Charley Whitehead, senior audiologist at Northwest Hearing and Clear2Hear Ear Wax Removal, has a clear message for the TikTok masses: step away from the DIY ear irrigation kits.

From hearing protection to ear wax removal, Dr. Ear Wax has become an overnight sensation with nearly a half-million followers and videos with millions of views in just over a month.

Even if you could remove wax without causing damage, you might not want to. The ear is self-cleaning; it does not need you poking around in there.