To clean your dogs ears, you will need a few supplies: a cotton ball or gauze, dog ear-cleaning solution, and a clean, dry towel. Avoid using cotton-tipped swabs or anything with a pointed tip, as these can push dirt and debris deeper into your dogs ear canal, cause infections, and even create trauma to the inner structures of the ear itself. Here are some general steps to follow when cleaning your dogs ears:

1. Fill your dogs ear canal with a veterinary ear-cleaning solution and massage gently at the base of the ear for about 30 seconds. Dont let the tip of the applicator touch your dogs ear, as this can contaminate the solution with bacteria.
2. Let your dog shake their head. Use a towel to protect yourself from spray and wipe down their face if the solution drips out of their ears.
3. Take a cotton ball or gauze and gently wipe out the ear canal. Avoid going too deep into the ear canal, as this can cause damage.

Its important to only use a cleaner thats approved specifically for dogs or cats. Avoid using ordinary household items like water, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, essential oils, etc. These materials will not efficiently clean the ear canal and may lead to your dog developing ear infections or even damage to the ear canal. Veterinary dog ear cleaning solutions are the safest choice, as some homemade ear-cleaning solutions contain harmful or irritating ingredients, and others simply dont do a good job.