They do the job, but are they really necessary?

Ear Piercing Cleaner (180 pieces)

Brand: BRIIKPP

Price: 448 yen

Place of purchase: Amazon JP

Rating:

I recently came across a video online about cleaning your actual piercing holes, which prompted me to look into whether this was actually a thing. I'll admit, I'd never really thought about it before. The front and back of my earrings, yes, but the little tunnel of skin in between? Apparently, that can use some attention, too! These cleaning threads are designed to be soaked in cleaning solution before being passed through your piercing holes, and each one is intended for single-ear use. The set contains 180 threads in three colors, so there are plenty to get through. They're also marketed as able to be used for other piercings, including lip and nostril piercings.

The biggest downside for me is that threading something through a piercing hole ends up being a little more invasive than simply cleaning around the jewelry. The instructions recommend moving the thread back and forth and rotating it, which could be uncomfortable for any folks with a piercing that's sensitive or irritated. You also need to purchase a cleaning solution separately, so the threads aren't quite a complete cleaning kit. Also, while the three colors are cute, I'm not really sure what practical purpose they serve. The listing doesn't suggest that the colors have different functions, so they seem to be more about making the set look fun than adding anything useful.