The LastObject LastSwab: I Never Thought I’d Reuse an Ear Swab, but Here We Are

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If someone were ever to ask me if I would use a cotton ear swab more than once, my answer would be, “of course not.” If someone asked if I’d be willing to try a reusable ear swab that reduced harmful waste and its impact on our plant, my answer would be, “maybe?” And then I received the LastObject LastSwab.

Considered to be the world’s first reusable swab, the LastSwab is essentially a cotton swab without the cotton. Over the past 3-4 weeks, I’ve been using it every few days to clean my ears, and I haven’t figured out if I enjoy using it or not. It’s admittedly a mental block that I am working to overcome. Available in Basic, or Beauty tips, the Basic trip comes with raised prongs to assist in cleaning tight spaces, while the beauty tip is designed with makeup touch-ups in mind. Both come complete with a carrying case and are available in a variety of colors. But let’s start with the mission of LastObject, the creators of LastSwab:

LastSwab provides an eco friendly alternative to the many uses of single use q tips without the large environmental footprint.

This reusable q tip comes in two different models for different applications. One for general q tip uses and one for more beauty oriented ones. They are both made from durable yet flexible, high quality, and non-toxic materials which are gentle on the skin and very easy to clean.

Both LastSwab Original and LastSwab Beauty come with a convenient and biodegradable carrying case that keeps your reusable q tip stored away safely.

LastSwab, above all, is an opportunity to transform our routines for the benefit of the planet while also simplifying and decluttering our lives. All that’s left to do is decide which LastSwab version will add value, which may end up being both!

LastSwab says that this reusable swab shouldn’t be confused with a cotton swab, even though they essentially do the same thing. The one upside is it does replace the 100-Count box of cotton swabs that you would typically use every other day to clean your ears; it also doesn’t have cotton.

In terms of cleaning the LastSwab, all it takes is some soap and water, and it will be like new. This makes it a great addition to your travel toiletries bag if you don’t want to worry about a bunch of loose cotton swabs at the bottom of your already cluttered bag (gross). I even enjoyed the little carrying case that it comes with, which looks great next to my Quip toothbrush.

I have to admit that I’ve been amazed by how practical LastSwab has been, even though I had to get over my initial squeamishness at the thought of cleaning and reuse something previously covered in earwax. The little prongs reach portions of my ear that cotton swabs typically wouldn’t, and I do feel that it does a better job than the typical cotton swab. Even better, there’s never any cotton residue stuck in my ear after using it, and I am doing yet another little thing that will help the environment.

The LastObject LastSwab retails for $12, and it is available directly from the manufacturer.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: One LastSwab can replace up to 1000 cotton swabs; LastSwab is eco-friendly; It comes with a carry case; I’ve found it to work better than the typical cotton swab

What Needs Improvement: You have to get over the ick factor of cleaning and reusing something that was previously covered in ear wax

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About the Author

Greg Alston
Diehard Apple fanboy, and lover of all things tech. Born and raised in Washington, DC, Greg enjoys spending time with his wife, family, and friends, live sporting events, good bourbon, Tetris, and pizza. In that order.