Because earmolds and domes routinely sit in the ear canal, they also inevitably accumulate ear wax (cerumen) and other debris. It does not take much to plug up the tiny sound bore, so routine cleaning is required to keep the sound pathway clear. Figure 1 shows a short wire loop for scooping debris out of the edge of the sound bore. If the tubing is removed from the earmold, a standard pipe cleaner can be passed through the length of the sound bore. If the tubing is present in the earmold, a softer pipe-cleaner-like tool can be passed through the tubing itself. Never attempt to clean tubing with a standard pipe-cleaner! There is wire in standard pipe cleaners that can puncture tubing.
The outside of the earmold can also collect debris. The best way to clean it is to detach the tubing from the earhook. Simply wipe the earmold with a soft cloth and warm water. It is important to detach the tubing from the hearing aid so that water does not travel through the tubing to the electronic components of the hearing aid. The hearing aid itself should only be wiped with a dry cloth. Avoid cleaning the earmold with alcohol pads. Alcohol can cause the earmold material to disintegrate. See Figure 2 for a summary.