3 Ways To Clean Your Ear Piercing - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow A Guide to the Best Ear Piercing Cleaning Solutions (& How To Use Them) PDF download Download Article Piercing expert Priscilla Torres offers expert-approved care tips for any type of ear piercing Co-authored by Priscilla Torres and Amber Crain

Last Updated: November 21, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Caring for an Infected Piercing
    • |
  • Cleaning New Piercings
    • |
  • Maintaining Healthy Ear Piercings
    • |
  • Video
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  • Expert Q&A
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  • Tips
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  • Warnings
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This article was co-authored by Priscilla Torres and by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain. Priscilla Torres is a body piercing expert based in McAllen, Texas. Priscilla has been working as a professional body piercer since 2009, and is the owner of The Piercing Bar, the only all-piercing studio in McAllen. She specializes in both baby and child ear piercing, adult body piercing, and ear styling & design. After a few years of teaching high school biology and anatomy while working part-time as a piercer, Priscilla decided to leave teaching to become a full-time body piercer. Before opening The Piercing Bar, she worked as a piercer at two different tattoo studios. She has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Biology from the University of Texas-Pan American. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 873,698 times.

Your newly pierced ears look absolutely fabulous! To make sure they stay that way, it's important to clean the piercings properly—but what's the process? We've got you! In this article, we'll explain how to clean your piercings during the healing phase, deal with an infection if you happen to get one, and share our best tips for keeping piercings healthy once they're all healed up. Keep on scrolling to learn everything you need to know about ear piercing care!

Best Ways to Clean Ear Piercings

Piercing expert Priscilla Torres recommends cleaning your piercing with saline solution twice a day. Always wash your hands before handling your piercing to prevent an infection. If you get an infection, remove the earring, wipe the post with alcohol, then coat it with antibacterial ointment before reinserting.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Caring for an Infected Piercing

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  1. Step 1 Remove the earrings and clean your skin with saline solution. 1 Remove the earrings and clean your skin with saline solution. Before treating your infected piercing, wash your hands with antibacterial soap. Then, saturate a cotton ball with the saline solution and gently wipe down both sides of your pierced skin to disinfect the area and soften any crusted skin.[1]
    • Symptoms of an infected piercing include discharge coming out of the piercing, fever, redness, warmth or swelling around the piercing, and pain.
    • Handling an infected piercing with dirty hands could cause more complications, so be sure to scrub up!
  2. Step 2 Wipe the earring... 2 Wipe the earring posts with rubbing alcohol 3 times a day. Germs and bacteria collect on the earrings posts, which fuels the infection. To kill the germs, remove your earrings and wipe the posts thoroughly with rubbing alcohol. Do this 3 times a day until your infection clears.[2] Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Cover the posts... 3 Cover the posts with antibiotic ointment before reinserting them. Use a new cotton swab to apply ointment to the post of the earrings. You only need a small amount of OTC antibacterial ointment for this. Be sure to do this each time you sterilize the posts with alcohol.[3]
    • Applying alcohol and ointment before reinserting the earrings ensures the medication gets inside your earring holes.
    • Gently rotate the earrings a few times once you've put them back in.
  4. Step 4 Apply a warm... 4 Apply a warm compress to ease the pain and swelling. To make a warm compress, soak a clean washcloth in warm water. Gently press the cloth over the piercing for 3-4 minutes. You can do this several times throughout the day if you need to.[4]
    • Taking NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) also help with pain relief and swelling. Be sure to read and follow all instructions on the medicine label.[5]
  5. Step 5 See a doctor if your symptoms last longer than 5-7 days. 5 See a doctor if your symptoms last longer than 5-7 days. Most infections can be resolved at home with cleaning and OTC ointment. If the infection doesn't clear up after a week, check with your doctor. You may need to get a prescription for oral antibiotics to knock out the infection.[6]
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning New Piercings

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  1. Step 1 Wash your hands... 1 Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap. Before handling your new piercing, scrub your hands with warm water and soap to remove germs and dirt. If you transfer germs to your piercing, you could get an infection.[7]
    • When you're away from home, carry a bottle of hand sanitizer in your bag. That way, if you can't wash your hands, you can at least sterilize your fingers before touching your piercing.
    • Try to avoid touching your piercings between cleanings.
  2. Step 2 Dip a cotton ball or swab in saline cleaning solution. 2 Dip a cotton ball or swab in saline cleaning solution. Many piercing professionals will provide you with an ear piercing cleaning solution after you get your piercing (which is typically a saline solution). If you need to make your own saline solution at home, mix 1/4 teaspoon (3 g) of sea salt or table salt into a 1 cup (237 ml) of warm water.[8]
    • Avoid using rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean your new piercing since they can slow down the healing process.
  3. Step 3 Swab around the pierced area with the cotton ball or swab. 3 Swab around the pierced area with the cotton ball or swab. Gently sweep the solution over both sides of each ear at the site of the piercing so it's saturated with saline solution. The saline cleans the area and softens any loose or crusted skin around the piercing.
    • If you don't have saline, wash the pierced area with mild, fragrance-free soap and warm water instead.[9]
    • You don't need to use antibiotic ointment on a new piercing unless it's irritated or infected. For daily cleaning, saline solution is all you need.
    • Remember not to pick at any crusted skin since that could cause an infection. Soften it with the saline solution and gently wipe it away.[10]
  4. Step 4 Rotate the earring posts a few times while the area is still wet. 4 Rotate the earring posts a few times while the area is still wet. Gently grasp the post between your fingers and turn it clockwise, then counterclockwise. Rotating the posts helps to keep the skin from getting attached or stuck to your piercing.[11]
  5. Step 5 Clean your piercing with the saline solution twice a day. 5 Clean your piercing with the saline solution twice a day. Making it part of your morning and bedtime routine is a good way to get into the habit of daily cleaning. It just takes a few minutes and can save you from getting a painful infection.[12]
    • To speed up healing time, apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly around the opening of each piercing. Petroleum jelly keeps the piercings moist (and moist wounds heal faster).[13]
  6. Step 6 Keep your earrings in your ears until they heal. 6 Keep your earrings in your ears until they heal. Removing new earrings too soon can cause the earring holes to close up. Most ear piercings are fully healed after 6-8 weeks; after that, it's fine to take the jewelry out whenever you'd like.[14]
    • Just don't leave them out too long! Even if the piercings are healed, they can still close up if your body heals super fast.
    • Some ear piercings can take longer to heal. For instance, a cartilage piercing could take 4 months to a year to fully heal.
    • Avoid swimming until your piercings are fully healed.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining Healthy Ear Piercings

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  1. Step 1 Take your earrings out every night once they've healed. 1 Take your earrings out every night once they've healed. Taking earrings out while you sleep will prevent your earrings from snagging during your sleep. It also allows air to circulate around the skin, which helps to keep your pierced ears healthy.[15]
  2. Step 2 Clean your earrings with rubbing alcohol when you remove them. 2 Clean your earrings with rubbing alcohol when you remove them. Dip a cotton swab in alcohol. Rub it over the posts when your earrings are out for the night. Doing this regularly will help keep the earring free of germs that can cause infection.[16]
  3. Step 3 Clean your lobes with alcohol or saline solution regularly. 3 Clean your lobes with alcohol or saline solution regularly. Treating healed ear piercings on a weekly or monthly basis reduces the chances of future infections. If your piercings ever begin to feel tender, disinfect the posts with alcohol and apply OTC antibacterial ointment before reinserting them.[17]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question How long does it take for a new ear piercing to heal? Roger Rodriguez Roger Rodriguez Piercing Specialist Roger Rodriguez, also known as Roger Rabb!t, is the Owner of Ancient Adornments Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the Los Angeles, California area. With over 25 years of piercing experience, Roger has become the co-owner of several piercing studios such as ENVY Body Piercing and Rebel Rebel Ear Piercing and teaches the craft of body piercing at Ancient Adornments. He is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). Roger Rodriguez Roger Rodriguez Piercing Specialist Expert Answer Ear piercings heal very quickly. On average, it takes about six to eight weeks for an ear lobe piercing to heal. Piercings on the cartilage, including your upper ear and your nose, can take anywhere from three to six months. For these piercings, it depends on the amount of work that you're doing to keep them clean and how many piercings you're getting. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 11
  • Question How can I encourage my piercing to heal? Roger Rodriguez Roger Rodriguez Piercing Specialist Roger Rodriguez, also known as Roger Rabb!t, is the Owner of Ancient Adornments Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the Los Angeles, California area. With over 25 years of piercing experience, Roger has become the co-owner of several piercing studios such as ENVY Body Piercing and Rebel Rebel Ear Piercing and teaches the craft of body piercing at Ancient Adornments. He is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). Roger Rodriguez Roger Rodriguez Piercing Specialist Expert Answer The most important thing, no matter what piercing you want, is the quality of the jewelry you get. Make sure you are aware of the materials you are using, which can include antegrade steel and antigrade titanium. Be sure to get your piercing done at a reputable studio. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 10
  • Question How do you clean your piercing if you took out your earrings? wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer Clean around the pierced area with a cotton ball soaked in saline solution. Then, wipe down the earring posts with rubbing alcohol before reinserting them. If your piercing holes are irritated or painful, coat the sterilized posts with antibacterial ointment before putting the earrings back in. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
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Tips

  • Wear earrings made with hypoallergenic materials, like 14-carat gold, titanium, and medical-grade steel, to help prevent allergic reactions.[18] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Don't use a piercing gun at home. Go to a proper piercing shop where they use needles. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 0
  • Stay away from earrings that dangle below your ear for a while, until your piercing can take the weight. Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 1
Show More Tips Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Don't take the earrings out too early, or the holes may close up. Thanks Helpful 143 Not Helpful 18
  • Talk to your doctor before using antibiotic ointments. Using them too frequently can lead to an allergy.[19] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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References

  1. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21503-infected-ear-piercing
  2. ↑ https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/ear-piercing-symptoms/
  3. ↑ https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/ear-piercing-symptoms/
  4. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21503-infected-ear-piercing
  5. ↑ https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=abk1292#abs7664
  6. ↑ https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=abk1292#abs7664
  7. ↑ https://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/health-and-beauty/general-skin-care/caring-for-pierced-ears
  8. ↑ https://uhs.berkeley.edu/health-topics/body-piercings
  9. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-pierced-ears
More References (10)
  1. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/infected-piercings/
  2. ↑ https://uhs.berkeley.edu/health-topics/body-piercings
  3. ↑ https://uhs.berkeley.edu/health-topics/body-piercings
  4. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-pierced-ears
  5. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/piercings/art-20047317
  6. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21503-infected-ear-piercing#prevention
  7. ↑ https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/ear-piercing-symptoms/
  8. ↑ https://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/OTO/EarPiercing.pdf
  9. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-to-expect-when-getting-your-ears-pierced/
  10. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-to-expect-when-getting-your-ears-pierced/

About This Article

Priscilla Torres Co-authored by: Priscilla Torres Piercing Expert This article was co-authored by Priscilla Torres and by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain. Priscilla Torres is a body piercing expert based in McAllen, Texas. Priscilla has been working as a professional body piercer since 2009, and is the owner of The Piercing Bar, the only all-piercing studio in McAllen. She specializes in both baby and child ear piercing, adult body piercing, and ear styling & design. After a few years of teaching high school biology and anatomy while working part-time as a piercer, Priscilla decided to leave teaching to become a full-time body piercer. Before opening The Piercing Bar, she worked as a piercer at two different tattoo studios. She has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Biology from the University of Texas-Pan American. This article has been viewed 873,698 times. 19 votes - 70% Co-authors: 53 Updated: November 21, 2025 Views: 873,698 Categories: Featured Articles | Cleaning Tattoos and Piercings | Ear Piercing Article SummaryX

To clean a new ear piercing, start by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water. This will prevent you from accidentally introducing dirt or germs into the piercing. Next, dip a cotton swab into a gentle saline cleaning solution. Most piercing experts don’t recommend using harsh disinfectants, like alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, since they can irritate the piercing and slow down healing. Gently clean the area around the piercing on the front of your ear with the cotton swab. Soak a new swab in the solution and clean the back of your ear as well. While you’re at it, gently turn the jewelry in the piercing about half a turn to keep it from sticking to your healing skin. Finish up by dabbing a small amount of antibiotic ointment on the front and back of the piercing with a fresh cotton swab. Give the jewelry half a turn to help work the ointment into the hole. Aim to clean your piercing at least once or twice a day, and don’t switch out your jewelry until the piercing is completely healed. In your earlobe, this should take about 6 weeks. If it’s in the cartilage, it may take a few months. Once the piercing is healed, take the jewelry out every night before you go to bed. Clean the jewelry with rubbing alcohol before putting it back in. Continue to wash your piercing with saline solution and treat it with antibiotic ointment at least once a month to prevent infections and keep the area healthy. If you see signs of an infection, such as redness, pain, bleeding, or discharge from the piercing, call your doctor for advice. To learn how to maintain healthy ear piercings, scroll down! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Char T.

    Char T.

    Mar 11, 2025

    "I recently got a second ear piercing, and I was curious about what to do in case I get an infection. Using..." more
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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Priscilla Torres Co-authored by: Priscilla Torres Piercing Expert 19 votes - 70% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 53 Updated: November 21, 2025 Views: 873,698 Char T.

Char T.

Mar 11, 2025

"I recently got a second ear piercing, and I was curious about what to do in case I get an infection. Using..." more Kathy Lopez

Kathy Lopez

Jul 24, 2017

"I recently pierced my ears myself and it's in my cartilage on my ear, it's kinda sore and a little red..." more Dana Ramirez

Dana Ramirez

Jan 5, 2017

"This has helped tremendously! My cartilage piercing hurts and I'm not as worried as I was before I read..." more Quintin Germishuizen

Quintin Germishuizen

Sep 19, 2016

"The thing that helped me the most was how to keep you piercings clean and healthy." Rinkumani Devi

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Mar 30, 2017

"It's very helpful in removing the doubts that I had on piercing related issues." Rated this article: Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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