'There are significant risks:' Experts warn against viral TikTok ear-cleaning trend

As millions look for TikTok ear-cleaning advice, audiologists tell Lisa Salmon that ears clean themselves and DIY methods can damage your hearing

“As a rule of thumb, don’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.” 

Although our ears are designed to be self-cleaning, ear-cleaning advice is currently going viral on TikTok, with videos generating millions of views on how to remove earwax yourself, using tiny tools, olive oil and even harsh chemicals.

Ear cleaning has 378.5m TikTok views, while earwax removal has 128.8m, and a Bluetooth ear-cleaning camera tool has amassed over 1.1million views.