Ear plugs for swimming?

[ClockworkOrange]

Thanks to all the useful advice I received on here about what goggles and lap counter to buy, all is going 'swimmingly' well.

Now regularly swimming 3 to 4 times a week and have reached 1125 metres which I am so pleased about, hope to manage 1600 by end of next month.

Anyway, now think I should try ear plugs as after swimming, feel I have water in my ear that does not seem to want to come out.

SO?

Plugs, silicone, beeswax or cotton wool with Vaseline on top?

I have tried searching reviews on the internet but thought I would receive much more reliable information here.

Thanks in advance.

[Tri Girl]

honestly, I just buy the jumbo bag of ear plugs from the drug store and use those. The wax ones have never worked for me, so I finally just tried the ones I sleep with, and voila! If you take them out and try to put them back in when wet they'll puff up real big and you can't get them back in, tho- so you might want to keep a spare pair around. Once they dry out they are fine again. Plus, they are very cheap (another good consideration for me).

[crazycanuck]

Just use the noise blocking ones from safety gear shops..they work!

[Becky]

A little isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) dripped in your ears afterwards will help get rid of the water. I keep a bottle of this in my swim bag for convenience. It's just alcohol and glycerin.

[sarahkonamojo]

Congratulations on the milestones!
These are the best ear plugs: http://www.proplugs.com/
I spend a lot of time in the water. Mostly I am avoiding cold water from entering the ear. I get the kind with the hole for hearing, but you probably don't need that.
They come in sizes. You will need a fit kit first.
Good luck,
Sarah

[OakLeaf]

I prefer the silicone ones for swimming. The foam ones are much better for noise reduction (motorcycling, sleeping), but they will get waterlogged and still leave you susceptible to swimmer's ear. In fact, I've gotten "swimmer's ear" (otitis externa) from dry earplugs on the motorcycle more than once.

I mix my own solution of half apple cider vinegar and half 91% isopropyl alcohol in a dropper bottle. The alcohol dries the ear canals and the vinegar creates an acidic environment where yeasts and "bad" bugs won't grow well. Or instead of vinegar I'll mix a pinch of crystalline citric acid (I use that stuff for EVERYTHING) into 70% isopropyl alcohol.