How to Properly Clean Your Ear Piercings

If only getting your ears pierced was as easy as shoving a needle through your skin and leaving it alone.

Unfortunately, that just isn't the case. Taking care of your piercings requires constant attention, however inconvenient that may be.

If you want to make sure your ears stay nice and healthy, keep scrolling for our tips on how to properly clean your ear piercings.

Always Clean Your Hands

Clean ears start with clean hands. When you're constantly taking your earrings on and off, it's easy to brush off the importance of washing your hands. Don't do it. When you touch your ears with dirty hands, you can easily spread dirt and germs to the sensitive hole in your ear, especially when your piercings are new. Take an extra second to clean your hands before you mess with your earring—your ears will thank you.

Also read about: A Definitive Ranking of Ear Piercings, From Least to Most Painful

 

Wash Your Ears With Soap and Water

Taking care of your earrings should be a conscious thought, but it doesn't have to be difficult. At the very least, you should be washing your ears with soap and water at least once a day. Just like you have to clean the rest of your body, your ears deserve a little scrub, too. They might not be your first thought, but you should definitely add some conscious ear scrubbing to your daily shower routine.

(via Unsplash)

 

Try Rubbing Alcohol

Although soap and water are a good start for keeping your ears clean, sometimes you might need something a little stronger. If you have sensitive ears, you can try rubbing alcohol to keep the skin around your ears from becoming inflamed and irritated. As a disinfectant, rubbing alcohol should get rid of all those extra germs that can make your earrings uncomfortable. Just dip a cotton ball or swab in some rubbing alcohol and brush it over your pierced ears. Try it at least once a week, or however often you deem necessary.

 

Also read about: Everything You Should Know About Ear Piercings 

 

Clean the Posts

While it's all well and good to keep your ears clean, you also have to disinfect the earrings themselves from time to time. When you take the earrings out for the evening, be sure to run some rubbing alcohol over the posts. That will kill all the excess germs and ensure that they're ready to wear without hurting your ears when you put them back in the next morning.

 

Also read about: These Celebs Have THE Cutest Ear Piercings

 

Try a Saltwater Soak

If you have extra-sensitive ears, soaking your piercings in salt water is an excellent way to get rid of germs without applying harsh chemicals to your skin. Fill a small cup with a saltwater mixture and gently dip your ear lobe in. Allow it to soak for a minute or two, and then move to the other side. It kills all those nasty germs, but it won't be too severe on your delicate skin.

 

Ready to take your latest piercing to the 'gram? Click HERE for nine captions you can use to show off your piercings.