The Cl-ear Range: A Clinician's Ear Care Guide

 

The Cl-ear Range: A Clinician's Guide to Ear Wax Softening and Aftercare

 

The Hearing Lab Store rarely runs discounts. We prefer to be competitive on every product, every day. So when we do reduce a whole range, it is worth a look. For the rest of the month, every product in the Cl-ear range carries 15% off, applied automatically at the checkout. This is a co-promotion between The Hearing Lab Store and Cl-ear.

 

This is a good moment to take stock of what the range actually does in a busy clinic. Cl-ear is built around three jobs with at least one being necessary in almost every ear care appointment: softening wax before removal, breaking down hardened wax quickly when oil alone is too slow, and looking after dry, itchy canal skin between visits. One brand covers all three. Here is how to use each product well.

 

 

Cl-ear Olive Oil Ear Spray: the gentle softener

 

Olive oil remains the most widely recommended first-line softener in UK ear care, and for good reason. It is gentle, well tolerated and familiar to patients. The point worth checking is grade. Cl-ear Olive Oil Ear Spray uses 100% medical-grade olive oil to the British Pharmacopoeia standard, which is the assurance you want before recommending anything for use in the canal.

 

The spray applicator is the practical advantage over a dropper. It delivers a fine, even dose without the patient tipping their head and waiting, and it is far easier for older patients or those with limited dexterity to manage at home. For pre-procedure use, advise one to two sprays once or twice daily for several days before the appointment. The wax arrives softer, the procedure is quicker, and the patient is more comfortable.

 

It comes in 10ml and 20ml. The 20ml is the better value for clinics using it during procedures or selling it on to patients who use it regularly. For the full clinical rationale, see our guide to Cl-ear Olive Oil Ear Spray.

 

A fair word on alternatives. Patients often ask about almond oil sprays such as Earol, and these are perfectly good products in their own right - pharmaceutical-grade almond oil with a loyal following. The choice between olive and almond oil is largely one of patient preference and any nut sensitivity. Both soften wax well. Cl-ear simply gives you a medical-grade olive oil option in a clinic-friendly spray.

 

Cl-ear Express Ear Spray: when oil is too slow

 

Oil softens wax over days. Sometimes you do not have days. A patient arrives with hardened, impacted wax and you need it moving in the same appointment. This is where Cl-ear Express Ear Spray earns its place on the shelf.

 

The active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide. It works by releasing oxygen, which breaks hardened wax into smaller fragments that are far easier to remove or irrigate away. It contains no oils. The detail that sets it apart from a plain peroxide solution is the buffer: Cl-ear Express is formulated to hold a slightly acidic pH, consistent with the physiology of the external ear canal. That keeps it kinder to the canal skin while it does the work.

 

Practical notes for the clinic:

• It is suitable for adults and for children from 3 years of age, which widens its use considerably.
• It can reduce the need for repeat irrigation or syringing by getting the wax moving first time.
• Hearing aids must be removed before use, as with any canal preparation.
• It is supplied to clinics in a case of 5, which suits how often it's likely to get used.

 

Cl-ear Itchy Ears: the canal skin specialist

 

Wax softening gets all the attention, but a large slice of ear care appointments are really about skin. Dry, itchy canals are common, and they are made worse by hearing aid occlusion, over-cleaning and the moisture-trapping effect of devices worn all day. Cl-ear Itchy Ears is built for exactly this.

 

It combines jojoba oil, sodium hyaluronate and pro-vitamin B5. Jojoba closely mimics the skin's own sebum, sodium hyaluronate draws in and holds moisture, and pro-vitamin B5 supports the skin's barrier function. Together they restore moisture to canal skin that has lost its natural protection. For more on the clinical picture, including contact dermatitis and otomycosis, read our clinical guide to itchy ears.

 

One instruction matters more than any other for hearing aid wearers. Drops should go in at night, after the device is removed. Morning instillation followed by immediate re-insertion traps moisture against the canal wall and can make the very problem you are treating worse. As an emollient, there is no clinical reason to limit it to short courses, provided the patient continues to be reviewed.

 

A simple in-clinic protocol

 

The three products are not competing - they cover different points in the same patient pathway. Here is how they fit together.

 

 

A quick aftercare reminder, because it is easily missed. The natural oily ceruminous barrier is thinner immediately after irrigation than after microsuction, so the canal is more exposed to dryness. A short course of an aftercare emollient after wet removal protects the skin and reduces the itch that brings patients back. If your patients also need wax softening before procedures, our microsuction training covers preparation and aftercare in detail.