Q-Tips

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Do people use Q-tips to clean ears?

You're not supposed to. You can damage your eardrums. Sometimes the cotton comes loose and gets stuck in there, and a doctor has to remove it. But I'm sure nearly everyone puts Q-Tips in their ears, anyway.

Yep, there is a lot that can go wrong there. It's OK to clean the outer bits, but when you start talking about the area that people actually are cleaning, that tends to cause problems. You can push wax in, you can create micro-cuts that increase risk of infection, you remove the wax that helps to keep things clean.

As far as why everybody does it, it's because there's a nerve in there that people like to stimulate. In most cases, it's best to not clean the ears out at all, although if you've been swimming a mixture of vinegar and rubbing alcohol can be helpful. If you genuinely do need the ears cleaned, then it's as you say, get an expert to do it.

Q-tips?
Grab a throat swab and RAM IT HOME !

Oh..this isn't Wrong Answers Only?

Seems you're not supposed to, but I certainly do carefully but still.

Only on the outer parts. Sometimes I'm tempted to go further in when having an itch. But have to let it pass

There are kits with bulbs like a turkey baster and specific types of medicated fluid to use if you need to. You can also use sterilized water with small amounts of home remedies like apple cider vinegar.
The idea is to flush the ears to remove ear wax buildup.

My doctor did it to my ears once using a large syringe (with no pointed needle). He also recommended putting my ear close to the hot water shower head.

I have one (ear bulb) I keep in my bathroom. I use tap water mixed with isopropyl alcohol to kill germs. It may be too drying for general use.

Google for other ideas.

The old joke is “never put anything in your ear except your elbow”