Hearing Aid Cleaning Tools: What Each Does

This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.

Hearing aid cleaning tools are the small accessories that come in a manufacturer’s care kit: a brush, a vent cleaning wire or wire loop, an air blower, cleaning wipes and spray, and a replacement wax filter. Each one is meant for a specific part of the device, and each manufacturer care guide also names places where a tool must not be used. This page lists what each tool is for and the limits the manufacturers state, using the Phonak behind-the-ear care guide and the Philips hearing aid cleaning instructions. It is written for clinic staff, buyers and students who need to know what a cleaning kit contains and why. Hearing aid wearers use these tools day to day; clinics and hearing care professionals supply them and the replacement parts.

What are hearing aid cleaning tools?

They are accessories for removing earwax and debris from the hearing aid body, the earmold, the vent and the tubing. Earwax is a natural secretion, and the Phonak care guide notes that too much of it can block sound or cause distortion in a hearing aid, which is why regular checking and cleaning is part of the manufacturer’s instructions. A kit does not replace the hearing care professional: both manufacturers direct users to the professional for tubing replacements and for the correct wax filter.

What does each cleaning tool do?

The table covers the tools named in the Phonak and Philips documents; kits from other manufacturers differ.

Tool	What the manufacturer says it is for	Limit stated by the manufacturer	Source
Brush	Gently brush wax or debris from the surface of the earmold or hearing aid (Phonak); brush debris out of the microphone openings (Philips)	Phonak: do not use the brush near the microphone openings. Philips directs the brush to the microphone openings on its own models, so follow the guide for the model in use.	Phonak care guide; Philips support page
Green vent cleaning wire or vent brush	Clear the vent of an earmold of wax or debris; the wire can also be threaded through a SlimTube	Thread it through the vent and wipe the tip with a cleaning wipe afterwards	Phonak care guide
Wire loop / cleaning tool	Philips: the wire loop of its MultiTool cleans the ventilation opening on BTE earmolds; the cleaning tool is pushed all the way through the thin tube of BTE thin-tube styles after the tube is pulled out of the aid	Philips instructions differ by hearing aid style	Philips support page
Air blower	Squeezed to clear moisture and debris from earmold tubing once the tubing is removed from the aid; Phonak says this can also be done for SlimTubes	Remove the tubing first by gripping below the tone hook; the blower goes into the end that was connected to the aid	Phonak care guide
Cleaning wipes	Wipe the hearing aid after use or in the weekly routine (Phonak); Philips names alcohol-free wet wipes	Philips: the hearing aid coating is sensitive to alcohol, so use wipes without alcohol on the models it describes	Phonak care guide; Philips support page
Cleaning spray	Moisten a tissue with it to clean the earmold and hearing aid body when wax is present	Never use the spray directly on the hearing aids	Phonak care guide
Wax filter	Replaced when clogged or when the hearing aid sounds unusual	Use only the filter type supplied by the hearing care professional	Philips support page

The Phonak BTE care guide kit contains one cleaning spray, 52 cleaning wipes, a cleaning brush set (one brush, two green vent cleaning wires and one vent brush) and one earmold blower. Replacement SlimTubes are not in that kit.

Which tools suit which hearing aid style?

Both manufacturers say to identify the hearing aid style first, because the instructions differ by model. By style:

BTE with an earmold (Phonak): brush for surface debris, vent cleaning wire or vent brush for the vent, air blower for the tubing.
BTE with SlimTube and dome (Phonak): clean the SlimTube and replace the dome every month; thread a green vent cleaning wire through the SlimTube. Remove the dome gently and avoid pulling or using excessive force on the SlimTube.
BTE thin-tube styles (Philips): brush the microphone openings, pull the tube from the aid and push the cleaning tool all the way through, check domes for wax and replace the wax filter when clogged.
BTE earmolds without electronics (Philips): the mold is detached, washed with water and mild soap, and dried completely before it is reconnected; the wire loop clears the vent.
RITE earmolds with electronics (Philips): the mold cannot be detached and must never be washed or immersed in water or other liquids; the vent is cleared by pressing the cleaning brush through the hole while twisting it slightly.
In-the-ear styles (Philips): surfaces are cleaned with wet wipes or a lint-free cotton cloth with mild soap solution, and the wax filter is replaced when clogged.

What cleaning schedule do manufacturers describe?

Interval	Task	Source
Daily	Check that earmold and aid are clean; if wax is present, clean with a tissue moistened with cleaning spray, then wipe with a clean absorbent cloth. Philips: clean aids and earpieces daily with a soft dry cloth.	Phonak care guide; Philips support page
Weekly	Use a cleaning wipe on the hearing aid, then wipe with a clean absorbent cloth; clear the earmold vent with the vent cleaning wire or vent brush	Phonak care guide
Monthly	Clean earmold tubing (or sooner if moisture is inside the tubing or the aid does not produce normal sound); for SlimTube with dome, clean the SlimTube and replace the dome	Phonak care guide
At least every 6 months	Replace earmold tubing; how often can depend on the individual. Signs: tubing less clear or yellow, stiff and hard to remove, increased feedback or whistling. See the hearing care professional for replacements.	Phonak care guide
When clogged	Replace the wax filter	Philips support page

Safe use and handling basics

Clean hands and a soft surface: Philips advises clean, dry hands and holding the aids over a soft surface in case they are dropped.
Avoid excess water that can enter the hearing aids, and leave them to dry for an hour after cleaning (Philips).
Do not clean the domes that cover speaker units; replace them if they are filled with wax (Philips).
Spray goes on a tissue, never on the aid (Phonak).

Common mistakes the manufacturers warn against

Spraying cleaner directly on the hearing aid (Phonak).
Using the brush near the microphone openings on a Phonak BTE (Phonak).
Washing or immersing RITE molds that contain electronics (Philips).
Using wipes containing alcohol on models with the alcohol-sensitive coating (Philips).
Pulling hard on a SlimTube while removing the dome (Phonak).
Using a different wax filter than the one supplied by the hearing care professional (Philips).

For clinics

Wax loops, brushes, blowers and drying items are on a typical supply list; see the audiology clinic supply checklist and the guide to earmold types, since the vent and tubing tools depend on the earmold. Related background: what is otolaryngology and what is speech-language pathology.

Frequently asked questions

What are the common hearing aid cleaning tools?

The tools named in the Phonak and Philips care documents are a brush, a vent cleaning wire or wire loop, an air blower, cleaning wipes, cleaning spray and replacement wax filters.