had earwax removed at my local CVS MinuteClinic.

After using eardrops, don’t put your hearing aids immediately back in, as they may get wet, which can lead to damage.

Hearing aid spray

While hearing aids are not waterproof, many are water resistant. This means sprays and disinfectants could be helpful tools in between regular cleanings. But it’s important to talk to an audiologist about what disinfectants and sprays they might recommend, if any, for your specific type of hearing aid. Amazon has a portable 2-ounce spray that costs under $10.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.