How to Clean Your Hearing Aids: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Published October 5, 2026 · By the Hearing Aid Advisor team

Hearing aids sit in one of the warmest, most moisture- and earwax-prone environments on your body for most of your waking hours. A cleaning routine that takes about two minutes a day is the single biggest thing you can do to keep them working well and avoid an expensive repair — earwax buildup is the most common reason hearing aids stop working properly, and it’s also the most preventable.

Here’s exactly how to do it, whether you’re new to hearing aids or just want to make sure you’ve been doing it right.

Why Cleaning Matters More Than You’d Think

Earwax (cerumen) is the main culprit. It can clog the microphone ports, the receiver (speaker), and the wax guard, muffling sound or cutting it off completely. Moisture from sweat, humidity, or rain is the second big issue — it can corrode internal components over time, which is why overnight drying matters as much as the wipe-down itself.

Neither problem happens overnight. Both are the direct result of skipping the daily routine below for weeks at a time.

What You’ll Need

Most hearing aids — including OTC devices — come with a basic cleaning kit, and most manufacturers sell a more complete one as an accessory. At minimum, you want:

• A soft, dry cloth or brush (often built into the cleaning tool that ships with your device)
• A wax pick or wax loop
• Spare wax guards/filters for your specific model
• A drying box or electronic dehumidifier (highly recommended, not strictly required)

What you don’t need, and shouldn’t use: rubbing alcohol, household disinfectant wipes, water, or compressed air on the device body or microphone ports. These can strip protective coatings or push debris deeper into the receiver. (One exception: some manufacturers, including Eargo, specifically instruct using 70% isopropyl alcohol on charging contacts only — not the device itself. Check your model’s manual before using alcohol on any part of your hearing aids.)

Daily Cleaning Routine (2 Minutes)

1. Remove your hearing aids at night and let any earwax on them dry out overnight — dry wax brushes off far more easily than fresh, sticky wax.
2. Each morning, wipe the outside of each device with a soft, dry cloth using small circular motions.
3. Hold the device upside down and brush away debris with the built-in brush, working away from the microphone ports and any buttons — brushing toward an opening pushes wax in rather than out.
4. Check the wax guard. If it looks discolored or clogged, replace it — most people need to do this every few weeks, more often if you produce a lot of earwax.
5. Place your hearing aids in a drying box or dehumidifier overnight, especially if you live somewhere humid or you’ve been sweating during the day.

Removing Stubborn Earwax

For wax that’s built up in the crevices around the microphone or receiver, use a wax pick or wax loop — gently. Never poke a tool deep into the receiver port; you’re far more likely to push the blockage further in than clear it. If a wax guard is clogged, the fix is almost always to replace it, not to try to clean it out.

If your hearing aids sound muffled or weak and a wax guard change doesn’t fix it, that’s usually a sign it’s time for a manufacturer or professional cleaning rather than a home fix.

Weekly and Monthly Maintenance

• Weekly: a closer inspection of tubing or domes (if your device uses them) for cracks, stiffness, or discoloration — replace if you see any of these.
• Monthly: replace wax guards on a fixed schedule even if they don’t look obviously clogged, and check that your drying box’s desiccant (if it uses one) doesn’t need replacing.

Common Mistakes That Damage Hearing Aids

• Using alcohol or household cleaning wipes on the device body. This is the single most common mistake — it damages protective coatings and can degrade seals.
• Wearing them in the shower or leaving them somewhere humid overnight instead of in a drying box.
• Poking wax tools too far into the receiver port, which pushes wax deeper rather than removing it.
• Skipping wax guard replacement because the device still seems to work — by the time sound quality drops, the guard is usually well overdue.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean my hearing aids?

A quick wipe-down and brush every day, with a closer wax-guard check weekly and a scheduled wax-guard replacement monthly (more often if you produce a lot of earwax).

Can I use alcohol wipes on my hearing aids?

Not on the device body or microphone. Alcohol and household disinfectants can damage the shell and seals. Some manufacturers permit isopropyl alcohol specifically on charging contacts; check your device's manual before using it anywhere on the unit.

Can I clean my hearing aids with water?

No. Most hearing aids, including most OTC models, are not fully waterproof. Stick to a dry or barely-damp soft cloth.

Do I need a drying box, or is a cloth enough?

A cloth-and-brush routine handles daily debris, but a drying box or electronic dehumidifier is the best defense against the moisture damage that shortens a hearing aid's lifespan. It is especially useful overnight and in humid climates.

How do I know if my hearing aids need a professional cleaning instead of a home cleaning?

If sound is muffled or cutting out after you've replaced the wax guard and done a full wipe-down, or if you notice a persistent odor or visible corrosion, it's time for a manufacturer service or a visit to an audiologist rather than continuing to troubleshoot at home.