Care

Cleaning and caring for custom earplugs

Fons van den Oord5 September 2025Updated 23 October 20264 min read

You clean custom earplugs after every use, in four short steps. You wipe them with a soft, slightly damp cloth, gently brush earwax away from the filter opening, let them air dry and put them away in the case. Do not use alcohol, solvents, heat or sharp objects, because they can damage the material and the filters.

When your custom earplugs need replacing, you have new impressions taken at a partner hearing centre. The ear impressions are included in the price and you pay at the hearing centre.

How to clean custom earplugs in 4 steps

Look at them after you take them out. Check for earwax or dirt on the part that goes into your ear canal and around the filter opening. Also look for small cracks or other damage straight away.
Wipe them with a soft, slightly damp cloth. A clean, lint-free cloth with a little lukewarm water is enough. Do not rinse them under the tap and do not submerge them, so that no water gets into the filter.
Brush earwax away from the filter opening. Use a soft brush and brush away from the opening, so you do not push the dirt inside. Never poke a needle, paperclip or toothpick into the filter.
Let them dry and put them away. Leave them on a clean surface for a while to air dry, then put them in the storage case that comes with your custom earplugs. Do not use a radiator or hairdryer to speed up drying.

In the manual for its custom earplugs with filters, manufacturer Starkey describes the same basics, which are a soft, damp cloth or a small cleaning brush for the dirt. Hans Anders, a Dutch chain of opticians and hearing centres, also recommends a damp cloth for the ear moulds of hearing aids.

What not to use

Some products seem handy but do more harm than good.

Alcohol and alcohol wipes. Starkey writes that you should not clean the filters with alcohol or harsh chemicals, because they can damage the filters.
Solvents and ordinary cleaning products. Think of acetone, white spirit or all-purpose cleaner. Starkey says you should never use solvents. Hans Anders advises against alcohol, solvents and ordinary cleaning products for ear moulds.
Heat. So no boiling water, dishwasher, radiator or hairdryer, and do not leave them in the sun or in a hot car. According to Starkey, heat, moisture and dirt can affect how hearing protectors work.
Tap water. A damp cloth is enough. Rinsing or submerging them gets water into the filter.
Sharp objects. According to Starkey, sharp objects can damage the filters and the filter housing.

This is only about cleaning. Other habits that cost you protection, such as inserting your earplug at an angle, mixing up left and right or lending it to someone, are covered in common mistakes when using custom earplugs.

How often should you clean custom earplugs?

When	What you do
After every use	The four steps above, so wipe, brush away earwax, let them dry and put them away.
Once a week	Look at the filter opening and the canal part in good light. If there is dirt that will not come off or you see a small crack, have them checked.
Once a year	Have the fit tested, preferably with a fit check. The guideline on occupational hearing loss from the NVAB, the Netherlands Society of Occupational Medicine, mentions an annual check of issued hearing protectors by the supplier.

Keeping the filter clean

The filter determines how much sound gets through your custom earplug. If the opening is blocked with earwax, the filter no longer works as intended. So give the opening a quick brush after every use.

Can you not get the dirt out with a soft brush, or is the filter damaged? Then do not keep picking at it, but replace the filter. The filters are interchangeable, so you can keep using the earplug itself. You order a new filter as an extra filter set with two filters. Read more about the filters on our filter page.

Storing them and taking them with you

Your custom earplugs come with a storage case, a cord and a clip. Keep them dry in the case and not loose in a coat pocket or bag, where dust and fluff get on them and they can be damaged.

Cleaning acrylic and silicone

The routine is the same for both materials. Hard acrylic is smooth, so earwax comes off easily. Silicone is soft. Rub it clean gently and check that the edge is still intact. Read more about the other differences between the materials in acrylic or silicone custom earplugs, which suits you?

When should you have them checked?

If you see small cracks, your custom earplug sits looser than before or you get pressure spots, have it checked. Even well-maintained custom earplugs do not last forever. When it is time for a new impression is explained in how long do custom earplugs last? If you have pain or an infection in your ear, stop wearing them and contact your GP (huisarts).

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean my custom earplugs?

After every use. Wiping them with a damp cloth and brushing away earwax is enough. Also look at them carefully once a week and have them checked once a year.

Can I rinse my custom earplugs under the tap?

Better not, because then water gets into the filter. A soft, slightly damp cloth is enough.

Can I use alcohol wipes?

No. Alcohol can damage the filters. Use a cloth with just water.

What do I do if the filter is blocked?

Gently brush the opening clean with a soft brush. If that does not work, do not poke into the filter but replace it. You order a new filter as an extra filter set with two filters.