Cleaning Hearing Aids: What to Do Daily (and What Damages Them)
Earwax and moisture kill more hearing aids than age alone. Here is a practical daily cleaning routine, what FDA and NIDCD say not to do, and how wax filters, domes, and drying fit by style.
Key takeaways
- Wipe every day you wear them. Soft, dry, lint-free cloth on surfaces. Manufacturer guides (Oticon, Phonak) start here.
- Do not soak the electronics. FDA care guidance: avoid solvents, alcohol, or water on hearing aids. Heat is also off-limits (sun, car, oven, hair dryer).
- Wax filters and domes are consumables. Replace on schedule or when sound drops. Phonak Audéo KB (June 11, 2026) cites about every four weeks on a regular receiver.
- Dry overnight. Moisture and earwax are leading wear factors. Use a purpose-built dryer or dehumidifier, not kitchen heat hacks.
- Style changes the steps. RIC receivers, BTE tubes, and custom ITE vents need different tools. Match the routine to your style.
People search for cleaning hearing aids when sound suddenly drops, feedback starts, or a clinic bill arrives for a failed receiver. Daily care is dull and it works. This page turns FDA and NIDCD care rules plus manufacturer cleaning guides into a routine you can actually follow, without inventing medical advice or clinic price tables.
How often and what tools: the direct answer
How do you clean hearing aids? Most days: wipe the shell and earpiece with a soft, dry cloth, brush microphone openings gently, check the wax filter and dome, then store the devices dry overnight. Weekly or as needed: deeper earpiece wipe with a brand-approved cleaning cloth, tube cleaning on BTE styles, and charge-contact cleaning on rechargeables.
Tools most clinics hand you (or sell as a kit):
- Soft dry cloth or lint-free wipe
- Soft brush / MultiTool for microphone ports and vents
- Wax-filter exchange tool matched to your filter type
- Spare domes or wax filters
- Hearing aid dryer or desiccant dehumidifier
If sound changes suddenly, assume wax or moisture before you assume you need a new pair. Clean, replace the filter, dry overnight, then call the clinic if it is still wrong.
What FDA and NIDCD say about care
Two U.S. primary pages set the floor for consumer care language:
- FDA (How to Get Hearing Aids, content current as of November 18, 2022): maintain proper care; avoid solvents, alcohol, or water on hearing aids; avoid heat (sun, car, microwave or conventional oven, hair dryer); clean as instructed because earwax and ear drainage can damage devices; avoid hairspray and other hair products while wearing aids; turn aids off when not in use; replace dead batteries; keep batteries and aids away from children and pets; inspect regularly.
- NIDCD (Hearing Aids, last updated October 11, 2022): keep aids away from heat and moisture; clean as instructed; avoid hairspray while wearing; turn off when not in use; replace dead batteries immediately; keep replacement batteries and small aids away from children and pets.
Neither agency publishes a brand-by-brand scrubbing checklist. That detail lives in manufacturer instructions for use. FDA also tells OTC buyers to read the IFU carefully and ask a professional or the manufacturer when care steps are unclear.
A practical daily cleaning routine
- Wash and dry your hands before you touch the devices.
- Hold aids over a soft surface so a drop is less likely to crack a shell (Oticon care guidance).
- Wipe all surfaces with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. Phonak Audéo care pages say never use household detergents or soap on the aid itself, and do not rinse with water.
- Inspect the earpiece for wax and moisture. Remove visible wax from domes or molds with the cloth or the soft tool your clinician showed you.
- Brush microphone openings lightly. Do not jab the brush into the ports. Oticon warns that forcing MultiTool parts into microphone openings can damage the aid.
- Check wax filters and domes. Replace if clogged, discolored, or if volume/sound quality dropped.
- Store dry overnight in an open case, drying kit, or dehumidifier. For disposable-battery Phonak Audéo models, Phonak recommends leaving the battery door open so moisture can evaporate.
Wax filters, domes, and tubes by style
Style changes where wax collects. Our types of hearing aids guide covers BTE, RIC, ITE, ITC, CIC, and IIC trade-offs. Cleaning maps to those shapes:
| Style | What clogs first | Typical user step |
|---|---|---|
| RIC / RITE | Receiver wax filter and dome | Daily wipe; replace wax filter and dome on schedule; never soak the receiver |
| BTE with thin tube | Tube and dome | Pull tube and push cleaning wire through; replace yellowed/stiff tubes via clinician |
| BTE with custom earmold | Mold bore and tube | Wipe daily; some molds can be washed with mild soap after disconnect, then dried fully |
| ITE / ITC / CIC / IIC | Wax filter, mic inlet, vent | Dry wipe; brush vents carefully; replace filters monthly or when clogged |
Wax filter cadence (manufacturer examples)
- Oticon: replace wax filters at least once a month, or when clogged, or if the aid sounds unusual. Use the same filter type originally supplied.
- Phonak Audéo (product-support KB dated June 11, 2026): replace earwax protection about every four weeks on a regular receiver, or about every two weeks on an ActiveVent receiver, and sooner if dirty or sound quality falls. Use only the exchange tool your hearing care professional recommends.
Those are manufacturer schedules, not a medical protocol. Heavy wax producers often need shorter intervals. Ask your fitter for a personal cadence.
Drying and moisture (without confusing waterproof claims)
NIDCD tells users to keep hearing aids away from heat and moisture. That pairs with our deeper waterproof / IP ratings guide: IP68 describes a lab enclosure test, not permission to skip drying after sweat or rain.
- Wipe after workouts, humid days, and rain.
- Use a purpose-built drying kit or dehumidifier overnight.
- For rechargeables, Phonak care pages say keep aids and charger dry and clean before charging, and disconnect the charger from mains before cleaning the charger.
- Do not use a hair dryer, oven, microwave, or rice bag as a drying hack. FDA lists hair dryers and ovens among heat sources that can damage aids.
Good cleaning and drying habits are also how users stretch the typical 5 to 7 year service life discussed in how long hearing aids last.
What not to use
| Tempting shortcut | Why it fails | Safer swap |
|---|---|---|
| Rinsing the whole aid under the faucet | FDA: water can damage internal electronics | Dry cloth; only wash detachable non-electronic molds if your guide allows |
| Alcohol, acetone, household cleaner | FDA: avoid solvents and alcohol on aids | Brand-approved wipe or dry cloth |
| Hair dryer / oven / microwave / car dashboard | FDA: heat damages aids | Room-temp drying kit |
| Hairspray while wearing aids | FDA and NIDCD both warn about hair products | Remove aids before spray |
| Jamming tools into mic ports | Can damage mics (Oticon MultiTool warning) | Light brush on the surface of openings |
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When to see a clinician instead of DIY
- Sound is still weak after a new wax filter and a dry overnight cycle.
- Persistent feedback/whistling after cleaning (NIDCD lists fit problems, device faults, and wax/fluid clogging as causes).
- Visible cracks, swollen receivers, or corrosion on contacts.
- Ear pain, drainage, sudden hearing change, or one-sided symptoms. Those are medical issues, not a cleaning project.
- You are unsure whether your earmold is washable. Custom molds with electronics inside must stay dry.
Where this fits in a purchase (soft product context)
Cleaning skill is not a separate product category. When you browse the hearing aid catalog, ask each clinic which wax-filter system, drying kit, and follow-up cleaning visits come with the quote. Style choice affects how often you will touch filters: RIC receivers sit in the canal and see more wax; custom canal devices sit in a wax-heavy environment too. Pair care questions with the decision order in how to choose hearing aids. We do not publish per-model clinic prices or star ratings here.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I clean my hearing aids? +
Most manufacturer care guides recommend a soft, dry wipe every day you wear them, plus a closer look at earpieces, microphone openings, and wax protection. Oticon and Phonak both describe daily surface cleaning with a soft or lint-free cloth. Replace wax filters and domes on the schedule your clinician or brand guide gives, often about monthly for many filters, sooner if sound drops or the filter looks clogged.
Can I clean hearing aids with water or alcohol? +
Do not wash or soak the electronic device. The FDA tells users to avoid solvents, alcohol, or water on hearing aids because liquids can damage internal electronics. Some detachable BTE earmolds (with no electronics inside the mold) can be washed with mild soap after you disconnect them, then fully dried before reconnecting. Follow your model guide.
How often should I change the wax filter? +
It depends on the brand, receiver type, and how much wax you produce. Phonak product-support guidance for Audéo (dated June 11, 2026) says replace the earwax protector about every four weeks on a regular receiver, or about every two weeks on an ActiveVent receiver, and sooner if it looks dirty or sound quality drops. Oticon similarly says at least once a month or when clogged. Use the filter type and tool your fitter supplies.
Do I need a hearing aid dryer or dehumidifier? +
A nightly drying kit or dehumidifier is one of the most useful habits for longevity, especially after sweat, rain, or humid weather. NIDCD tells users to keep aids away from heat and moisture. A purpose-built dryer is not the same as a hair dryer, oven, microwave, or rice bag. Those heat and household hacks can damage devices.
Why does my hearing aid sound weak or whistling? +
Clogged wax guards, dirty microphone ports, and poor fit are common causes. NIDCD notes that feedback (whistling) can come from a poor fit, a device that is not working well, or clogging by earwax or fluid. Clean and replace filters first. If the problem continues, see your hearing care professional for an adjustment rather than guessing at gain settings.
Are cleaning rules different for rechargeable vs battery aids? +
The soft dry wipe is the same. Rechargeable models add charge-contact cleaning and a rule to charge only when the aid and charger are dry. Disposable-battery models often store better with the battery door open so moisture can evaporate (Phonak non-rechargeable Audéo guidance). See our rechargeable vs battery guide for power trade-offs.
Can OTC hearing aids be cleaned the same way? +
The FDA still says to clean as instructed and to avoid solvents, alcohol, water, and heat on the electronics. OTC devices are hearing aids under FDA rules for adults with perceived mild to moderate loss, but the exact brush, filter, and dome steps live in that product's instructions for use. Read the IFU before you invent a routine.
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Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, How to Get Hearing Aids (section: How do I care for my hearing aids?; content current as of November 18, 2022). Accessed September 28, 2026.
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), Hearing Aids (section: How can I care for my hearing aid?; last updated October 11, 2022). Accessed September 28, 2026.
- Oticon, How to clean your hearing aids (style-specific manufacturer care). Accessed September 28, 2026.
- Phonak, How to clean non-rechargeable Phonak Audéo hearing aids. Accessed September 28, 2026.
- Phonak, How to clean rechargeable Phonak Audéo hearing aids. Accessed September 28, 2026.
- Phonak product support, How often should I change the wax filter on Phonak Audéo hearing aids? (KB dated June 11, 2026). Accessed September 28, 2026.