what?

They are definitely not recommended for that use. I use cotton swabs that way all the time. An RN i knew in the army once said that everyone tells you not to use cotton swabs that way, and everyone does it. Just be careful, 'K? I don't recommend that you do so, but i also know i have no power over anyone else in the matter.

Qtip on the periphery is OK and cleaning just at entry of earhole is OK

Never put anything in your ear smaller that a washcloth wrapped around your elbow. Actually, getting your elbow would take an incredible range of motion and an oddly proportioned upper arm.

I use Q-Tips for this all the time.

It even says on the box not to stick in your ear.

But everyone I know does it.

However, you shouldn't because it just packs the wax down farther.

Try one of these. Works great.

Ototek Loop

I'm 57 and I've been cleaning my ears the same way for all that time with Qtips. There has been NO problem with my years.

In the last three months I've seen both an audiologist and an ENT. Both of them volunteered the information that Q-tips were one of the biggest causes of impacted wax.

Thank you everybody for your posts.
To fill you in: Went swimming. Had water in my ear a few hours later. Agreed to listen to an old wives tale that my mother in law had told my wife. Next thing I know, I'm laying on the couch, sideways, and my wife is pouring hydrogen peroxide in my ear. Snap, crackle, pop. What? What? I can't hear. Peroxide dislodged waxed, wax fell in deeper. Day later, ear was irrigated.
"...if you didn't use q-tips, you wouldn't of had this problem..."

Jokingly, the next day, I broke a q-tip in half, and stuck the broken end in my ear, gingerly. I then showed my wife and asked her if I put the q-tip in too far. I don't think she was amused.

she has no sense of humor