Silence me

September 18, 2009 9:02 PM

Makeshift earplugs???

I'm traveling for work and find myself in a loud hotel. Well, not the hotel itself, but outside. Think: college campus on a Friday night. I'm not a prig, and remember college, and am not going to call Public Safety. But I forgot to bring earplugs.... Can I do better than a twist of TP in my ears, or a pillow over my head? Any techniques????

posted by kestrel251 to Health & Fitness (13 answers total)

Cotton from cotton swabs or balls, rolled tighter in your fingers into a short cylinder and placed in your ear canal.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 9:05 PM on September 18, 2009

Does the room have a fan/heater/ac that makes a nice whirring sound? I don't think one cane even tune a tv station to static any longer, but you may be able to do it with a clock radio. Something that just makes a consistent, predictable noise may help a lot.
posted by kellyblah at 9:05 PM on September 18, 2009

If you must use TP, moisten it slightly.
posted by HotPatatta at 9:06 PM on September 18, 2009

Sometimes hotels in noisy areas actually have earlplug, be sure to call the front desk and ask.
posted by jessamyn at 9:06 PM on September 18, 2009

In-ear headphones can also do wonders and are something many people carry around but wouldn't think to use.
posted by kthxbi at 9:12 PM on September 18, 2009

Response by poster: Sadly, the "hotel" is basically the top floor of a dorm which is set up with grown-up rooms. There isn't exactly a front desk to get earplugs or cotton from. There *is* a whirring fan thing, which helps. Moistening the TP is a good idea (though the paper mache aspect worries me...!). Ditto in-ear headphones -- I may combine those suggestions, possibly to the detriment of the headphones.

Thx, all, for the quick replies!
posted by kestrel251 at 9:20 PM on September 18, 2009

I usually bend my arm up over my head and cover my ear with it, which takes care of one of them, but I can never fall asleep.

Here is a very bad idea which you should not use: two pieces of chewing gum wrapped in the wax paper or foil paper the gum comes in, or in thin plastic film that's like Saran Wrap (to imitate wax earplugs). I have never tried that idea. If hypothetically someone was going to try it they ought to find out where the nearest hospital is while they can still hear, before trying it.
posted by XMLicious at 9:22 PM on September 18, 2009 [1 favorite]

I have done this. It works. Stick a bit of tp or cotton into each ear. Then take a pair of socks, and fold each one up into thirds or more. Put one over each ear like earmuffs. Tie them to your head with a tie or a scarf or a headband. They're comfy! You can sleep now!

Bonus: If you twist them and then coil them instead of folding them up, you'll look like Princess Leia.
posted by iconomy at 9:36 PM on September 18, 2009

When I've gone to shows and forgotten my earplugs, I've made do with a little bit of toilet paper. It won't keep out the bass, but it'll cut the highs.

That may not be what you're looking for.
posted by gchucky at 10:27 PM on September 18, 2009

Walk / drive to nearest all-night drug store. Buy ear plugs (a box is only a few bucks). Return to your room and sleep soundly.
posted by zippy at 11:30 PM on September 18, 2009

Blutack.
posted by Coaticass at 3:35 AM on September 19, 2009

I would be careful putting tp in my ears. Had a friend one time that did this, and ended up with a bad ear infection after not getting every little scrap of tp out. Just be careful if you use this, and clean your ears out completely!!!
posted by snoelle at 12:33 PM on September 19, 2009

Also, if the earplugs make your ears itchy, don't scratch them incessantly while riding the bus, even if the bus has stopped, or you could puncture an eardrum and be plagued with a ringing sound in one ear for the rest of your life [Whenever ears are discussed I must share this story]
posted by mecran01 at 2:04 PM on September 19, 2009