How to Clean Gauged Ears

Gauged ears, also known as stretched lobes, are a bold and expressive body modification that has become increasingly popular. But with this form of self-expression comes a responsibility: proper hygiene and aftercare. Whether you’re new to stretching or have worn plugs or tunnels for years, cleaning your gauged ears is essential for preventing odor, irritation, and infection.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down how to clean gauged ears safely and effectively, what products to use (and avoid), how often to clean, and tips for maintaining healthy stretched lobes.

Why Cleaning Gauged Ears Matters

When you stretch your ears, you create a larger surface area inside the lobe that can trap sweat, oil, dead skin cells, and product residue. Over time, this can lead to:

• An unpleasant odor that is commonly referred to as “ear cheese”
• Bacterial buildup
• Dry, cracked skin
• Infection or blowouts
• Irritated or inflamed lobes

Proper hygiene keeps your lobes looking and feeling good and protects your investment in stretching, which can take months or even years to achieve.

How Often Should You Clean Gauged Ears?

Daily cleaning is essential for maintaining healthy stretched ears. As your lobes expand, they become more prone to trapping sweat, dead skin cells, sebum, and bacteria, leading to unpleasant odors or irritation. Unlike standard piercings, stretched ears create a larger surface area and often tighter seal around jewelry, making hygiene even more important.

While daily cleaning is recommended, sometimes it is too much for some people. If your lobes get irritated from over-cleaning, you may want to switch to cleaning every other day or every three days.

A Daily Cleaning Routine for Gauged Ears

Here’s a simple yet effective daily cleaning routine for your stretched ears:

Step 1: Wash Your Hands

Before removing your ear gauges, wash your hands with soap and warm water to prevent the introduction of bacteria or dirt to your lobes.

Step 2: Remove Your Jewelry

Gently remove your plugs, tunnels, or other jewelry. This will allow you to thoroughly access the whole lobe surface and clean your jewelry.

Step 3: Clean Your Lobes

There are multiple ways you can clean your lobes. One of the easiest ways to clean your gauged ears is to wash them in the shower with warm water and mild soap. Always do a patch test with soap on your stretched ears, as they will be more sensitive than other body areas. In the shower, let the warm water run over your ears, and use your fingers or a clean washcloth to rub soap gently throughout your lobes.

When you’ve finished lathering the soap and massaging it throughout your lobes, let the warm water rinse the soap from your ears. When you’re out of the shower, thoroughly dry your ear before putting jewelry back in, as any moisture can cause bacteria to grow and the ear cheese smell to return. It’s important that you pat your ears dry instead of rubbing them, especially if your lobes are sensitive or you’ve recently stretched them.

Another way to clean your stretched ears is to soak a cotton ball in sterile saline spray and gently wash them by rubbing the soaked cotton ball on your lobes.

You don’t want to use harsh products, like alcohol-based ones or hydrogen peroxide, to clean your lobes. They dry out your skin and can irritate your stretched ears.

Step 4: Moisturize Your Lobes

Once your lobes are thoroughly dry, you should apply a light layer of moisturizing oil. Jojoba oil is a top choice because it closely mimics the skin’s natural sebum and absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue. Other good options include vitamin E, coconut, and sweet almond oil.

Massage the oil gently into your lobes for about 30 seconds per ear. Moisturizing your lobes is crucial because it promotes circulation, keeps the tissue supple, and can help prevent scar tissue from forming. Oil massages can provide instant relief and long-term flexibility if your lobes feel tight or irritated.

Step 5: Clean Your Jewelry

Never overlook your jewelry! Even if it looks clean, body oils, dead skin cells, and bacteria can collect on plugs and tunnels over time. When you remove your jewelry during your cleaning routine, take a moment to thoroughly wash it using warm water and a mild soap.

For non-porous materials (like steels, titanium, or glass), you can gently scrub using your fingertips or a soft toothbrush dedicated for this purpose.

For organic materials, like wood or stone, avoid soaking and soaps, just wipe them clean with a damp cloth and let them dry fully. You can also condition wooden plugs with a dab of jojoba oil to prevent cracking and drying out.

Be sure to fully dry your jewelry before reinserting it. Moisture trapped between your skin and jewelry can cause irritation or bacteria buildup.

Keep Your Stretched Ears Clean

Keeping your stretched ears clean is essential for maintaining healthy lobes and avoiding issues like odor, irritation, or infection. A simple routine goes a long way in supporting skin health, promoting healing, and keeping your jewelry comfortable to wear. Whether you’ve just sized up or have been stretching for years, taking a few minutes each day to care for your ears will help you enjoy your gauges safely and confidently for the long term.