I’m down to my last clean pair and I’d love to not have to buy a ton more of these down the line. They’re essential for any time I end up at a music-centric event, or really most events that include music. I’ll be scrolling through the earplug recommendations in this community too
If you are using disposable earplugs, then throw them away. I used to wash and reuse them, and got some nasty ear infections as a result. It’s just not worth it. It would be batter to buy a pair of loop earplugs.
This. Please don’t reuse them. They’re foam. I don’t care how clean or how solid they look or feel, foam is incredibly porous. Pores mean there’s wonderful places for bacteria and mold to hide from soap and water. Not even soaking them in something nasty is gonna fully sterilize them to a level I’d be comfortable with placing into my body.
Grab some reusable concert or regular earplugs. They’re a million times easier to clean, safer for long term use (you’re not meant to wear the foam ones longer than a couple hours), and you’ll skip on a lot of infections.
Spend the money and get concert earplugs. Not only will it save money (a basic set is only about $30), and fit better, but the event will sound better. Those foam ones are great to protect your ears, but they muffle the sound. Great if you’re around power tools and the like, but terrible if you’re at a concert
Concert earplugs (I have Loops, but there are countless options and each has its fans) lower the volume without significantly changing the sound. You can still hear your favorite songs, and they sound correct.
You don’t, these are single-use for a reason.
Unless we’re talking about different stuff, those are usually done as short term use and meant to be thrown away when damaged/dirty.
If you must I use a little bit of bio-degradable all-purpose cleaner from ZEP, and then wipe it down again with a damp cloth; however, I’ve also found that the older single-use ear plugs don’t work as well, so do try to get a proper pair of re-usable ones.
I’d be careful using cleaners. You probably don’t want that stuff in your ears.
On top of that, trying to clean and reuse disposable earplugs can cause infections regardless of method. It’s better to invest in a reusable pair like loops.
Sounds like those single use earplugs.
I’d just try a dry or damp paper towel. Spending more effort or money than that to clean them would probably warrant getting better, reusable earplugs; as mentioned in other comments.Edit: Maybe don’t clean them when they aren’t designed to be used more than once. Ear infections are really horrible.
I wouldn’t do this, it can cause ear infections
As others have said, they’re usually disposable. If not, or if you want to try cleaning them anyway, try putting them into a mesh bag or something similar, then put them in the washing machine on a gentle wash cycle and let them dry naturally.
Obviously, try this with a small amount first, so that if they don’t survive the process it’s not the end of the world. If you don’t have a mesh bag, a clean sock should be ok, just tie the end closed.
You can wash them in the sink with warm water and a little bit of soap too, but it’s more work. Just remember to rinse them thoroughly before they go back in your ears :)
Don’t, especially not with water. All it will do is create a breading ground for bacteria and lead to an ear infection. Trust me, they aren’t fun.
You can get construction ones for something like 25 pairs for $5. Just throw them out once they get dirty.
This kind of thinking is why our landfills are the way they are.
I disagree. I do reuse them a number of times, I said just when they get dirty. And they’re tiny. There’s more waste in a bag of chips or a fast food burger wrapper than a pair of foam earplugs.
