Guidelines: Put nothing smaller than your elbow in your ear
Updated clinical guidelines published the journal Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery say cotton swabs are not appropriate for earwax removal. In fact, information for patients in the guidelines say not to put anything "smaller than your elbow in your ear."
The authors of the guidelines -- an advisory panel of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery -- have injected freshness into the usual advice, giving more explanation as to "Why not?" They included a consumer representative on the panel.