Posted on October 9, 2011
When you are trying to protect your ears, there are three main types of earplugs you can wear. The most common type of earplugs, the type you would normally see construction workers wearing, are foam earplugs. Made out of memory foam, the earplugs are squeezed down before insertion in your ear canal, where they will expand, filling the canal. Silicone earplugs are moldable. You roll this type of earplug into a ball and then mold it over the external part of your ear canal. The final type of earplug is the flanged earplug. Flanged earplugs look like miniature Christmas trees with the flanges appearing as the “tree” portion of the earplug. The flanged portion of the plug is inserted into your ear canal, where it will create a solid seal. Musicians’ earplugs and custom molded earplugs are normally flanged.
1) Inserting
First, make sure your flanged earplugs are the correct size because, unlike foam and silicone earplugs, flanged earplugs cannot be squeezed down, or molded in any way before insertion. To avoid catching any kind of ear infection, you should still wash your hands before handling your plugs. To insert the earplug, pull your ear up and outward with your opposite hand, this will straighten your ear canal. Using your other hand, holding the earplug by the stem, push and wiggle the plug into the ear canal until you get a good seal. You’ll know you have a good seal when your voice echoes in your head and you feel slight pressure in your ear.
2) Removing
To remove the earplug, with the same side hand as your ear, grasp the stem of the plug and gently wiggle and twist the earplug out of your canal. You can damage your canal if you aren’t careful removing the plug.
3) Cleaning
After you remove your earplugs, you should clean them with warm, soapy water. Dry them off, and then store them in a clean place. If your flanged earplugs come with a case, you should store them in their case.
Since flanged earplugs can be washed safely without threat of them breaking down, the same pair of earplugs can be used for years. If you are a musician or someone who deals with loud noise regularly, an extra backup pair of earplugs might be a necessary precaution against loss of your earplugs.
Best Flanged Earplugs
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Best for Musicians
NRR 20, Two levels of protection
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NRR 20, Earplug and Play favorite
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Best for Watersports
N/A NRR, Good for watersports
Posted in How to Wear Earplugs | Tagged cleaning earplugs, earplugs, earplugs for concerts, earplugs for sleeping, earplugs for swimming, flanged earplugs, foam earplugs, inserting earplugs, musicians earplugs, removing earplugs, silicone earplugs, using earplugs |
Posted on September 25, 2011
Silicone earplugs are a widely used type of hearing protection due to their low cost, high efficiency, and ease of use. For the consumer, the ease of use is the most enticing of this type of earplugs’ attributes. This ease is due to the use of silicone itself because of its memory trait. This trait makes them easy to insert and reliable in their performance. They also provide a comfortable surface for sleeping on as well as provide a water tight seal for swimming or water sports.
There are actually two types of silicone earplugs, the most common soft type and the less common hard type. This article describes how to use the soft, moldable type. Some reusable earplugs are made of hard silicone and are not moldable. These are effective earplugs, but do not provide the same level of comfort and water protection as soft silicone earplugs do.
The following will give you specific instructions about the use of silicone earplugs:
1) Inserting
Before inserting silicone earplugs, it is important to clean your hands to prevent bacteria from infecting your ear. Roll one of the earplugs in your hand until it’s shaped like a fat cylinder or a slight cone. Insert the earplug into your ear and hold it there for 10-15 seconds. This is where the memory trait is most useful. The silicone will naturally fill your outer ear canal, blocking your inner ear from harmful sound waves and creating a water tight seal. Repeat this process with the other earplug in your other ear.
2) Removing
Use caution while removing these earplugs. Though removal has a high rate of safety, there are some risks. If the seal created between the plug and ear canal is not broken before removal, damage to the inner ear may occur. Also, the plug itself may tear, leaving a piece in the ear canal. Before removing, pull the outer edge of the plug and pull it toward the ground or the back of the ear. This will break the seal. You can then pull the plug out of your ear canal.
3) Cleaning
Silicone earplugs are reusable, but be sure to wash them often. The easiest way to wash them is with soap and warm water. Be sure they are thoroughly dry before reuse.
Though silicone earplugs can be easily washed, they should be replaced frequently to avoid risk of infection or irritation in your ear. Also, due to their size, these earplugs can be easily lost. If you are buying them yourself, it is certainly a good idea to buy in relative bulk.
Posted in How to Wear Earplugs | Tagged cleaning earplugs, earplugs, inserting earplugs, musicians earplugs, removing earplugs, silicone earplugs, using earplugs |
Posted on September 19, 2011
Foam earplugs are the cheapest and most straightforward type of earplugs. They are often used as earplugs for sleeping and are amongst the best earplugs for casual or occasional use. They are often given away by airlines because they are cheap and fit almost all users. However, not everyone uses them correctly.
1) Inserting
Most people just stick foam earplugs in their ears. However, they are not getting the best protection. Instead, the earplug should be compressed by rolling into a cylinder. Then you need to pull the top of your ear up and away from your head and slide the plug in, then hold it there until it expands slowly. Forcing them into the ear does not work.
2) Removing
Ear plugs should not just be pulled out. If you hear a ‘pop’ when you remove them, then you are doing it wrong and risking ear drum damage. Instead, the plug should be gently twisted to work it free and withdrawn slowly.
3) Cleaning
The quickest way to clean ear plugs is to fill a small cup with hydrogen peroxide bleach and soak them for a couple of minutes, then rinse. If they are too dirty for that, mild soap or dish detergent is best. Mix it with water in a bowl, then put the ear plugs in and gently rub the dirt off with a cloth or your fingers. Then rinse and dry by placing on a clean towel, covering it with a second towel, and pressing down. Make sure they are fully air dry before using them again.
Foam earplugs should be thrown away and replaced if they have become nasty or soiled, if they get wet or if they have become stiff and are not pliable enough to insert properly. Using the same set of earplugs for sleeping for too long can cause health problems. It is best to purchase several pairs at once if you plan on using earplugs for listening to or composing music or for loud events, as foam earplugs are easy to lose. For events, consider earplugs that are attached to a lanyard, making them much harder to drop. If you listen to or play music, then you may want slightly more expensive musicians ear plugs.
For long term use, consider more expensive custom molded ear plugs. These can even be designed to dampen out specific noises, such as your partner snoring. Also, they are less likely to cause damage to your ears with long-term use.
Posted in How to Wear Earplugs | Tagged cleaning earplugs, earplugs, earplugs for sleeping, earplugs for snoring, foam earplugs, inserting earplugs, musicians earplugs, removing earplugs, using earplugs |
Best for MusiciansNRR 20, Two levels of protection
Etymotic Research ER20 Flanged EarplugsBest for ConcertsNRR 20, Earplug and Play favorite
Best for WatersportsN/A NRR, Good for watersports