neonsailor12
Member
15 messages
joined Mar 2005
I recall during my childhood, my grandmother used to employ this specific "roller" technique. It wasn't some flimsy paper thing, but rather actual linen cloth.
The methodology is quite precise: you take a piece of linen fabric and cut it into a triangle roughly eight inches across. You then soak this in melted wax—though I suspect standard paraffin from a common candle would suffice—and wrap it tightly around a slender rod, such as a wooden kitchen spoon handle, until you have fashioned a conical, cylindrical shape. One end should be tapered enough to fit comfortably into the ear canal, while the other end, which will be ignited, should be about an inch or two in diameter. Once prepared, you lie on your side, insert the tip into your ear, and place a protective cloth around the area to ensure no stray embers touch your skin before lighting the top. As it burns down a few inches, you simply trim away the charred section, ensuring the flame remains active. When the fire nears the ear, you snip off the entire burning portion, extract the remaining implement, and you are finished. You'll find a small plug of wax left inside, perhaps half an inch long. After that, the silence is so profound you could practically hear the grass growing in the neighbor's yard.
From what I understand, this is typically reserved for instances of ear congestion or similar issues, and I maintain it is a far superior method compared to traditional irrigation. For routine cleaning, however, it seems a bit overly elaborate; a simple cotton swab is perfectly adequate.
I recently spotted some miniature versions of these rollers at a Dollar Tree, priced at approximately $17. Honestly, I believe it would be both more effective and more economical to simply craft a larger version in your own workshop...
