·        Self cleaning of ears is a widely practised habit across the globe. We have analysed the demerits caused secondary to use of cotton buds among 1000 patients presented with the ear complaints. Each patient was examined in detail and was asked to answer a set of preformed standard questions.  919 individuals gave positive history of use of cotton buds with 33.4% used it for removal of ear wax. Majority of the patients used company manufactured cotton buds with 38 % of them used it on daily basis. Even though various otological diseases were identified there was definite statistical significance between cotton bud user and individuals diagnosed with impacted wax and localized otitis externa with p value <0.05. We recommend that public awareness of cotton–bud related complications and the notion of the ‘self–cleaning’ ear needs to be raised.