Why our cotton buds use paper and bamboo sticks

On 1 July 2022, India's ban on a list of single-use plastic items came into force under the amended Plastic Waste Management Rules. Ear buds with plastic sticks were on that list. If you still find plastic-stick buds being sold, they shouldn't be.

Paper sticks

A good paper stick is tightly rolled from layers of paper so it stays rigid. Cheap ones bend halfway through use. Ours are firm enough for makeup and cleaning, and the tips are wound tight so cotton doesn't shed.

Bamboo sticks

Bamboo is stiffer and smoother than paper, which makes it pleasant for precise work like eyeliner correction. It costs a little more. Both bamboo and paper are plant materials.

What to look for in any cotton bud

Tips should be wound firmly so they don't come loose. The stick shouldn't flex easily. And the pack should keep buds clean, so a closed tub is better than an open bag.

Use them safely

Cotton buds are for cleaning the outer ear only. Pushing a bud into the ear canal can push wax further in and can injure the eardrum. If you have ear pain, discharge or blocked hearing, see a doctor rather than using buds. Keep buds out of reach of small children.

Beyond the bathroom

Cotton buds are one of the best tools for cleaning brass and silver pooja items: the fine engraving on a diya, the corners of a bell, the grooves of a kalash. Dip a bud in pitambari solution or lemon and salt, work the groove, then wipe with a dry cloth.