Q. I’ve heard Q-tips are bad for my ears, what about foam earplugs? A. Many people reach for cotton swabs to get wax out of their ears, but doctors recommend avoiding that temptation.

Foam earplugs are specifically designed to have a short life span... and just how short will probably surprise you. They should only be used once before you chuck them out. Probably time to crack ...

If you’re using foam earplugs, keep your hand over your ear until the earplug expands to fill your ear. If you’re using disposable earplugs, especially foam ones, make sure you replace them ...

Keeping a mix on hand—foam for sleeping, filtered for flights, and silicone for water activities—ensures you're ready for any situation. Here are our top picks of the best earplugs for travelers.

Foam earplugs are specifically designed to have a short life span... and just how short will probably surprise you. They should only be used once before you chuck them out. Probably time to crack ...