The Q-Tip Has Been Ruined

Narragansett · Jul 7, 2026

I hate to run out of things, so I buy in quantity. As an example, when I go to the store for personal items, I will buy say 15 tubes of toothpaste, 50 bars of Irish Spring, couple gallons of mouth wash, 20 cans of shaving cream and a few thousand Q tips. Well, Q-Tips last a long time at the rate of one a day, but they do get used for gun cleaning. Well, I went into panic mode, because I was down to about 20 pieces. So I picked up a couple thousand.

The cotton tip is a bit smaller now, but the paper stick appears tp be a bit thinner, and it is definitely less rigid and bends easily when wet. Cheapening the Q-Tip is like casting a plague on mankind/ I hope I got a bad batch? I will return the unopened ones

ameridaddy · Jul 7, 2026

I bought wood handled q tips something similar to these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P8PTDW2
for shop use, but mine are a double ended version.
I won't poke anything this rigid in my ear, so that's where the soft drugstore versions come in.

markeb · Jul 7, 2026

Thanks for the heads up for the 6 inchers.

Vtgw938 · Jul 7, 2026

I use these, also from Amazon. The stick is bamboo and these are much better than the ones I used to get at the gun shop.

Mostly Good · Jul 7, 2026

Vtgw938 said:
I use these, also from Amazon. The stick is bamboo and these are much better than the ones I used to get at the gun shop.

View attachment 893143

I could clean both ears at once with these.

Mule Packer · Jul 7, 2026

Greyman50 · Jul 7, 2026

Look at the " off brands" some are way better than originals.

FZ1Tom · Jul 7, 2026

Mostly Good said:
I could clean both ears at once with these.

But I can only hear out of one ear to begin with, I've no need for a Q-Tip that long.

Tom

SS336 · Jul 7, 2026

Narragansett said:
I hate to run out of things, so I buy in quantity. As an example, when I go to the store for personal items, I will buy say 15 tubes of toothpaste, 50 bars of Irish Spring, couple gallons of mouth wash, 20 cans of shaving cream and a few thousand Q tips. Well, Q-Tips last a long time at the rate of one a day, but they do get used for gun cleaning. Well, I went into panic mode, because I was down to about 20 pieces. So I picked up a couple thousand.

The cotton tip is a bit smaller now, but the paper stick appears tp be a bit thinner, and it is definitely less rigid and bends easily when wet. Cheapening the Q-Tip is like casting a plague on mankind/ I hope I got a bad batch? I will return the unopened ones

I know, right, the whole world is going to hades in a hand basket.

sjmjax · Jul 7, 2026

Interesting that you posted this observation.

I just recently purchased a new box of Q-tip brand swabs.

I noticed how flimsy they are. I assumed a defective batch. Kind of useless for many of the applications I use them.

I know there’s alternatives available. Between this and discussing new intrusive nanny state vehicles, I’m concerned about where all this is going.

greenwellg · Jul 7, 2026

cotton balls and hemostats.

Rubone · Jul 7, 2026

Merely an example of "Shrinkflation", where less for more is the norm. It is about profit, not consumer safety or any other concern.

dben002 · Jul 7, 2026

Narragansett said:
I hate to run out of things, so I buy in quantity. As an example, when I go to the store for personal items, I will buy say 15 tubes of toothpaste, 50 bars of Irish Spring, couple gallons of mouth wash, 20 cans of shaving cream and a few thousand Q tips. Well, Q-Tips last a long time at the rate of one a day, but they do get used for gun cleaning. Well, I went into panic mode, because I was down to about 20 pieces. So I picked up a couple thousand.

The cotton tip is a bit smaller now, but the paper stick appears tp be a bit thinner, and it is definitely less rigid and bends easily when wet. Cheapening the Q-Tip is like casting a plague on mankind/ I hope I got a bad batch? I will return the unopened ones

You did get a bad batch...they are all bad batches for the last 10 years......Less tip, weaker stem, and the stem almost dissolves if gotten wet...

dben002 · Jul 7, 2026

My invention for cleaning your ears....

rwsmith · Jul 7, 2026

Anythingg that you have counted on for decades has now gone to ****. I've noticed that a lot of sauces and food items are more watered downthan ever.

SMSgt · Jul 7, 2026

You don't use a power washer for your ears?

LittleAugieMo · Jul 7, 2026

Harbor Freight sells a container w/ different size/length swabs....suitable for gun cleaning & other chores.....but not ears....jus sayin

ameridaddy · Jul 8, 2026

SMSgt said:
You don't use a power washer for your ears?

Just once in a decade.

robrossk · Jul 9, 2026

Doctor says noting smaller than your elbow should go in your ear! Thought that one was pretty funny.

CALREB · Jul 9, 2026

Toilet paper has taken the same route. Any narrower and you might as well save the store receipts and just use them.

Greyman50 · Jul 9, 2026

Unfortunately lots of toilet paper should be named " brown paper" toilet paper.......

Doug627 · Jul 9, 2026

Why not use a brass bore brush like me? Heck, they come in all kinds of calibers.

ZGrand · Jul 9, 2026

Am I the only one who uses RamRodz? Swabs for any bore, cylinder chamber, or ear canal.

Kinman · Jul 9, 2026

I need to clean my ears every now and then. I have always used a moistened q-tip and warm water. My wife claims to never have any ear wax, I have one ear that gets downright nasty if I let it go. I wear hearing aids and they have a small post that goes down the canal a bit, if I don't keep the canal clean it can get a bit clogged, they have a small tool that keeps that clean but its just an every other day maintenance kind of thing for me, like trimming nose hairs as needed otherwise they blend into my moustache.

Rule3 · Jul 11, 2026

Sounds like a first world problem?

You talking about Q Tip brand> We buy the big boxes at Wal Mart and they work just fine.

65-2x2 · Jul 11, 2026

I have a package of Q-Tips and the dang cotton won't stay on the stick. For ear cleaning, I use the punch on an old four bladed scout knife.

imashooter2 · Jul 11, 2026

I buy off brand to keep on the gun cleaning shelf but always bought genuine Q Tips for hygiene. The softer tip and better stick were worth the small premium. Now it sounds like I will be bitterly disappointed the next time I buy.

'79 Magnum GT · Jul 11, 2026

I always get mine at the Dollar General (Studio Selection). I use them to clean my ears and my dogs when necessary. Inexpensive and sturdy.

Rick

LarryMNH · Jul 11, 2026

Narragansett said:
I hate to run out of things, so I buy in quantity. As an example, when I go to the store for personal items, I will buy say 15 tubes of toothpaste, 50 bars of Irish Spring, couple gallons of mouth wash, 20 cans of shaving cream and a few thousand Q tips. Well, Q-Tips last a long time at the rate of one a day, but they do get used for gun cleaning. Well, I went into panic mode, because I was down to about 20 pieces. So I picked up a couple thousand.

The cotton tip is a bit smaller now, but the paper stick appears tp be a bit thinner, and it is definitely less rigid and bends easily when wet. Cheapening the Q-Tip is like casting a plague on mankind/ I hope I got a bad batch? I will return the unopened ones

I hear you Pete. I have serious stock of the exact same stuff as you do. Just not quite the volume on the shelf.

Same issue with Q-tips. I was fed up with the chincy paper stick. I use the Fovurte brand with the bamboo stick. They have a nice cotton tip and very ridged. 1 a day and my hearing aids don't have anything on them.

eveled · Jul 11, 2026

For gun cleaning the wooden ones are awesome. Much better than actual Qtips have ever been.

The Q-Tip Has Been Ruined

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