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Q-Tips sending children to hospitals with ear injuries, Entity reports.

Injuries from Q-Tips sent over a quarter of a million children to hospitals between 1990 and 2010, per a new study.

That means about 34 children per day were treated at ERs just for using Q-Tips to clean their ears… which is what I thought they were for?

Now, before you go judging me – yes, I’ve seen the warnings. You’re not supposed to put Q-Tips in your ears. But isn’t that what everyone’s doing with them anyway? I honestly can’t think of another real use for a Q-Tip.

So I took to the Q-Tips website, which is honestly a little bit extra. It bills itself as “America’s ultimate home and beauty tool” and one of the FAQ literally asks, “How can I let Q-Tips cotton swabs know how much my family and I love their products?” A common inquiry, I’m sure.

The brightly colored #QTIPSHACKS section reads like an overly ambitious class project from the student no one wants to be partnered with. Picture Tracy Flick, if her teacher had asked, “Hey, Tracy. What if I told you you actually weren’t supposed to be putting Q-Tips in your ears – what then? Give me five ideas.”

The seemingly never-ending list is a collection of beauty, baby, arts + crafts and home + pets life hacks, all using Q-Tips. Decorate your house with Q-Tips flowers! Forget beauty blenders. Highlight your brows and cheekbones with Q-Tips. Craft building blocks for your children. How practical!

Q-Tips sending children to hospitals with ear injuries, Entity reports.

Q-Tips sending children to hospitals with ear injuries, but the company suggests making flowers or blocks with them instead.

I could be wrong, but it seems like Q-Tips are doing a big PR push to make it seem like your every need could be met with their deadly little brushes so that we’ll keep them away from our ears.

Meanwhile, Kris Jatana, M.D., a pediatric otolaryngologist told USA Today that kids are probably picking up these “hygiene habits from older siblings or adults.” AKA this is on us.

And… we don’t need to be doing it, either. Ear wax is normal, Jatana says. If there is excessive wax buildup, you can just use a wet wipe or washcloth to clean the outside of the ear, but leave the inside of the canal alone. “There’s a misconception that people need to be cleaning deeper in the ear canal with these products and clearly that has been a source of injuries,” he said.

So use your Q-Tips to do “easy princess makeup” instead! Or as disposable eye shadow brushes, because it’s cool to be thrifty, right? You could also use them to keep your computer spotless, apparently. I guess the possibilities are endless.

But… on the low, we all know what you’re actually buying those Q-Tips for. Just keep ‘em away from little kids.

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