Ever had a night where all you could do is listen to the various noises around you, unable to fall asleep properly? Either the neighbours are blasting music, or your dog is barking, or even your partner may be snoring. The easiest solution to this is getting a nice pair of high-quality earplugs for sleeping to block everything out. This post is a comparison of the best sleep ear plugs.
What are ear plugs?
Earplugs for sleeping are small, cylindrical and moldable and are designed to go inside your ear canal to block out all those noises that keep you up at night. There is extensive research that shows earplugs and eye masks help “promote sleep” when you are exposed to noise and light during the night time.
The results showed that people had increased melatonin levels and REM time when using the earplugs and an eye mask, which means less sound and light makes you sleep better.
One small note that you should know if you’re using earplugs is that there is a correct and an incorrect way to use them. The correct way is to roll the cylinder into a smaller shape, pull your ear upward and slide the rolled up earplug into your ear canal. This means that the earplug is resting in the ear canal, not outside of it, because this way it can really block all the sounds.
Tips for using ear plugs
- Slowly pull out while twisting the earplugs. They are intended to create suction, and if you release it too fast, you may end up pulling on your ear drum membrane and damaging it, along with your hearing
- Clean the earplugs before using them. You need to wash them with some warm water and a mild soap after each use, and then pat them dry with a clean towel.
- Keep them in a case. This way they won’t collect any dirt, dust and bacteria which can get into your ear the next time you use them
- Don’t push them in too far. It’s important to have them in the ear canal, but not too far into it, because it can press on the eardrum and damage this delicate membrane
- Don’t insert them in dirty or wet ears. Doing this can trap bacteria, dirt or water in the ear canal. In both cases, you drastically increase your risk of an ear infection
Best earplugs for sleeping (best list)
1: Mighty Plugs
The effectiveness of these earplugs is amazing. They are economic and affordable. These earplugs reduce all loud noises to whispers, are soft, moldable and reusable up to times. The wax is hypoallergenic, unfortunately, they can get easily contaminated.
It takes some practice to learn how to insert and remove them properly, but after you do it a couple of times it gets easier. After you insert them, it feels almost as though there is nothing in your ear. This is thanks to the soft and moldable wax.
This also makes them very comfortable in any sleeping position, but be careful if you’re a side-sleeper because you may put too much pressure on your ears.
2: WooWexx ear plugs
You can choose from black, white and blue hypoallergenic silicone and are great for small ears. The blue ones serve best for quieting loud and harsh noises as they block out 30dB of sound. They only come in packs of two pairs, but the material is long-lasting.
These are not recommended for people with big hands and ears because of their size. You may find them difficult to insert and remove if you fall into this category of people.
3: Drift to Sleep Moldex ear plugs
They can taper to fit snugly in your ear canal, but you may find them uncomfortable after using them for too long because of their length. They tend to fall out easily if you toss and turn while you sleep, but if you don’t, they reduce loud sounds with and NRR of 33 decibels.
They tend to be best for small ears and are good value for the price. These earplugs also have a very smooth surface which prevents irritation. The company also offers a 100% money back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied with their product.
4: HearHeed plugs
These ones don’t reduce the noise as well as the rest of the earplugs on this list, but they are hypoallergenic and prevent itching and rashes. They are made of reusable silicone and are very durable. Because of their short length, they are also a great option for side-sleepers because they don’t put any extra pressure on the ear canal. The downside is that you’re still able to hear most noise around you.
5: Decibullz ear plugs
Made from a custom-moldable plastic and come in four different colors. They look great and are able to block out most loud sounds. They are a bit on the more expensive side, but their value evens out because the last a very long time.
To make the mold to your ear, you need to boil some water, then place the earplugs in it for five minutes. Let them chill for 30-40 seconds and insert them in your ears. You usually don’t get a good fit the first try, but you can easily try to mold it a few more times until it feels comfortable. However, you may not like the feeling of had plastic and they may make your ears itch.
