Hearing aids spend the whole day in a warm ear, so earwax, skin oils, and moisture collect on them faster than most people expect. A consistent hearing aid cleaning routine helps keep your devices working well and prevents the frustration of wax and moisture interfering with sound.
At Staverman Hearing Centers on San Jose Boulevard in Jacksonville, audiologist and owner Leslie Staverman, Au.D., draws on more than 25 years in hearing healthcare to demonstrate how to care for your specific devices and explain when they need professional cleaning or maintenance. The right tools and methods for daily and weekly care help maintain comfortable listening and remove buildup without making the problem worse.
How Much Hearing Aid Maintenance Do Your Devices Need Each Week?
Your hearing aids need a gentle wipe and inspection every day, plus a closer inspection about once a week. Daily care removes surface residue before it builds up around the microphone openings, earpiece, and sound outlet. Pick a consistent time, such as right after you take 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. Ask Leslie Staverman how often to return based on your devices, wax buildup, and previous maintenance needs.
Why Do Behind-the-Ear, RIC, and Custom Aids Get Cleaned Differently?
Each hearing aid style is cleaned a little differently because its tubing, speaker, and openings sit in different places. Traditional 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. Their surfaces, vents, and sound outlets are exposed to wax and skin oils, 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.
What Steps Should You Take to Clean Hearing Aids Before Bed?
To clean hearing aids before bed, turn them off, wipe and inspect each one, brush the microphone openings, and then dry, store, or charge them as directed. Start by washing and drying your hands, then work over a clean towel on a stable surface. Handle one hearing aid at a time so you can keep track of its parts. Follow these steps:
- 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, so you can finish 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 Can a Weekly Look at the Wax Filter and Tubing Catch Early?
A weekly look at the wax filter and tubing can catch persistent wax, a blocked filter, worn domes, and stiff, cracked, or discolored tubing before they cause bigger problems. This closer check reaches areas that need more attention than a quick wipe. 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 Leslie Staverman has demonstrated.
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.
Is It Ever Safe to Rinse, Spray, or Blow-Dry a Hearing Aid?
Rinsing the electronics, spraying cleaner directly into openings, and drying with a hair dryer can all damage a hearing aid, so none of them is safe. 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 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 Leslie Staverman, Au.D., Show You Hearing Aid Care in Jacksonville
A hands-on demonstration makes hearing aid care easier to manage. During an appointment, Leslie Staverman can review your devices, hearing concerns, health history, and goals for comfortable daily use. When a device needs more than a cleaning, many repairs can be handled right in our office, even for hearing aids purchased elsewhere.
Call or text 904-685-1394, or contact Staverman Hearing Centers to schedule a hearing aid care appointment at our Jacksonville office, open Monday through Thursday.