How to Make Earplugs

Earplugs can be incredibly useful; in addition to providing you with a peaceful night’s sleep or helping you study in a noisy room, they also protect your health by preventing hearing loss caused by loud sounds. If you need earplugs to block out noise for an hour or two, you can use toilet paper as a temporary solution. For something more durable, you can create earplugs using cotton balls and plastic wrap.

Purchase a kit for making earplugs. This kit will help you create your own personalized earplugs. Earplugs made to fit your ear shape are much more effective and comfortable than generic ones.

• You can buy earplug kits online or at some stores.

Separate the materials. The earplug kit includes two different materials, each in a different color, and they come packaged separately. Take each material out and break each piece into two equal parts.

Mix the two different-colored materials. Next, you’ll need to combine the two differently colored materials to create the earplug substance. Take a piece of foam from each color and knead them together for a few minutes until the mixture becomes a uniform color.

Insert the foam into your ears. After the materials are well-mixed, insert a piece of foam into each ear. Press the foam gently into your ear to block out sound, similar to how you would wear other earplugs.

• The earplugs should feel comfortable, not too tight or too loose.

Leave the foam in your ears for 10 minutes. Keep the earplugs in place for 10 minutes. During this time, the foam pieces will dry and hold their shape. When you remove them from your ears, you will have a pair of earplugs custom-molded to your ear shape.

Roll up some toilet paper. Take two pieces of toilet paper and roll them into two small balls. The size of these balls should be large enough to fill the ear canal but not so large that they won’t fit in your ears.

• Remember, toilet paper should only be used for earplugs in emergencies. Avoid using toilet paper earplugs regularly, as pieces may get stuck in your ear and cause infection.
• Use toilet paper earplugs only for short-term use, like during a concert. Do not wear them while sleeping.

Moisten the toilet paper balls. Hold the toilet paper balls under a small stream of water for a few seconds to moisten the entire ball. Squeeze out excess water so that they are just slightly damp.

• If the toilet paper balls shrink after wetting, you may need to add a little more toilet paper to each ball.
• Moistening the toilet paper is an important step; dry paper won’t block out sound effectively, and dry fibers could stick inside your ear, leading to infection.

Insert the toilet paper balls into your ears. Place the balls into your ear canal to check if they fit properly. If they don’t fit or feel uncomfortable, adjust the size by adding or removing some paper.

• Make sure to shape the ball properly before re-inserting it into your ear.

Dispose of the toilet paper earplugs after removing them. Never reuse these earplugs to avoid ear infections. Dispose of them immediately after removal.

• If you need a new pair of earplugs, use fresh toilet paper to make new ones.

Buy a pack of cotton balls. Cotton balls come in various sizes, but you can get a 100-count bag for under 5 USD at most pharmacies.

• Choose medium-sized cotton balls rather than large ones.
• You can buy sterile or non-sterile cotton balls, as you’ll be wrapping them in plastic wrap anyway.

Wash your hands. It’s important to wash your hands thoroughly before handling the cotton to reduce the risk of infection in your ear canal.

• Use antibacterial soap and warm water to wash your hands. Dry them with a clean towel.

Pull off a small piece of cotton and roll it into a ball. The cotton ball should fit comfortably in your ear canal.

Wrap the cotton ball in plastic wrap. Use stretchable, non-stick plastic wrap. Cut the wrap into pieces large enough to cover the cotton ball but not excessively large. Wrapping the cotton prevents fibers from falling into the sensitive ear canal and reduces the risk of infection.

• Wrap it tightly to secure the cotton ball, but don’t press it flat.
• If you’re using scissors, make sure they’re clean. You can wash them with antibacterial soap or dish soap and a sponge.

Check if the earplugs fit properly. Gently insert the wrapped cotton ball into your ear canal to see if it fits well. Pay attention to how it feels when inserted.

• The earplug should fit snugly but not be too tight or stretch your ear canal. If it feels loose, adjust the cotton ball’s size.
• You can add or remove cotton to make the fit right.
• Be careful not to push the earplug too deep into the ear canal to avoid injury. It should sit right at the opening of the ear canal, not go deeper.

Tie off the excess plastic wrap. Once you’ve tested the earplugs and adjusted the cotton balls to fit your ears, use a small elastic band to secure the excess plastic wrap around the end.

• Use scissors to trim the excess plastic wrap. Be sure to leave a bit sticking out of your ear so you can easily pull the earplug out.

Test wearing the earplugs. If you plan to use the earplugs during the day, try wearing them in a busy, noisy café or restaurant. This way, you can assess how well the earplugs block out noise.

• If you intend to wear earplugs while sleeping, take a short nap to test them. If you usually sleep on your side, you may need to adjust the earplugs to accommodate the pressure from the pillow.

Replace earplugs every week. Since cotton balls can’t be cleaned, it’s important to replace the earplugs with fresh cotton every 5-7 days to prevent bacteria from earwax or oils that can accumulate in the ear canal and lead to infection.

• Store your earplugs in a clean container.