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How to clean hearing aids: a simple daily and weekly routine

To clean hearing aids, wipe them with a soft dry cloth and brush the microphone openings every day, then change wax filters and check domes or tubes once a week. Never use water, solvents or cotton buds on the aid itself. A few minutes of care prevents most sound problems.

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Written by the audiology team at Sutton Hearing Care

Why cleaning your hearing aids matters

Hearing aids sit in a warm, slightly moist place all day. Ear wax, skin oils and sweat build up on the parts that touch your ear, and dust settles on the microphones. Over time this can make sound weak, muffled or crackly, and it is one of the most common reasons people bring a hearing aid in for repair when nothing is broken.

Ear wax is natural and protects the ear, so the aim is not to stop it but to keep it out of the hearing aid. The NHS has helpful information on earwax build-up if you think your ears themselves are blocked.

What you need

  • A soft, dry, lint-free cloth.
  • The small brush supplied with your hearing aids, often with a wax loop or magnet on the other end.
  • Spare wax filters (sometimes called wax guards) and the tool they come with.
  • Spare domes in your size, if you wear domes.
  • For traditional behind-the-ear aids, a cleaning wire for thin tubes or an air puffer for earmoulds.

Clean your hearing aids in the morning rather than straight after taking them out at night. Wax dries overnight and is easier to brush away.

Your daily cleaning routine

  1. Wash and dry your hands so you do not transfer oil or hand cream to the aids.
  2. Wipe the whole hearing aid with the dry cloth, including the dome, earmould or shell.
  3. Brush the microphone openings gently, holding the aid with the openings facing down so debris falls out rather than in.
  4. Look at the end that sits in your ear. If you can see wax on the dome or the sound outlet, brush it away.
  5. Store the aids properly overnight. Rechargeable aids go in their charger. For battery aids, open the battery door and leave them in their case.

Over a week, this takes less time than making a cup of tea each day, and it makes a real difference to how clear your aids sound.

Your weekly cleaning routine

Change the wax filters

Most receiver-in-canal and custom hearing aids have a tiny white wax filter where the sound comes out. When it fills with wax, sound becomes quiet or stops. Use the tool from your filter pack: push the empty end into the old filter to remove it, then turn the tool round and press the new filter into place. How often you need to do this depends on how much wax your ears make. Some people change them weekly, others less often. If sound drops, a blocked filter is the first thing to check.

Check and change domes

Soft domes on receiver-in-canal aids pick up wax and gradually lose their shape. Wipe them each week and replace them every few months, or sooner if they look discoloured, stiff or split. Pull the old dome straight off and push the new one on firmly until it clicks or sits flush. Our guide to hearing aid domes explains the different types.

Clean thin tubes

Behind-the-ear aids with a slim tube need the tube cleared with a cleaning wire. Unscrew the tube from the aid, push the wire all the way through from the hearing aid end, wipe it, and screw the tube back on.

Clean earmoulds

For traditional behind-the-ear aids with a soft or hard earmould, you can detach the mould and its tubing from the hearing aid and wash it in warm, soapy water. Rinse, then dry it thoroughly with an air puffer and leave it to dry overnight before reattaching. Never wash the hearing aid itself.

Custom in-the-ear aids

Custom aids have no tubes or domes, so focus on the sound outlet, the wax filter and the small air vent. Use the brush and wax loop gently around each opening, without pushing anything deep inside.

What not to do when cleaning hearing aids

  • Do not use water, alcohol, solvents or household cleaners on the hearing aid body. Use only wipes your audiologist has recommended.
  • Do not poke cotton buds, pins or toothpicks into the microphones or receiver. They can push wax further in or damage delicate parts.
  • Do not use a hairdryer or radiator to dry aids. Heat can damage the electronics and casing.
  • Do not use a drying kit or dehumidifier with rechargeable aids unless you have checked it is suitable for your model.
  • Do not try to open the case or repair a hearing aid yourself.

When cleaning does not fix the problem

If you have cleaned your aids, changed the filter and dome, and the sound is still weak, crackly or whistling, the receiver or microphone may need professional attention. Moisture damage can also cause intermittent sound. Our guide to hearing aid whistling covers feedback problems in more detail.

Check your ears too. Sometimes the hearing aid is fine and the ear is the problem. If you have ear pain, discharge, a sudden change in hearing or dizziness, stop wearing the aid in that ear and speak to your GP. A sudden loss of hearing should be treated as urgent: get medical help the same day through your GP, NHS 111 or A&E.

Professional cleaning and servicing in Sutton Coldfield

A home routine keeps your hearing aids working day to day, but a professional service can reach parts you cannot. If you bought your hearing aids from Sutton Hearing Care, cleaning and servicing are part of your five years of aftercare. If you bought them elsewhere, our hearing aid repairs service covers most makes.

If ear wax keeps blocking your aids, we also offer ear wax removal by microsuction at our Streetly clinic. Call 0121 369 0780, or speak to one of our audiologists in Sutton Coldfield about a free hearing test.

Common questions

How often should I clean my hearing aids?

Wipe them and brush the microphone openings every day, ideally in the morning when wax has dried. Once a week, check and change wax filters, wipe or replace domes, and clean tubes or earmoulds. If your ears make a lot of wax, you may need to change filters more often.

Can I use baby wipes or alcohol wipes on my hearing aids?

It is best not to. Some wipes leave moisture or chemicals that can damage the casing or get into the microphones. Use a dry cloth day to day, and only use cleaning wipes that your audiologist has recommended for your hearing aids.

Why does my hearing aid sound muffled after cleaning?

The most likely cause is a wax filter that is still blocked or was not seated properly. Replace it with a new one. If the sound is still muffled, the microphone or receiver may need servicing, so book in with your audiologist.

How often should I change hearing aid domes?

Many audiologists suggest every few months, or sooner if a dome looks discoloured, has lost its shape or feels loose. A worn dome can affect sound quality, comfort and how securely it stays on the receiver.

More from Sutton Hearing Care

Hearing aid domes: types, sizes and when to change themOpen, closed, power and tulip domes explained, with sizing and when to change. Hearing aid whistling: what causes feedback and how to fix itWhy hearing aids whistle or squeal, simple fixes, and when to see an audiologist. Hearing aid apps: what they do and how to get startedWhat manufacturer hearing aid apps do, from volume and programmes to remote help. Hearing aids and glasses: how to wear both comfortablyWearing hearing aids with glasses and face masks comfortably, plus styles that help. How long do hearing aids last?Typical hearing aid lifespan, signs it is time to upgrade, and warranty and aftercare. Free hearing test in Sutton ColdfieldFree, up to 90 minutes, results explained on the day.