An impulse purchase or a carefully considered decision. With some product, you prefer to get to the bottom of things before proceeding to buy it, but it may also simply be a lucky strike. This depends on the situation and the product. There are countless of studies that have mapped the consumer behavior of the purchase process. When it comes to earplugs for instance, both situations apply. After you have purchased the earplug, you might be wondering how long they will last and how often you can use them?
Impulse or thought through
When shopping, you suddenly see a colorful display at the checkout point, containing earplugs you didn’t know existed. It grabs your attention and you think: ‘I’m about to travel soon”. Airplane earplugs were not on your packing list yet, but oh well. You buy them and you look forward to flying towards the sun without having ear ache and without being bothered by talking people and crying babies. A true example of an impulse purchase. A fun fact is that women are more easily tempted into impulse purchases than men.
Of course, it is also possible that you are an avid biker and you are increasingly bothered by wind noise. You have observed this problem, and try to find the best solution. During your search, you ask your motor friends for information, in your environment and online you can read on various websites, forums and in articles, that earplugs are recommended. After this extensive search, you consciously consider buying earplugs.
Lifespan of earplugs
Regardless of whether this was an impulse purchase or a conscious decision, you are extremely happy with your earplugs of course and can’t wait to start using them. In the two situations we have outlined, we have discussed earplugs with a filter, but how often can you use these earplugs when sleeping or swimming for instance? You’ll find the answer below!
Earplugs with filter
In this, the lifespan of the earplug depends greatly on the frequency of use of the earplug. Simply put, how often you use the earplugs. If you take the place on vacation once a year, a set of earplugs might last you years. But if you use earplugs on a daily basis when sleeping, a set will last you 3 months on average. Therefore, it is wise to check how often you are planning on using the earplugs or have used them and to decide based on that whether they need to be replaced.
To complete the overview of the lifespan of earplugs, we are happy to supplement the information with the usage frequency and lifespan of foam earplugs and custom-made earplugs.
Foam earplugs
Foam earplugs have a very short lifespan. They are made for one-time use, because they get dirty really quickly and are quickly infested with bacteria. Therefore, it is not recommended to use the same disposable earplug more than once, for reasons of hygiene.
Custom-made earplugs
The average lifespan of custom-made earplugs is 4 to 5 years. Since your ears keep growing throughout your lifetime, it is recommended to take a free leakage test every 2 to 3 years. The ear molds can be used on a daily basis. In addition, it is recommended to keep them clean and to disinfect them for a longer lifespan.
