These 3 Ear-Wax Removal Horror Stories Will Make You Cringe

It's time to stop sticking things in your ear.

Got an ear itch? Too much wax build-up? Grab a cotton swab, and problem solved, right? Wrong. “Never stick Q-tips into your ears,” warns Arnold Henry, M.D., an ENT specialist at Indiana University Health. Here’s the truth: Instead of cleaning, cotton swabs push the wax deeper, leading to blockages, infections, and even temporary hearing loss. Dr. Henry also emphasizes the dangers of using any object—like a bobby pin or pen cap—for cleaning. Inserting things into your ear canal increases the risk of puncturing your eardrum, causing severe pain, infections, and, in extreme cases, even permanent hearing loss.

 But let’s be honest: You already know this. Using a cotton swab in your ear feels oddly satisfying. There’s a reason people keep doing it, even though they know better. That feeling of cleaning your ears is just too good to resist! But no one wants to risk hearing loss from wax buildup. If the warnings from doctors haven’t convinced you to drop the Q-tips, maybe these horror stories will. Let’s start with a case of mold growing inside the ear...

Transcript of an Interview: An ENT Doctor and 3 Patients Share Earwax Horror Stories and Solutions

Dr. Henry: Welcome, everyone. I’ve gathered you today to share your experiences with ear issues caused by cotton swabs and similar items, and to discuss better alternatives. Let’s start with you, Cherry. Tell us what happened.

Patient 1: CherryThePanPyro’s Story

Cherry: I’ve always been obsessed with cleaning my ears. Even though I knew I wasn’t supposed to stick anything inside, I would use Q-tips, bobby pins, or anything I could find to get the wax out. One night, I felt a strange itch in my ear. It was worse than usual, so I tried to scrape it out, but instead, something pierced my ear canal.

I rushed to the ER, and when the doctor inserted a camera, I saw a wolf spider staring back at me. It was horrifying. The doctor injected it with serum, and as the spider curled up, an egg sac was revealed on its back. Thousands of tiny spiders hatched inside my ear. That experience left me with permanent damage to my eardrum. Now, I understand that earwax protects our ears, keeping dangerous things—like spiders—out. If you’re concerned about your earwax, get it professionally removed. Don’t use Q-tips.

Dr. Henry: That’s a terrifying experience, Cherry. It highlights exactly why earwax is essential—it’s nature’s way of filtering out dust, bacteria, and even insects. Cotton swabs can compromise that natural barrier.

Patient 2: Suzepie’s Story

Suzepie: I always thought Q-tips were harmless, but I ended up with a terrible infection about four months ago. I was using Q-tips to clean my ears, but instead of removing the wax, I was pushing it deeper, compacting it into a pimple in my ear canal.

It got infected, and the pain was unbearable. I ended up needing ear drops that cost over $100 to treat the infection. Looking back, I realize I could have avoided all of this by not using Q-tips. It’s just not worth the risk.

Dr. Henry: That’s another example of the harm Q-tips can cause. They tend to push wax deeper instead of removing it, creating blockages and infections. A safer alternative would be something like the ProtectEar™ Smart Visual Ear Elite, which uses a camera and soft silicone tips for precision cleaning.

Patient 3: Chad’s Story

Chad: I used Q-tips for years, and eventually, I went deaf in my left ear. At the time, I didn’t have health insurance, so I just lived with it, thinking it wasn’t a big deal. Five years later, I was hiking a mountain, and as the altitude changed, my ears popped. Suddenly, a huge glob of wax came out, and I could hear again! It was disorienting at first, but I was relieved to have my hearing back. I just wish I had known better earlier—I could have avoided five years of partial deafness.

Dr. Henry: That’s an incredible story, Chad. Unfortunately, a lot of people underestimate the risks of earwax buildup caused by improper cleaning techniques. For cases like yours, I recommend the ProtectEar™ Smart Visual Ear Elite—a device that provides a safe and thorough cleaning experience with a built-in camera, helping you avoid years of hearing issues.

Dr. Henry’s Advice and Final Thoughts

Dr. Henry: Thank you all for sharing your experiences. Your stories demonstrate the dangers of using Q-tips, bobby pins, and other objects in the ear canal. Instead of helping, these methods can lead to infections, blockages, hearing loss, and even permanent damage.

The good news is there’s a safer alternative. I recommend the ProtectEar™ Smart Visual Ear Elite for anyone concerned about earwax buildup. With its HD camera and gentle silicone tips, you can see exactly what’s inside your ear while avoiding the risks of traditional methods.

If you need to clean your ears, leave the Q-tips behind and try a professional-grade solution instead. Your ears—and your hearing—will thank you.