Hearing aids work all day in a warm environment full of wax and skin oils, so a little routine care goes a long way. A consistent hearing aid cleaning routine helps keep your devices working well and prevents wax and moisture from interfering with sound.
At SoundEar Audiology in Downtown Saskatoon, owner and audiologist Puru Ganesan, BSc., MASLP Aud (C), can demonstrate how to care for your specific devices and explain when they need professional cleaning or maintenance. With the right tools and methods for daily and weekly care, you can maintain comfortable listening and remove buildup without making the problem worse.
Do My Hearing Aids Need Cleaning Even When They Sound Fine?
Your hearing aids need cleaning even when they sound fine: a quick wipe every day and a more thorough inspection about once a week help keep buildup from affecting sound. Daily care removes surface residue before it builds up around the microphone openings, earpiece, and sound outlet. Choose a consistent time, such as after taking them out at night.
Plan the weekly inspection around your model’s instructions. You may need more frequent attention if you produce a lot of earwax, perspire heavily, or spend time in humid conditions.
Wax filters, domes, and tubing have their own replacement schedules. Check them regularly and replace them as needed or as directed, rather than relying on a single universal calendar.
Professional cleaning should supplement home care. At regular clean and check visits, Puru can recommend how often to return based on your devices, wax buildup, and previous maintenance needs.
Are Some Hearing Aid Styles Harder to Keep Clean?
Some hearing aid styles are harder to keep clean, especially devices that sit inside the ear, where surfaces, vents, and sound outlets are exposed to wax and skin oils. Behind-the-ear hearing aids may send sound through hollow plastic tubing to a separate earmold. Some earmolds without electronics can be detached and washed if the manufacturer permits it. Keep the electronic hearing aid body out of water.
Receiver-in-canal hearing aids have a speaker inside the earpiece, connected to the behind-the-ear body by a thin wire. Wipe these components carefully and follow the specific instructions for dome and wax-filter care.
In-the-ear, in-the-canal, and completely-in-canal devices sit partly or entirely inside the ear, and their small openings require gentle handling and the appropriate cleaning tools.
If you are unsure whether an earpiece contains electronics, ask before detaching or washing it. Similar-looking parts can require different care, and your model’s instructions should guide the process.
In What Order Should You Clean Hearing Aids at Night?
To clean hearing aids at night, work in this order: switch them off, wipe and inspect each one, brush the microphone openings, and then dry, store, or charge them as directed. Start with clean, dry hands and a towel spread on a stable surface. Work on one hearing aid at a time so its parts stay together. Try this sequence:
- Turn the device off using its normal controls.
- Wipe the casing and earpiece with a soft, dry cloth.
- Inspect the dome, earmold, and sound outlet for visible buildup.
- Gently brush across microphone openings, directing debris downward.
- Check charging contacts or accessible battery areas as instructed.
- Follow the recommended drying, storage, or charging routine.
Wax may be easier to brush away after drying overnight. You can complete that step the next morning if needed.
For disposable-battery models, instructions may include opening the battery compartment overnight. Rechargeable aids follow a different routine; do not try to open a sealed battery compartment.
Before wearing the aids again, check that removable earpieces are securely attached and the devices are dry.
What Should a Weekly Inspection Catch Besides a Clogged Wax Filter?
Besides a clogged wax filter, a weekly inspection should catch persistent wax, worn domes, and stiff, cracked, or discolored tubing. This weekly check reaches areas that need more attention than a quick wipe, and damaged parts may need replacement rather than additional cleaning.
Change a wax filter when required, using the exact type specified for your device. Don’t assume every filter needs weekly replacement. Use a vent cleaner or wax loop only in the locations Puru has shown you.
If washing a detachable earmold is permitted, disconnect it as instructed, use the approved washing method, and let it and any washable tubing dry completely before reconnecting.
Inspect your charger and remove dust or residue according to its instructions. If buildup remains difficult to remove or sound stays weak, arrange professional service.
Could Your Cleaning Supplies Be Harming Hearing Aids in Saskatoon?
Cleaning supplies can harm hearing aids when they involve water, unapproved chemicals, sharp tools, or heat, so Saskatoon patients should check every product and method before using it. Do not immerse the electronic hearing aid or a speaker-containing earpiece in water. A water-resistance rating does not automatically mean the device can be washed.
Avoid household detergents, rubbing alcohol, peroxide, and other chemicals unless your manufacturer explicitly approves a particular product and method. Even a cleaner marketed for hearing aids may not suit every component. Never spray cleaner directly into openings.
Do not insert needles, pins, or improvised tools into microphone ports or sound outlets. Pushing harder can drive wax inward or damage the parts you are trying to clean.
Keep hearing aids away from hair dryers, microwaves, and other excessive heat sources. Never dismantle the casing for a deeper clean. If a part will not detach easily or you are unsure what it is, stop and ask for guidance.
Let Puru Ganesan Show You Hearing Aid Care in Saskatoon
Seeing each cleaning step on your own devices builds confidence at home. During an appointment, Puru Ganesan can review your devices, hearing concerns, health history, and goals for comfortable daily use, then show you the cleaning steps your model needs.
Call or text 306-994-8123 or contact SoundEar Audiology to book a hearing aid care appointment at our 2nd Avenue North clinic in Saskatoon, SK.