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Troubleshooting guide: My hearing aids get so dirty!
Daily maintenance is a must when you wear hearing aids. Get expert tips on how to keep your devices clean.
Hearing aids are an investment. Not only because you spent money on them. But also because using them helps you stay connected — to your friends, family and the wider world. That’s good for your brain, your health and your social life.
That’s why it’s so important to take care of them. They can get dirty fast. Everything from earwax and oils to sweat and dirt can build up in these devices. That can affect the way they work and damage them over time.1
Luckily, a cleaning and care routine takes only a few minutes a day. Your hearing care professional will probably show you how to clean your new devices at the fitting, says Joe W. Griffith, III, Au.D. He’s an audiologist and the owner of Accessible Hearing Aids in Metairie, Louisiana.
Here are the general steps Griffith recommends to his patients.
Get ready to clean
Remove your hearing aids from your ears. Many people find it easiest to clean their devices at the end of the day, as part of their bedtime routine.
Brush away dirt
Brush off any earwax or dirt that you see on the outside of your device. That includes the microphone, receiver and plastic shell.
Hearing aid companies usually include a tiny cleaning brush when you buy their devices (or you can order one online). Use that to brush away the debris. You can also use an old toothbrush, Griffith says.
Grab a dry cloth
Wipe all those parts down with a dry microfiber cloth. You can also use a dry paper towel. (Caution: Never use a wet cloth, soap or rubbing alcohol to clean your devices. That can damage them.)
Simple, right? The important part is that you do this every day, says Griffith.
“It clears out debris and oils from around the microphone covers, where the sound is picked up by the hearing device,” he explains. It also keeps the sound port (where the sound is coming out) clear.
Other tips for protecting your devices
There are a few ways to protect your hearing aids from dirt, debris and wax buildup, says Griffith.
Avoid excess moisture. That can be from water or sweat. So don’t wear your hearing aids while you’re in the shower or swimming.2 Do you sweat a lot when you exercise? “There are covers and sleeves your hearing care professional can put on the hearing aids that give an extra layer of protection,” Griffith says.
Take care when using hairspray. Don’t spray if you have your hearing aids on. Spritz your hair first and let it dry. Then put in your devices. “Hairspray can build up a layer on the outside of the hearing aid,” Griffith says. “Sometimes it can also get into the microphone and keep it from vibrating properly.”
Check the wax guards every month or so. A wax guard, also called a wax filter or trap, is a tiny mesh cap that fits under the receiver’s dome. Wax guards get dirty and need to be changed periodically. A clogged wax filter can affect your device’s sound.
Get your hearing aids professionally cleaned every 6 to 12 months. That’s when your audiologist or hearing aid dispenser will take apart your devices and make sure the microphone covers and wax filters are clear. “I can also tell if a patient may be having trouble keeping them clean,” says Griffith. If that’s the case, he’ll go over the home cleaning routine again.
If you have questions or need a refresher before the checkup, just call your hearing care professional. They’ll be happy to answer any questions.
Through EPIC Hearing Healthcare, you get up to 3 follow-up visits at no extra cost and a trial period to try out your new prescription hearing aids. Learn more.
Sources
- How to clean hearing aids National Council on Aging. Accessed November 4, 2025.
- Troubleshooting hearing aids Johns Hopkins Medicine. Accessed November 4, 2025.
Published Dec 29, 2025
Information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice of a licensed medical provider. Consult your provider prior to making changes to your lifestyle or health care routine.
