# How often do wash behind your ears? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 22, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654 "2013-06-22T21:38:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/1 "2013-06-22T21:38:07Z")
You know like momma told you? I have recently discovered that I had no idea just how nasty of an area it is ☹ I have always washed it in my shower, and whenever I wash my face, and never thought about it too much. But recently, due to miscalculating the position of a cabinet door, I have a little cut back there. So I have been absentmindedly rubbing it and picking at it. and I noticed that , at least in summer, within an hour after my shower there is enough sweaty stank my fingers smell noticeably bad from 6 inches away after rubbing the back of my ears. Anybody else notice that and what do you do? I am self-conscious enough now I either have to figure out a way to wash my ears every 45 minutes at work, or find a creepy bell-tower to live out my freak life in. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/2 "2013-06-22T21:40:58Z")
Twice a day, every day, when possible. Ya know, just like I wash every other part of my body: teeth, asscrack, armpits, soles of my feet, my teeth, my nose… etc… etc… ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/3 "2013-06-22T21:57:33Z")
I wash behind them every day, in the shower. In your case, I’d advise you to get some [cotton squares or rounds](http://www.amazon.com/Swisspers-Cotton-Squares-80-Count/dp/B002T5IN5I/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hpc_2) (like cotton balls, but better for this task) and some astringent lotion and a small bottle with a tight cap. Put the squares or rounds in the bottle, and add enough astringent to get them soaked. Cap. Take to work. Take out a square as needed to clean behind the ears. This is also good for an oily complexion, if you don’t wear makeup. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/4 "2013-06-22T22:02:31Z")
Never really thought about it. _Rubs behind ear, smells finger._ Smells perfectly clean, though. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/5 "2013-06-22T22:09:19Z")
Whenever I wash, thanks to being reminded of it so often. Ironically as a result I’ve had more trouble remembering to wash the outside of my ears, since no one went on and on reminding me about _that._ ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/6 "2013-06-22T22:56:20Z")
And ruin my Smelly Bacteria collection?!? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/7 "2013-06-23T04:23:13Z")
I only do it in the shower. I always assumed that washing my hair would take care of the area but when one of my earring holes got infected recently (they’re like, 18 years pierced now) I decided to start washing there specifically, with antibacterial soap. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/8 "2013-06-23T04:32:06Z")
This thread is giving me the strongest déjà vu. I swear someone started a thread with this exact same question and scenario as in the OP once before. Anyone else remember that? Aha: [Why does it smell like swiss cheese behind my ears? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=617256) I knew I wasn’t imagining it! ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/9 "2013-06-23T04:33:28Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > I have a little cut back there. So I have been absentmindedly rubbing it and picking at it. > > and I noticed that , at least in summer, within an hour after my shower there is enough sweaty stank my fingers smell noticeably bad from 6 inches away after rubbing the back of my ears. Does your finger smell bad if you only rub the ear without the cut? If so, i’d be concerned that the cut my be infected. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/10 "2013-06-23T06:04:34Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > Does your finger smell bad if you only rub the ear without the cut? If so, i’d be concerned that the cut my be infected. No I tried the left finger behind the left ear lobe, still the same stankiness. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/11 "2013-06-23T06:18:23Z")
As a person of greasy extraction, I wash behind my ears and my forehead daily in the shower. Also within the general pinna area. It gets unpleasant otherwise. Shampooing doesn’t cut it. Sometimes mom’s annoying, and sometimes she’s right. Google’s not working but didn’t someone say something about not washing your elbows or ears? Uncle Shelby? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/12 "2013-06-23T09:51:25Z")
I just did the test. Smelled my finger, rubbed it along the back of my ear where it meets my scalp, smelled it again. No change. I guess I’m washing it pretty well back there. ---
**Author:** ![ombre12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d26b3c/32.png) [@ombre12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ombre12)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/13 "2013-06-23T14:05:05Z")
Not to hijack the thread but have always been curious. Does being “wet behind the ears” have anything to do with mothers telling their children, especially boys, to be sure to wash behind ther ears? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/14 "2013-06-23T15:16:25Z")
I wash behind the ears every time I wash my face. It gets oily back there just as much as my face does. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/15 "2013-06-23T16:04:00Z")
> [@ombre12](#): > > Not to hijack the thread but have always been curious. > > Does being “wet behind the ears” have anything to do with mothers telling their children, especially boys, to be sure to wash behind ther ears? I think it refers to being just born (or hatched) and not having dried completely yet. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/16 "2013-06-23T17:21:32Z")
Twice a day, I’d say. Unless I’m in some frantic hurry, I wash behind my ears every time I shower, and I shower every morning (after I do my hour on the treadmill) and every evening (after I do my half-hour). I have a shower routine and ear-washing, inside & out, is item 2. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/17 "2013-06-23T17:51:50Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever consciously washed behind my ears as a deliberate act, but that area naturally gets cleaned as part of the act of washing my hair. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/18 "2013-06-23T18:33:54Z")
I haven’t showered in 2 days (weekend at work), and no smell. I never consciously clean it. I guess they get washed with my hair. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/19 "2013-06-23T20:27:29Z")
Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever deliberately washed behind my ears, nor do I remember being told by my mom to do so. Like others have said, it gets clean enough back there from when I’m washing my hair. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654/20 "2013-06-23T20:42:07Z")
Sometimes you can get a fungal infection behind your ears. That would make it have that funky smell. I wash my ears with shampoo when I wash my hair, every other day or so. More when it’s hot out. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-wash-behind-your-ears/661654.md?page=2)