Reusable earplugs for sleeping: how to choose and care for them

Foam earplugs are cheap, but they are made to be thrown away. If you wear earplugs most nights, that means a lot of little foam plugs in the bin, and a pair that is never quite fresh.

Reusable earplugs fix that. Here is what they are made of, which kind suits sleep, how to look after them, and how to tell when a pair is done. We make reusable silicone earplugs, so read this knowing that.

What are reusable earplugs made of?

Most are pre-molded. The NIDCD says pre-molded earplugs "are made from plastic, rubber, or silicone." They keep their shape, so you can wash them and wear them again.

Foam is different. The NIDCD says: "Formable foam earplugs are meant for one-time use, but they can be reused if they are clean and still fully expand to their 'like new' shape." Our guide on how many times you can reuse foam earplugs covers that in detail.

Custom-molded earplugs are reusable too. They are made from impressions of your own ears, through an audiologist. They take an appointment, so they are slower to get than a pack off the shelf.

Are silicone earplugs good for sleeping?

For most nights, yes. Ashley Melcher, a sleep nurse practitioner at UW Medicine, told Right as Rain: "Silicone is probably the safest for overnight use." The same article notes that foam earplugs "are more likely to harbor bacteria and fungus."

There is a trade-off. Melcher also said silicone "may not offer the most noise reduction," and that in a very loud place "foam likely offers a better fit." So if your room is very loud, foam may still be worth keeping for those nights.

Hardness matters too. Valerie Pavlovich Ruff, an audiologist at Cleveland Clinic, told Consumer Reports that side sleepers may find pre-molded plugs "too hard." For sleep, pick soft silicone, not a stiff shooting-range plug.

What should you look for in reusable sleep earplugs?

Use this as a checklist.

• Soft siliconeSomething that gives a little when your ear is on the pillow.
• A low shapeIf a plug sticks out past your ear, your pillow pushes on it all night. See earplugs for side sleepers.
• More than one tip sizeRuff said a plug that is too small "may fall out," and one that is too large "would be uncomfortable."
• Easy to cleanSmooth silicone that rinses clean in warm water.
• A caseSomewhere clean to keep them, so you can find them at night.

How do you put reusable earplugs in?

The NIDCD's steps for pre-molded plugs: pull the top of your ear up and back, then "gently slide the earplug into the ear canal, using a rocking motion until you have sealed the ear canal." It also says: "Wearing earplugs shouldn't be painful. Never force earplugs into your ears."

For the full routine, read how to put in earplugs for sleep. If yours keep coming out at night, see why earplugs fall out when you sleep.

How do you clean reusable earplugs?

Keep it simple. Rinse them under warm running water, rub the tips gently with clean fingers, then let them air dry fully before they go back in the case. Skip soap, alcohol, boiling water and the dishwasher. Our guide on how to clean silicone earplugs has the full routine.

How long do reusable earplugs last?

There is no set number of nights. It depends on the material and how you look after them. Replace the tips when you notice any of these:

• It stops springing backSqueeze the tip. If it stays squashed, it will not seal well.
• The tip tears or splitsEven a small tear can rub and let sound in.
• It feels stiff or stickySilicone that has gone hard or tacky has done its job.
• You push harder than beforeThat usually means the tip has lost its shape.

Are reusable earplugs safe to wear every night?

If you wear them every night, listen to your ears. Right as Rain says to stop using earplugs "if you notice any signs of infection, which typically include ear pain, redness, itching, a sensation of fluid in your ears or hearing loss." If that happens, see a doctor. There is more in is it bad to sleep with earplugs every night.

And remember what they can and cannot do. The NIDCD says: "Hearing protectors don't block all sound." If you need to hear a baby, an alarm or someone who may need you at night, check you can still hear them with your earplugs in.

Questions people ask

Every Vespré shape is reusable soft silicone, with more than one tip size and 30 nights to decide. Worn pairs are fine to return. Buy 2 pairs of Wing or Grip and the silk sleep mask is free.