I've had great success with the Virbac brand Epi-Otic ear cleaning solution. I use a soaked cotton ball to deliver the product, rubbing at the based of the ear to loosen things up then of course a clean dry cotton ball to wipe up the excess product. I have a pug who's more prone to yeast/ear infections. To make sure his ears are completely dry I take a cotton ball, rolling it between my palms until it forms a tube shape. Using that I twist it in then out of the ear canal and I find I remove more grubbies and soak up the extra solution...much easier to use while being safe to a dog's ear.