Colton Wool Ear Protection

[MAC0811]

Hi, just wondered does anybody else sometimes stick cotton wool into their ears instead of ear plugs to help dampen down noise in noisy places??

[Happyrosie]

according to what I’ve been told by a nurse and also an audiologist: never put cotton wool in your ears. It might get pushed down towards your drum and damage it, or you might leave it in by mistake and this will aattract infection.

[MAC0811 in reply to Happyrosie]

I’ve been using cotton wool for years now! Obv I pack it together into a sort of blob before I insert it, I don’t feed little particles of it in and then pack it all in? And I’ve never had any problems with bits of cotton wool being left behind - always managed to get it out with no problem, and I “believe” it adds sufficient protection in certain scenarios??

[Happyrosie in reply to MAC0811]

I was just repeating, in my earlier reply to your post, what I had been told by different medical people, so I had a quick google just now and it seems everywhere I look it says “don’t do it!”.

[Ray200 in reply to Happyrosie]

I've heard similar, Rosie. It reminded me of never walking on the cracks in pavement advice that used to be given to young children. They really don't trust us to even tie our shoe laces up properly!

[Kellythecat-74]

I use Quies , wax ones from the chemist . Virtually complete noise cancelling . Just tweak them a bit whilst wearing , if you need to hear just a bit .

[bantams]

Hi, When I am doing any DIY which is loud I use soft rubber ear plugs, these are the same which we were provided with when I use to work in the Printing Industry

[Philip6]

Hi, it’s probably best to get some soft silicon ear plugs. That’s what I use occasionally. They last for years.

[reorosie]

yes I wear cotton wool in all noisy places, but I wet it first and then squeeze it till all the water comes out and shape it into a little ball , and up to now not had any problems. I wear noise cancelling headphones when travelling as I find it cuts out the vibration I get in my head instead of the cotton wool as I find it helps cut out the noise more ,

[Stubble]

Silicon plugs are much better. There is no real acoustic value in using cotton wool.

If you want some good quality plugs for daily use I can recommend these guys.

flareaudio.com/collections/...

I have no affiliation.!

[Luxjim]

Never thought of using cotton wool but i do use cheap clear silicone ear plugs which just take the edge off noisy places.