What is a Q-tip for? (1574 views, 59 replies)
senior guru
A brand of cotton-tipped swab used especially for cleansing a small area or for applying medications or cosmetics. I always thought they were for cleaning out ears-you learn something new every day!!
@////////////// I have punctured my ear drum twice using a q tip. Once, I was walking through the house, and accidently bumped my elbow. The other time...just stupidty! I've quit using them!
member
I personally use it to apply medications with, but I do confess I use it to dry out the outer part of my ears after my shower.
@Catiekay4 What else can you fit in your ear? Gotta get that wax out! I guess you could blast it with a water pick...but that's probably bad too!
senior master
I'll probably go looking to read my box of Q-Tips now that I've read this thread. 
I remember as a very young child, my Doctor telling me to never put anything smaller than my elbow in my ear. I never listened and to this day I still use Q-Tips but not just for my ears. They are multi-purpose and great for makeup and many other things including ears.. ha. Great thread!
guru
master
I don't care what the box says, I'm still gonna use them to clean out my ears, dammit! Lol. You can use peroxide, it's supposed to dissolve the wax. They also ear wax removal liquid at any kind of drug store. 
senior guru
i knew this was true before the effects guy told on himself 
stg that whole trilogy was like George Lucas daring people to quit him
*no they didn't it looked fake asf
master
Ear wax can get impacted. That happens in the very young who neglect cleaning their ears and in the elderly. A jet of warm water can irrigate out the wax and thus since the canal in no longer blocked, then improve hearing.
At home when this happens, they sell over the counter drops that will losen and melt the wax so then it can be flushed out at home.
You never want to press deeply into the ear as you might damage the canal. You should not overly clean either as that ear wax lubricates and protect the canal from fungal injection. If you overly clean, the skin cracking and irritation will occur...even minor infection.
senior guru
A great way of flushing the ear is with a douche 🤭
en.oxforddictionaries.com/defini...
@DemandingFemale They will be able to tell. I'll look like I'm hiding something! "Ear doucher!" They'll cry!
senior guru
Related story - kind of.
In his 3rd year of school Son's teacher asked to speak with me, she said his behaviour had deteriorated, he had gone from being a child that always paid attention to appearing to be often distracted in class. Almost as a 'side comment' (as well as the standard 'has anything changed at home' stuff) she suggested getting his ears checked.
At the time he was regularly seeing a specialist due to a minor eye issue, and as he had an appointment a week later whilst we were there I asked the doctor about his ears.
He checked one - fine - looked in the second, and proceeded to remove a half inch long piece of red crayon.
I would've preferred a q-tip.
The school issue had been going on for a month or so - guess that's how long it was in there.
@⭐️janerosity⭐️ Awww, poor lad.
A few years ago I took my nieces out for the day to a local park - Half way through the picnic one of them screams. I panic, she's screaming about hearing buzzing and shaking her head like a maniac. A wasp had flown into her ear! Luckily there was a minor injuries unit 2 minutes away. They flushed it out, still buzzing!
@⭐️janerosity⭐️ Yep, my story was with a piece of popcorn. Mom noticed my lack of hearing in one ear, looked in with flashlight and it looked like a cancer growth. Doc popped it out in a minute or so, all was good.
Kids stick things in things, yes my kid had to have surgery to remove a lego from his nose. Like father like son.
@Sighlass I don't suppose either were funny at the time. But I am laughing now. Son is grown up now, and spends a lot of time drawing, I still find it amusing to warn him not to use crayons.
.JPG)
master
@uunboundd Haha it really wasn't a thing until the last few years, to be honest.
We have Samhain.
Those treats are just caramel on q-tips, silly!!
@ i know, but who would want to eat that? you may want to submit the recipe somewhere...
www.lolwot.com/20-disgusting-can...
@uunboundd I agree, not enough caramel.
It's not my idea though, I just found it.
Plus that link is cool! And those disgusting sweeties are in a completely different league of professional.
guru
senior guru
My husband just appeared to ask "where are the cotton buds?" just as I opened the thread.
Most manicure/grooming kits come with a tool for cleaning ear wax. It's called an ear spoon. It's the one on the far right. But, I would really advise against sticking anything into your ear canal.
@DemandingFemale Something like the old saying goes "Never stick anything in your ear except your elbow", right? lol
@DemandingFemale They sell it to us, and tell us NOT to use it. It's like the Q tips. Found in the medical, or health and beauty area of the store...and it's not for cleaning your nose...either. Maybe with a tube of glue, you can create groundbreaking architecture.
@DemandingFemale that looks like surgical tool kit 
clearly whoever made that never heard the expression don't pick at it...
@uunboundd I have one very similar to the photo and I use it a lot. There is always an element of torture when striving to be so beautiful 👸🏻
senior master
I use Q-tips to clean dust of electronic parts, paint details, e.t.c. I am using clean parts of my used underwear when having a shower after work to clean ears. I think cottonwear is healthier than Q-tips
Similar forum topics
- What is a woman? (2022) (2 years ago)
- I hope Star Trek Pike is a return to form (3 years ago)
- Who decides what is Moral? (6 years ago)
- Corrupt-A-Wish (6 years ago)
- legal center describes a legal church,religion:are we one? (6 years ago)
- What is Zoe Kravitz? (4 years ago)
- What is the Best Magnesium Supplement to Take? (4 years ago)
- With the Field of Dreams game being played in the Iowa Cornfield tonight, what is your favorite Base... (3 years ago)
- What is Antimalware Service Executable? Why is it High CPU Disk Usage? (2 years ago)
God
The side of the box tells me not to use it to clean out my ears..not to INSERT it in my ears. What the hell do people USE a Qtip for? What are they good for? Cleaning their meth pipes?