In 1923, cotton merchant saw his wife using strips of cotton wool to cover up the pointed end of the wooden toothpicks used for cleaning their baby’s ears, Leo Gerstenzang transformed toothpicks by adding cotton and created the Q Tip

A simple observation at home in 1923 led to the invention of the cotton swab, initially for baby care. What began as a solution for a domestic issue quickly became a household staple for hygiene and makeup application. However, its widespread use for ear cleaning has raised medical concerns, with experts advising against inserting anything into the ear canal due to potential damage.