to stockpile cotton buds

[Pansypath]

Nothing makes me happier than a little rummage in the ear for wax, plus a gazillion other uses (mainly cleaning). Given they are now banned, alongside plastic straws, so me buying them will not lead to the manufacture of more despite creating demand, aibu to stock up on a lifetimes supply if I see any still for sale in corner shops etc. I reckon a life times supply is about 100 pots. I mean the ones that have been made already will still need disposing of even if not bought and used.

@ToD101

“Almost impossible” to “can come off” in the same sentence.

Yes, I said "if fiddled with". I wore those kinds of buds for years and they never came off in my ear.

If you're just going to pick the parts of what I'm saying, as a professional in this field, that you want to and ignoring the rest then there's no point. HTH.

Do people not fiddle with hearing aids very often? Because it’s quite common they come off and get stuck in an ear.

I didn’t realise you were an audiologist. I thought that’s something an audiologist would know.

(Sorry, I’m digging. But I hope you can see my point... a little)

The bamboo ones are crap - if there is an imperfection in them they snap and I find the ends come off them really easily.
Lidl's paper stemmed ones are sturdy enough. Johnsons are too soft (I do have to soak mine as I use them to clean my eyes due to a chronic condition).
I haven't found any plastic ones on sale for over a year anyway.

Well bugger me I've just checked my trusty asda cheapo ones and they're bloody cardboard! Pretty pleased with that

@MiddleClassProblem you've really got me fancying having this done. I can imagine it's so satisfying, ya know if you have stuff there

I was in my local “down the end of the road shop”earlier and they still had plenty on sale .
I didn’t say anything .😬😬😬

@toiletpaper

Couple of threads for you:

One with a photo
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/sporner_corner/3176333-Had-ear-wax-microsuctioned-Took-a-photo

No photo but this one is epic (and adds to my pain)
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/2613877-Having-my-ears-hoovered-out-tomorrow-and-Im-SO-excited

I get non plastic ones from Lidl. Cheap & great.

"Ear plugs
Hearing aid
Ear pods
Thermometer

Anymore?"

Cotton buds

I like finishing up after a shower with a johnson cotton bud too. Never bothered to check what it was made of, I assume the name is a bit of a giveaway. I'm o/s and the Govt here has announced they intend to see ''cotton buds'' banned...

ps. And for those of you pointing out we should use less plastic, what material exactly is your keyboard made out of? Hmmm...

Fellow addict here. I can't walk past the pot without wanting to stick one in my ears. I have to actively make myself not use them every morning. And fail. My ears feel dirty otherwise.

I once gave myself an abscess on my eardrum from using cotton buds. I’ve never been in such pain. I was at the doctor’s within an hour of pushing the bud in, because it started hurting straightaway. I didn’t sleep for 48 hours while the antibiotics started working. The side of my head heated up and my ear oozed fluorescent green pus. I felt as though a red hot skewer was being pushed into my head. I was lucky though. At that time, you could get a walk-in GP appointment easily. I think I would have ended up in hospital if I’d left it longer. Six weeks after this a scab 2cm across dropped out of my ear.

All the people who say they love scraping around inside their ears: you’re nuts to risk this.

I was supposed to get my ears syringed before lockdown but it didn’t happen, have had issues with one side for ages —and the useless practice nurse keeps fobbing me off—.

Bought this kit and it’s been much better. Still need a resolution though.

Why do you need to be rummaging around in your ear?? You should go and get a proper ear clean every 6 months if you have wax problems.

The ones made with cardboard are just as good. Don’t panic.

@Elizaaa

Fellow addict here. I can't walk past the pot without wanting to stick one in my ears. I have to actively make myself not use them every morning. And fail. My ears feel dirty otherwise.

I agree. I have to do mine twice a day or they get itchy.

I like a good clean and I don't have a 'wax problem'. I use buds to gently clean my ear, they get itchy otherwise. I know when I've gone a bit too far and stop immediately. I also use buds to clean round the outer ear where skin can build up, or as someone mentioned,to dry them after a shower.
Most of us are not thrusting them in with gay abandon, you know. If I went to have them syringed, they'd probably say there was no need.
I see nothing wrong with ear maintenance and can never understand how people can walk round with it oozing visibly from their lug holes.

I remember Wilkinsons getting some stick a couple of years ago about still making plastic buds and they did eventually change over to paper.

yabu
the ones with paper stick work just as well.

I rarely use cotton buds, but do have a little tub that I’ve had for years. Went to use one the other day and suddenly though, probably shouldn’t be using these little plastic things anymore and realised they were indeed made of paper.

I hadn’t even noticed, so it can’t effect the quality too much.

@SuzieQQQ

Why do you need to be rummaging around in your ear?? You should go and get a proper ear clean every 6 months if you have wax problems.

But it feels so goooooooooood.

The plastic ones don’t keep anyway. I’ve had to throw away many a pot that have lurked in my (very roomy) bathroom cupboards for a couple of years. They go very brittle relatively quickly. The eco ones are much better for a variety of reasons

Johnsons ones have been made of paper for quite a while.

@Pansypath

Oh I know I know it is a terrible dangerous habit. But I doubt anything will stop me

Congratulations you've won the 2020 Darwin Awards

You can get reusable ones and bamboo and paper ones!
So bloody glad they banned the plastic ones! So awful

Get the reusable pokey stick things from Lakeland for household cleaning - sooooooo handy!

Self fulfilling chicken and egg situation. The more you clean, the more itchy they get because you damage the little hairs that work to keep your ears clean naturally.

Your belly button is probably less clean 😆