There’s nothing worse than being desperate for sleep, then struggling to settle down thanks to a snoring partner or noise from next door.
When that happens a lot of people use ear plugs, with cheap and cheerful versions often the order of the day.
It can be tempting to keep reusing them until they’re so bent out of shape there’s no hope of getting them into your ear, but that’s actually a pretty bad idea.
Foam earplugs are specifically designed to have a short life span… and just how short will probably surprise you.
They should only be used once before you chuck them out. Probably time to crack open a new pair then, don’t you think?
If you think that sounds like a cunning ploy to get you to part with your cash, it’s time to stop being so cynical.
Foam earplugs are breeding grounds for bacteria and dirt, which can then make its way into your ear canal and cause pain or an infection. The worst case scenario is your hearing could be affected.
That’s as unhygienic as it sounds, and can lead to an ear infection.
You might think you can get around this by washing them, but that’s not a good idea either.
Although you’ll get rid of any dirt you probably won’t remove bacteria, plus the foam will hang on to moisture. That will cause them to swell up so they won’t fit as well, plus it’s just the sort of environment bacteria love.
Another way to tell if you definitely need to open another packet is to see if your ear plugs re-inflate when you squash them. If not, it’s definitely time to bin them.
There’s also a correct way to insert the sound blockers.
You should roll them until they're in a skinny snake shape.
Then pull back the top of your ear - this is important because it opens up your ear canal.
Simply pop the plug in and count to 30, which gives the foam time to expand. If you've done it properly you shouldn't see any of the plug sticking out of your ear.
If your other half's snoring is the reason you need to block out noise, you might want to think about getting a new bed.
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