PBW and hearing aids

[MinnBobber]

HI,

No, I don't dunk my hearing aids in Powdered Brewers Wash but:

I'm pretty new to hearing aids and there are a couple plastic pieces that get dirty/ ear wax on them.
- for my RIC units, there is a tiny tiny mushroom shaped piece the covers/ protects the actual in ear tiny speaker. They have teeny tiny holes for the sound to go thru. I could see discoloration in one area
- they also have a plastic piece that wraps around the speaker and a short plastic wire that helps secure the receiver in your ear/ help hold it in.

Cleaning these small pieces is tough. The mushroom pieces are designed to be replaced but.....reuse before replacing.
On both, the PBW got them spic and span, pure white and clean again.

Just an fyi for any other folks with hearing aids

 

[Silat]

HI,

No, I don't dunk my hearing aids in Powdered Brewers Wash but:

I'm pretty new to hearing aids and there are a couple plastic pieces that get dirty/ ear wax on them.
- for my RIC units, there is a tiny tiny mushroom shaped piece the covers/ protects the actual in ear tiny speaker. They have teeny tiny holes for the sound to go thru. I could see discoloration in one area
- they also have a plastic piece that wraps around the speaker and a short plastic wire that helps secure the receiver in your ear/ help hold it in.

Cleaning these small pieces is tough. The mushroom pieces are designed to be replaced but.....reuse before replacing.
On both, the PBW got them spic and span, pure white and clean again.

Just an fyi for any other folks with hearing aids

So you have found this to not harm the plastic?
I wonder what the manufacturer would say.

 

[syrupy]

I'd like to hear what @t-dub thinks of this.

 

[MinnBobber]

So you have found this to not harm the plastic?
I wonder what the manufacturer would say.

........................................................................
The hearing aid parts I did in PBW look perfect, retained all their elasticity, are now pure color again with no discoloration etc.
It is designed to be used on food equipment, brewery parts, and all their metals and plastics.

Those tiny parts with minuscule holes would be almost impossible to clean mechanically but this cleaned them perfectly.

 

[Silat]

........................................................................
The hearing aid parts I did in PBW look perfect, retained all their elasticity, are now pure color again with no discoloration etc.
It is designed to be used on food equipment, brewery parts, and all their metals and plastics.

Those tiny parts with minuscule holes would be almost impossible to clean mechanically but this cleaned them perfectly.

I knew it was ok with plastics but I still had to ask.
And by manufacturer, I meant the Hearing Aid company.

 

[Vitolo]

An Ultra Sonic jewelry cleaner is the most widely used method of cleaning hearing aid earmolds.

 

[t-dub]

So you have found this to not harm the plastic?

PBW says their product is safe to use on polycarbonate. It isn't solvent based so we don't have to worry about that. The only erosion would come from the micro silicates which shouldn't amount to much. Here is the tech sheet on PBW for more info: http://www.fivestarchemicals.com/wp-content/uploads/PBWTech.pdf

I'd like to hear what @t-dub thinks of this.

I think @MinnBobber is on the right track here. PBW should provide quick and safe cleaning for his purposes. @Vitolo suggestion of an ultrasonic is valid as well, however, if going this route you must think carefully about what kind of cleaning fluid to use in the tank. I would guess that anything with alcohol in it would be a no go. A common tank fluid for eyeglasses is 50% water/50% ISO with a drop of dish soap. Because of the ISO I wouldn't recommend it on the plastic. Simple Green is also alcohol based, which I found out the hard way, so be careful. A good ultrasonic device can do a lot of cleaning with just plain water.

Please remember that PBW is not a sanitizer.

 

[Vitolo]

Warm water is used for regular cleaning when an earmold becomes dirty.
Sanitizers to add are common...
https://www.hear4youtoday.com/comersus/store/comersus_listItems.asp?idCategory=225

Never use alcohol:
http://www.greatlakesearmold.com/earmolds/earmold-care/

and more:
http://www.rehabmart.com/category/hearing_aid_cleaners.htm

google "sanitizers for earmold cleaning" or "Earmold sanitizers for ultrasonic cleaner"

EDIT-
You can go right to the source of the above supplies at
http://www.halhen.com/