this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2025
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What do you mean, not safe? I always thought "do not use in your ear canal" was just a joke they wrote on the packaging. Like, actually good one, what else are you gonna do with it?
Supposedly they can pack the earwax together which can be an issue.
Q-tips aren't meant to go in the ear the same way adult novelty toys aren't meant to go in the butt.
Yo don't actually put those in your butt, they're not made of body safe materials and will give you ass cancer. Don't use TPU, TPE, PVC, or tin-cure silicone in your butt. It's literally made to absorb stuff and putting carcinogens in it is a bad idea. Look for medical grade or platinum-cure silicone.
They are called novelty toys because the countries they are made in have laws against adult toys but not novelty items.
That's my point - Q-tips and novelty toys are both more commonly used for their off-label functionality because listing that on the label is inconvenient for the maker.
They're also used as cleaning tips for small/targeted applications, especially when you don't want lint from a Kleenex or paper towel lingering. Makeup application/removal and electronics cleaning, for example.
I think (not a doctor) the ear thing is because if you go too deep you can cause some serious damage, and they can make wax buildup worse by compacting it. If you stay close to the ear opening, and do circular motions to swipe wax away, and clean your ears often enough that you don't get dense wax build up, and don't "double dip" to introduce potential pathogens, then I think they're pretty safe to use? But that's too many caveats for lots of people, so I think ENTs often deal with people damaging themselves with them.