A pretty disturbing simulation has shown us why we should try not to fall over while we have a Q-tip in our ears.
There are many methods to clean out your ears, but one of the more popular ways is to get a Q-tip down there and have a rummage around.
This isn't the most productive - or safe - method, but it seems to have served us well for a while, despite even the packaging telling people not to put them in their ears.
Well, if you already believe that Q-tips are bad for you, then a new simulation will only further your point.
For the rest of us, prepare to have a new fear unlocked.
Zack D. Films is well known for his terrifying simulations, but this one seems all too real.
The video begins with a bang, as the narrator says: "If you fall with a Q-tip in your ear, the sudden impact can drive it deep into the ear canal, pushing dangerously close to the delicate eardrum."
Of course, the video on screen shows exactly this happening and it looks incredibly painful.
"If it punctures the eardrum, you'll feel intense pain and may experience hearing loss," the video continues. "In more severe cases, the impact could lead to dizziness or bleeding."
The video carries on: "Now, it could go really deep meaning doctors would need to carefully remove the lodged Q-tip without causing further injury."
In short, this is something we should all seek to avoid.
The comments were as you'd expect, with people horrified at what they'd just seen.
"Bro never fails to traumatise me to the core," one person wrote, as a second added: "So stand still or sit while using q-tips got it."
A third person raised a very valid question: "Who tf moves while cleaning the ears?"
In case you need another reason to stop using Q-tips, there are reports that they are bad for your ears.
According to Healthline, it's safe to clean the outside of your ear with a Q-tip, but it should be avoided in the ear canal.
Problems caused by Q-tips can include earwax impaction, which involves pushing the wax deeper into the ear and creating a blockage.
People could also rupture their eardrums using Q-tips if they are pushed too deep.
Earwax also has its benefits such as holding bacteria and slowing its growth - pushing it deeper into the ear with a Q-tip can lead to ear infections.
A safe way to clean your ears involves putting a few drops of baby oil, mineral oil, or glycerin into your ear to soften the earwax.
After a couple of days the wax will be soft enough to irrigate which can be done with a bulb syringe to inject warm water into the ear - then just let it drain!
But definitely avoid falling over while you've got a Q-tip in your ear.
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