Aural toilet (ear cleaning)

Ear wax is a substance that develops within your ear to protect the lining of your ear from dirt and water. It also lubricates the lining of your ear.

Normally ear wax drains away on its own. However, using a cotton bud or other object to clear wax from your ear can push the wax into your inner ear where it can become impacted (blocked). Sometimes impacted wax causes pain or hearing loss.

Aural toileting can help clear impacted wax from the ear by using a thin metal/plastic instrument with a small hoop at one end to gently scrape out the earwax.