I've been going and playing in tidal mud regularly for the last couple of summers, and I've been noticing how long it takes for the last traces of mud to work its way out of my ears. I could see some when I cleaned my ears with cotton buds/Q-tips this morning, and the last time I went mudding was back in September. It's never caused me any blockages or infections, but at the same time I don't fancy explaining my fetishes to the doctor if I did have any ear problems.
Keeping my head out of the mud isn't an option, as that's half the fun! I know a couple of people have mentioned earplugs, so I'm wondering which kind work for this.

i've been using the Leight brand foam earplugs for years. You roll them up between your finger and thumb and they expand into your ear canal. Keeps all the stuff out of my ears. Downside is ... well, it is hard to hear when they are in.

The best tip I've heard from someone is, for mud, to forsake earplugs completely and just stuff some cotton wool in your ears before you start.

Earplugs have definitely worked for me, and I've had the same problem with getting mud in my ears (that takes forrreeevvverrrr to come out), and I've also irritated my ears this way too, which is no fun. Earplugs have worked great, and I think the kind that you squeeze first and then they expand when you put them in are perfect. And yes, definitely worth it for going under the mud all the way!

I never seem to learn my lesson and put ear plugs in!! I'll be getting mud out of my ears for weeks afterwards!!

So, yes they're a great idea.... however, when I'm at the quarry I have to be on the lookout for security patrols and more often than not I hear them coming before they drive into site... so not having the ear plugs in has saved me from being caught!

Ah the dilemmas of being a mudder!!

i strongly suggest using wax earplugs, as you can mold them up in your earhole and easily remove them when time comes, and olus, they are re-useable took, u simply gotta clean them up with clean water.

I used that and they worked wonders!

There are two types of earplugs, those that keep out sound, and those that keep out stuff(water, mostly but mud for our purposes). SOund blocking plugs are usually the foam kind you squish, then expand into your ear. Water blocking plugs are usually wax (Mack's brand, normally in a blue/clear plastic box). The latter you sort of "cap" your ear, I find they keep water out better than the other kind. You DO hear less with them, so you have to plan accordingly. I normally have more problem with one ear, so I plug that one.

I didn't start out that way, but nearly always want to get mud head under as well...

Good luck.

Yeah, the hearing loss is one of the reasons I've held off from trying earplugs so far. Apart from enjoying the sounds that go along with mudding, there's always that faint worry that I'll encounter birdwatchers etc. But the stinky, organic-rich tidal marsh mud I've been getting into probably has a lot of microbial stuff going on, so it might be wise to keep it out of my ear canals.

I think Jayce contracted a pretty bad ear infection from mud and swears by earplugs. Gotta be safe.