It is important to maintain the health and functions of our ears. A few way you can do this is by keeping the outer ear clean while avoiding any damage to your ear drum such as with cotton buds.
Avoiding loud noises will also help protect your ears, and thus wearing headphones or suitable ear protection when necessary will reduce exposure to loud noises. Also, it is advisable to prevent water from entering your ear canals, such as when showering or swimming, by using earplugs or a swim cap.