Abstract: A disposable ear cleaning appliance comprising an elongated stem having a hollow cavity which opens outwardly from one end thereof, and a plurality, preferably four, flexible lengths of thermoplastic monofilament. These lengths of monofilament are joined at their outboard ends and extend therefrom to define a bulbous shape. At their respective outboard ends, the thermoplastic monofilaments are bonded by heat and pressure, for example, to form a flattened region which serves to partially stiffen the individual monofilaments adjacent the bonded region and for a relatively short distance therefrom. Thus when the monofilaments are bent into a bulbous configuration by applying pressure against their respective inboard ends to gather the inboard ends into a bundle, the individual monofilaments are placed in compression and tend to retain their bulbous configuration.