⏱️ Estimated reading time: 12 min
Key Takeaways
Wash them in warm water with a drop of mild soap at the end of every shift, rinse, pat dry and let them air-dry fully before they go into a clean case. Skip alcohol and solvents.
No. Foam is porous, so soap and water cannot get it properly clean. On site, treat foam plugs as single-use and bin them at the end of the shift, or straight away if they are dropped, dirty or slow to re-expand.
No. A borrowed pair carries someone else’s earwax and site grime into your ear canal. Offer a new foam pair instead.
Replace them when a flange is torn or split, when discolouration will not wash off, when the silicone turns sticky or stiff, or when the plug no longer seals. Report the defect to your employer.
The NHS lists wearing earplugs among the things that can irritate the ear canal, and dirty, damp or shared plugs add to that risk across a workforce. Anyone with earache, itching or discharge should speak to a pharmacist or GP.
Both sides. Under Regulation 8 of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers must keep hearing protection maintained and in good repair, and workers must use it properly and report any defect.
Knowing how to clean reusable earplugs at work takes about two minutes a shift. Wash them in warm, soapy water, dry them completely and never lend them out. For anyone wearing earplugs all day at work on a dusty site or an oily factory floor, that routine decides whether a pair of earplugs for work stays comfortable for months or turns grubby within a week.
Worker forums tell a different story, with people admitting they reuse disposable foam plugs “until they get dirty”. Foam is porous, as one commenter put it, so grime hides where soap cannot reach.
At Bollsen, we are a hearing protection brand trusted by 1,000,000+ people, making reusable silicone earplugs. Our hub on earplugs for work covers noise levels, fit and UK law, and our guide to wearing earplugs all day at work covers comfort across a long shift. This guide covers keeping the plugs themselves clean.
Why is earplug hygiene harder on a work site than at home?
Earplug hygiene at work is harder because hands on site are rarely clean, and dust, oil, grease and metal fines pass from gloves and fingers to the plug, then from the plug into the ear canal, often several times in one shift. HSE’s hearing protection guidance asks employers to check that protectors “remain in good, clean condition” and that compressible earplugs are “soft, pliable and clean”.
Workshops full of power tools and woodworking dust are the hardest test of all. Our guide to earplugs for power tools and woodworking explains why smooth, wipe-clean reusable plugs suit sawdust and sanding residue better than foam that soaks it up.
How do you clean reusable earplugs at the end of a shift?
To clean reusable silicone earplugs after a shift, wash them in warm water with a drop of mild, unperfumed soap, rinse, pat dry with a lint-free cloth and let them air-dry fully before casing.
- Wash your hands first. Use soap and water before touching the plugs.
- Remove the plugs somewhere quiet. Twist each plug gently as you ease it out.
- Wipe off visible grime. Clear earwax and dust with a damp cloth.
- Wash in warm, soapy water. Rub each plug between your fingertips for 20–30 seconds, working into the gaps between the two lamellae.
- Rinse and dry. Rinse off all soap, pat dry and leave them on a clean surface until fully dry.
- Store them dry. Put them in a clean, ventilated case only once they are completely dry.
Skip alcohol wipes, bleach, solvents and degreasers, including heavy-duty hand cleaner, because harsh chemicals can damage silicone over time. After a very dusty or oily task, add a quick rinse at break time.
Clean hands matter at the start of the shift too, because when you put earplugs in, the plug picks up whatever is on your fingers. Our guide on how to put earplugs in and check the fit starts with washed hands and a quick check of both flanges before insertion.
If you also wear sleep earplugs at night, the bedroom routine is gentler, and our guide to cleaning sleep earplugs covers it.
How should you store earplugs between shifts?
Between shifts, reusable earplugs belong in a clean, dry, ventilated case, not loose in a hi-vis pocket or toolbox, where they collect lint and grit that end up back in the ear canal. Never case plugs while wet, since a closed case traps moisture, and wash the case itself every week or so.
For factory workers on back-to-back shifts, a named case in a personal locker works best. Our guide to earplugs for factory workers covers choosing and wearing plugs that last a long production-line shift.
Can you wash and reuse foam earplugs at work?
No. Disposable foam earplugs are porous, so washing traps water and soap in the foam without getting the dirt out. On site, treat foam as single-use and bin it at the end of the shift, or immediately if it is dropped, dirty or slow to expand.
Rolling foam between oily fingers presses grime straight into the plug, and some workers leave plugs out rather than roll them with dirty hands. That is a good case for push-in reusable plugs in dirty work.
Choosing between reusable, foam and banded plugs depends on the job, and foam still suits visitors and short tasks. Our comparison of reusable vs foam vs banded earplugs for work shows which format suits dusty, dirty or intermittent noisy work.
Is it ever OK to share earplugs with a colleague?
No. Earplugs sit inside the ear canal, so a borrowed pair carries another person’s earwax, skin cells and site grime into yours, and a wipe on a sleeve does not change that.
The usual culprits are the spares tin in the van or a colleague offering theirs when someone forgets. A sealed box of new foam pairs on site covers anyone without their own, and reusable plugs work best issued per person, with a name on each case.
When should reusable work earplugs be replaced?
Replace reusable work earplugs when an inspection shows damage, such as a torn or split flange, stubborn discolouration, sticky or stiff silicone, or a lost seal, rather than after a set number of weeks. Under Regulation 8(2), a worker who finds a defect reports it to the employer as soon as is practicable, and HSE expects replacements to be readily available.
| Plug type | How to clean | When to replace | Share? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reusable silicone (e.g. WorkPRO) | Warm water and mild soap after every shift, rinse, air-dry fully before casing | Torn or split flange, stains that will not wash off, sticky or stiff silicone, or a lost seal | Never |
| Disposable foam | Do not wash | End of every shift, or straight away if dropped, dirty or slow to re-expand | Never |
| Banded or corded | Wipe the tips and band with a damp, soapy cloth, then dry | Tips when worn, split or grubby; the band when it is bent or loose | Never |
| Custom-moulded | Warm, soapy water or the maker’s own instructions, then dry | When the shell cracks or the seal changes; ask for a refit | Never, they are made for one person’s ears |
Which work earplugs are easiest to keep clean?
Smooth, non-porous reusable silicone earplugs are the easiest to keep clean on a work site, because dirt washes off the surface instead of soaking in, and they push in without being rolled between grimy fingers.
That is the thinking behind our WorkPRO earplugs, a two-lamella body in hypoallergenic silicone, coloured high-visibility yellow and washable for months of shifts with the routine above. It pushes in without rolling, so grimy fingers barely touch the tip.
For a reusable plug built for daily washing on a noisy UK site, our WorkPRO earplugs (SNR 24 dB, £29.95) are German-tested, independently certified 24 dB (H 24, M 21, L 19) to EN 352-2, with a low profile that fits under ear defenders. They are passive, so everything gets quieter, warnings included; a loud alarm stays audible because it is loud.
Who is responsible for clean hearing protection under UK law?
Under Regulation 8 of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers must ensure hearing protection is “maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair”, while employees must make full and proper use of it and report any defect “as soon as is practicable”. Both sides have hearing protection duties here.
In practice, the employer supplies replacement plugs and somewhere to wash hands, trains staff in care and storage, and tells workers where to report damage. Regulation 7 covers providing protectors; Regulation 8 covers keeping them in working order.
A split plug handed back to stores is a Regulation 8 matter. Our guide to employer hearing protection duties sets out what UK employers must provide, from noise assessment to training.
Can dirty earplugs cause ear infections at work?
Dirty earplugs can add to the risk of ear canal irritation. The NHS ear infections page notes that outer ear infections can be caused by something irritating the ear canal, such as water, eczema or wearing earplugs, and grime, moisture and sharing make irritation more likely. Clean, dry, personal plugs keep that risk down across a team.
Speak to a pharmacist, GP or occupational health if:
- itching or irritation in or around the ear keeps coming back (a pharmacist is a good first stop)
- earache does not get better after 3 days (see a GP)
- there is fluid coming out of the ear, or a change in hearing (ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111)
Tell your supervisor as well, so a different protector can be considered where hearing protection is still required.
What does a good earplug hygiene routine at work look like?
Wash reusable plugs after every shift, dry them fully, keep them in a clean case, bin foam at the end of the shift and never share a pair. Check them before each shift and report damage, because under Regulation 8 a replacement is your employer’s job.
Keep a spare personal pair in your locker, so a split plug never means a shift without protection. Clean plugs stay comfortable, and comfortable plugs stay in.
His connection to hearing protection stems from personal experience with sound sensitivity during live events and work in noisy environments, an issue that made him more aware of the long-term risks of unmanaged noise exposure. Today, as both a communicator and a user of BOLLSEN products, he is passionate about raising awareness around the importance of proactive hearing care.
At BOLLSEN, he develops data-driven marketing campaigns, writes SEO-focused articles, and manages communication channels that connect customers with practical knowledge about hearing protection. His work ensures that BOLLSEN’s message—prioritizing health, performance, and sustainability reaches a global audience in an engaging and trustworthy way.
Passionate about writing since childhood, Timotej combines creativity with a strong analytical approach, continuously testing new ideas in digital marketing, performance advertising, and social media. He believes in learning through innovation and collaboration, balancing leadership with openness to new perspectives.
Beyond his professional role, Timotej is committed to a healthy lifestyle and finds inspiration in fitness, sports, and quality time with friends. His personal passion for well-being aligns with BOLLSEN’s core values, making his work not only a career but also a cause he deeply believes in.