Question: Foam Earplugs. Using them multiple times...

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Orion8472

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Do foam earplugs lose their ability to dampen decibels if they're used over again? Like if they were used, say, 5 times.
 
Maybe, but I chuck them after use. Sometime, I wear them riding a motorcycle, and if I stop at a store or what not, I'll drop them in my helmet and use them again, but - my concern is not shoving something into my ear, foreign matter - or anything that may end up being an ear infection - so, 99% of the time, when I take them out they are now waste. I bought a pretty big bulk box of them last summer, I'll probably still be going through it next summer, or the one after that.
 
Foam earplugs are designed to be single use items.

the ones Hickok45 uses are not what I would consider adequate and he does not install them properly. They attenuate to about 21 dB when worn properly. Most foam, when rolled down correctly and installed using the pinna pull method, depending on the size of the ear canal attenuate to around 30-33 dB. Doesn’t sound like much difference, but when the sound pressure wave doubles every 3 dB, it’s a big deal.
I would not trust and would not wear banded hearing protection for shooting.
 
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I agree with Hugger. I have used mine several times, wash in mild soap and water. As long as they contract and expand as they should they are still good. When I was in the Army we used the foam plugs over and over with no problems after cleaning.
 
Sometime, I wear them riding a motorcycle, and if I stop at a store or what not, I'll drop them in my helmet and use them again, but - my concern is not shoving something into my ear, foreign matter - or anything that may end up being an ear infection
A perfect application for audiologist fit custom ear plugs. Easy to insert, clean, comfortable, last for may years.
 
I wash mine in hot water with dish detergent to remove earwax, rinse thoroughly, squeeze dry, if they spring back, good for me to keep. Let dry on a paper towel in a sunny kitchen window, put in closed container, pack in range bag.

Alway keep some unopened unused factory sealed for companions.
 
Foam ear plugs have a gel in them. If you squish the ear plug down, it should stay squished and rebound slowly. This helps you to put them in.

When that gel is gone, they'll rebound much quicker and be a pain to get in. And they'll lose a noticeable portion of protection. You'll notice this as you wash them. Washer machines pretty much ruin them. Good for lawnmowing only at that point.

I wear ear plugs every week day. Ear muffs are thwarted by safety glasses. Although many moron safety directors haven't figured out that I'm being safer yet. Not reckless. They always assume that the "different guy" is unsafe. Sometimes foam plugs are best. If it's really loud, I'll wear muffs over plugs.
 
You should be able to use foam plugs half a dozen times.

Foam ear plugs have a gel in them.
I'm not sure if that's a language issue, but foam plugs have elastomer instead of "gel". Over a period of time they'll get stiff as the elastomer degrades.
 
Thanks. Whatever it is, it washes out of mine. Then they become more like open celled foam. Spring back too quickly, and far less protection.

Mine get softer and lighter after washing.
 
Foam ear plug covers a lot of ground. Some manufacturers make a number of different designs.

upload_2021-7-26_13-28-27.jpeg

Outside of a handful of industrial applications where I just needed them for a few minutes on the floor and that was it for the day, I don’t think I have ever just used a pair of foam plugs one time.

My favorite foam ones for the last decade or so are the EAR push-ins. A pair might go in and out of my ears 100’s of times before I open another pair. They don’t require the rolling with the fingers that some others do, so they are literally “push in” and go, no waiting for expansion and stay clean as long as your ears are not nasty. Because the only part you touch is the hard plastic handle.

Those are also the most effective foam ones for my ears but I suggest you get a sample pack like above and try them all out. I would have never picked them if I hadn’t been given the assortment to try. To me they don’t look like they would work as well as they do.

FWIW those custom molded plugs bottom left work so well I can’t hear some shot timers.
 
Most are designed to be single use, maybe you can extend their life but is it really worth the risk of hearing loss based on the opinion of a few unqualified internet opinions?

Buy in bulk, use for a range session and toss them. And like jmorris said, all foam earplugs are not created equal. Some will have noticeable protection loss after a single use, some "seem ok" after several uses but without scientific proof the risk isn't worth it to me.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006GWRY0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
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I use flanged, silicone ear plugs. Dozens of companies make them (although I won't trust the ones from 3M anymore). They fit better and can be washed more effectively than the foam ones. Much of the NRR of the foam plugs revolve around them being used "properly.* I rarely have seen anyone put them in properly. Plugs + electronic muffs. Doesn't matter if I am mowing the lawn, shooting 22LR, or sighting in a hunting rifle.
 
My foam plugs are usually forgotten in my shirt pocket and get a wash and dry with the laundry.
Therefore, some are used again.

Good practice?... I don't know as I am nearly half deaf as it is....:confused:

On a side note, I will double-up with plugs and muffs to save what hearing I do still have, especially shootin' bigger, louder guns.
 
I too, use the push-in type. No need to roll, so they tend to stay cleaner longer. I reuse about 5 sessions, then toss.

My favorite foam ones for the last decade or so are the EAR push-ins. A pair might go in and out of my ears 100’s of times before I open another pair. They don’t require the rolling with the fingers that some others do, so they are literally “push in” and go, no waiting for expansion and stay clean as long as your ears

Hearing Protection s-l1000.jpg
 
Working a CNC shop with three turret presses, we wore plugs. Earmuffs in 94 degree afternoon heat, not so much, it would linger until we got off at 2AM. Flanged plugs were preferred and we cut the cords off as we were working on press brakes, too, and moving material around. Cords would get snagged. Foam was discarded when it got dirty, one time use up to a few days, flanged would go months, even a year. MUCH more economical and that was supplied, which was a huge recommendation considering how frugal management was over expenses. I haven't worked that shop in over ten years - still have the plugs and they still work. Foam is ok for a backup or one time use, but flanged is superior - and what the Army used, too. At one point it was a required unitorm item to wear.

If indoors or under a canopy, double up with plugs and muffs. I've just about got to the point I won't shoot unless it's open air.
 
Much of the NRR of the foam plugs revolve around them being used "properly.* I rarely have seen anyone put them in properly.
This is worth restating as it’s 100% true. Even where I work, we get annual training, and still maybe 20% of people wear them fully inserted.






I work in an industrial environment and I don’t even buy my own plugs and I still use them multiple times. When they get dirty I toss them but that may take over a week, may also take a day, it just depends.

when I’m shooting something other than a 22 I usually wear plugs and muffs. My favorites are the Howard Leight Max Lite’s, especially for long use like wearing for multiple hours. I do use the push in’s to but they seem a little hard to me and start to get uncomfortable after a half hour or so, but they’re great for when in and out of loud areas and removing them and putting them back in frequently.


After all that the answer to the op’s question is, no they do not.
 
When I insert the foam ear plugs, I pretty much get them in all the way. Realistically, they are in 3/4th the way. Maybe close to 4/5th. But I do get them in pretty deep.

Anyway, thanks for the replies.
 
Typically when I go shooting it's for a few hours and the plugs are in and out many times.

It's a 1 days use item for me. Sometimes more than 1 pair a day if I drop them. That's not to say I havent ever reused them on a different day though.

I agree with some of the others.... they cost less than one 9mm and feel it's worth an infection.
 
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