The aim of this ear wax vacuum review is to give information about all aspects of ear wax removal using a vacuum technique, including the ease of use, cost, safety, effectiveness, as well as the pros and cons in general, compared to other methods for ear wax removal.
The ears are one of the trickier body parts to maintain healthy and clean because there is so much conflicting advice on how to keep them clean. Under ideal circumstances, the ear canals are self-cleaning. However, sometimes too much earwax accumulates, which may cause some of the following symptoms: earache, partial hearing loss, noises in the ear, itching, odor, or coughing. Some say ear wax is the body’s way of protecting the ear from dust, dirt and other debris, so you should leave it alone. Others recommend ear wax removal systems that break up the wax and flush it out.
One of the popular methods for ear wax removal is using a vacuum device at home or going to the doctor’s where a specialist uses a suction device, special miniature instruments, and a microscope. There are several vacuum devices on the market, such as the EarVac or WaxVac and several others, that purportedly suction out earwax. Shaped like a small hair dryer, one simply needs to hold it up to the ear canal in order to suction out the earwax.
This cordless and compact ear cleaning device uses a gentle suction motion to remove wax in ears and moisture safely. It is a lightweight gadget with hygienic replaceable silicone tips for multiple people use, and a bright light. It is suitable for most people, including child and aged.
Apparently, this tiny vacuum cleaner designed to suck earwax directly out of your head sounds like the perfect solution. What could possibly go wrong with that? But does it really work as it is shown on the commercials?
Ease of Use
The directions for use are pretty straightforward: just insert batteries, pop on a silicone tip, turn it on and you’re ready to go. You’d want to use this every day. That would keep water, dirt and debris from accumulating in your ears. It seems that it would be just as fast if not faster than using a cotton swab, so it would save you a bit of time, but it would also be more effective, so it would really be lowering your level of commitment to ear health and hygiene.
Safety
The makers of these vacuum devices claim that they are a safer way to rid your ears of water and dirt than using a cotton swab. They repeatedly point out that you should not put a Q-tip in your ear canal, as it can puncture your ear drum and cause severe damage. Soft silicone tips, on the other hand, prevent tip from entering too far and protect ear when compared to ear swabs.
However, one of the criticisms is that it wouldn’t be safe for you to create a vacuum in your ear, as this could be just as damaging to your ear drum as puncturing. These devices are using the same concept of suction, and although they say it’s gentle, it is still possible that you suck up more than just water if you don’t use it properly.
Affordability
Prices of some devices sold online vary from above $7 to around $20 or above, depending on shipping costs as well. The $10 price can actually turn out to be more than $20 when shipping and handling for each device is included, which you will probably notice after you’ve been charged, since it is usually written with small letters somewhere at the bottom of the page.
Moreover, if you seek professional help from a specialist it may cost you somewhat more than that. Many clinics offer earwax removal for up to $100 or more if you are not covered by insurance.
Effectiveness
The problem with these vacuum devices is that even when the ear canal is being vacuumed by a professional under the microscope, it only works with some types of ear wax and doesn’t work at all for other earwax types.
Moreover, customers claim that the suction produced by these devices is incredibly weak to the point of being negligible, which results in only a little or none ear wax being removed.
Pros & Cons
Here are some arguments for and against the use of a vacuum device for suctioning your ear wax:
Pros:
- Safer than Q-tips. Silicone tips protect ear, whereas Q-tips can potentially rupture the ear drum.
- Takes earwax directly out of the ear canal. This professional ear vacuum will help clean your ears without pushing in and compacting ear wax as Q-tips do.
- Takes less time than Q-tips.
Cons:
- You have to clean it after use. Instead of just throwing the Q-tip away and go on with your life, you will have to field-strip the suction device and sterilize it.
- The vacuum device is not at all that loud unless you hold it right up to your ear, but that is in fact the entire reason for it to exist. Customers claim that it’s not that much worse than just using a hair dryer.
- Doesn’t work with all ear wax types.
- There is also the danger of creating high negative pressures when the device is sealed up against the ear canal entrance which could lead to eardrum perforation as well as permanent hearing loss (similarly to kissing ear syndrome).
- According to some other online reviews, the suction produced by these devices is incredibly weak to the point of being negligible.
Final Ear Wax Vacuum Review
Overall, using suction on your ear canal seems to be just as risky as sticking a cotton swab too far. In addition to this there have been cases where they overcharge during the ordering process.
You will need to decide which approach you want to take to cleaning your ears, but so far suction doesn’t seem like a winner. Although it appears as if it should work, and is claimed to be a safe and effective way to clean your ears, it is almost impossible to find anyone that says they had a good experience with it.
However, should you decide to purchase it, you are strongly advised to do your homework before buying this unproven device. Even if it did work, beware of companies making their money by scamming people with shipping charges.
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