• ExtremeUnicorn@feddit.org
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    12
    arrow-down
    6
    ·
    8 days ago

    What do you mean, not safe? I always thought “do not use in your ear canal” was just a joke they wrote on the packaging. Like, actually good one, what else are you gonna do with it?

    • TeddE@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      13
      ·
      7 days ago

      Q-tips aren’t meant to go in the ear the same way adult novelty toys aren’t meant to go in the butt.

      • pixeltree@lemmy.blahaj.zone
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        7 days ago

        Yo don’t actually put those in your butt, they’re not made of body safe materials and will give you ass cancer. Don’t use TPU, TPE, PVC, or tin-cure silicone in your butt. It’s literally made to absorb stuff and putting carcinogens in it is a bad idea. Look for medical grade or platinum-cure silicone.

        • TeddE@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          7 days ago

          I don’t live in a state that advertises the toys as novelties, but all the toys at my sex shop are body safe. I have to imaging the ‘totally not a sex store’ novelty shop is probably also seeking the same suppliers, just different packaging

          • pixeltree@lemmy.blahaj.zone
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            6 days ago

            There’s a lot of stuff out there that isn’t body safe. Never been in a physical store but have gotten a lot of stuff online and had to throw out the toys I got first because they were TPE. They weren’t even marketed as novelties, they were being sold for body use, even though they weren’t safe. There’s no legislation preventing it, it’s perfectly legal to sell unsafe toys. If your toy isn’t silicone, then DEFINITELY don’t use it analy. Even then, unless it’s specified medical grade or platinum-cure, you’re rolling the dice on what’s actually in it. If you have a silicone toy you’re unsure of, there’s ways to verify it.

      • Mycatiskai@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        7 days ago

        They are called novelty toys because the countries they are made in have laws against adult toys but not novelty items.

        • TeddE@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          7
          ·
          7 days ago

          That’s my point - Q-tips and novelty toys are both more commonly used for their off-label functionality because listing that on the label is inconvenient for the maker.

    • blindsight@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      12
      ·
      7 days ago

      They’re also used as cleaning tips for small/targeted applications, especially when you don’t want lint from a Kleenex or paper towel lingering. Makeup application/removal and electronics cleaning, for example.

      I think (not a doctor) the ear thing is because if you go too deep you can cause some serious damage, and they can make wax buildup worse by compacting it. If you stay close to the ear opening, and do circular motions to swipe wax away, and clean your ears often enough that you don’t get dense wax build up, and don’t “double dip” to introduce potential pathogens, then I think they’re pretty safe to use? But that’s too many caveats for lots of people, so I think ENTs often deal with people damaging themselves with them.