Baby gays

He came up with the idea when he saw his wife wrap cotton around a toothpick.

Whatever the inspiration, he began doing business in New York. Keen to jump on the bandwagon, Unilever acquired Chesebrough-Ponds and its many, many lucrative cotton swabs. This made Q-tips^® cotton swabs available in both wooden and paper sticks.

The demand for Q-tips^® cotton swabs products continued to grow and in 1962, the Q-tips^® Company was acquired by Chesebrough-Ponds.

Obviously, due to the toothpicks pointed end, this was extremely dangerous for the child, with even one wrong move resulting in a serious ear wound. Despite this, the broad use for a "Q-tip" will allow it to remain a staple product found in bathrooms throughout the country.

Upon observing his wife applying wads of cotton to toothpicks, Leo Gerstenzang, the original founder of the Q-tips^® Company, conceived the idea of manufacturing a ready-to-use cotton swab.

His was the first mass-produced cotton swab, all the way back in 1923. One of the newest advancements in the use of the Q-tip is that of its use.

First, Leo wanted to ensure the wood wouldn't splinter in the baby's ears. Workers wrapped cotton around a wood stick (usually one side) and moved on to the next one. Its machinery was subsequently brought to the United States and adapted to the manufacture of, and eventual introduction of Q-tips^® "Paper Applicator" cotton swabs.

Eventually, however, the "Baby Gays" portion of the name was dropped, leaving the modern title of "Q-Tip".

Today, "Q-tips" are extremely common, and used for a number of various purposes in and outside of a bathroom setting. Unfortunately, it’s hard to know what inspired him (there are many competing Q-Tip myths). Throughout the next few decades, Q-Tips recommended varied uses in the home and with makeup, along with ear cleaning for wax and “water in the ear.” The box promoted Q-Tips for “adult ear care” well into the 60s.

A few corporate changeovers happened (leading to ownership by Unilever) and, over time, doctors unanimously agreed that Q-Tips in the ears cause more harm than good.

Doctors recommend you never put them in your ears, and even manufacturer Unilever puts a warning on every box. So much so that, in 1962, the company was purchased by Chesebrough-Ponds, an oil business that made its name by producing petroleum jelly, a.k.a. The official explanation?

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How cotton swabs went from 'Baby Gays' to 'Q-tips'

Soon after, Gerstenzang created the Leo Gerstenzang Infant Novelty Company for marketing purposes, and in hopes of launching a baby product line.

For the record, the Q stands for Quality. Q-tips^® cotton swabs remain the market leader in the cotton swab category.

Introduced the Q-tips^® cotton swabs Baby Pack.

Introduced Q-tips^® Precision Tips^™ cotton swabs.

Next, he needed to guarantee the cotton would remain on the swab, and wouldn't leave residual particles within the ear.

And they were called Baby Gays.

The invention of Baby Gays

A Polish immigrant named Leo Gerstenzang came up with the idea. The "Q" stood for quality. Nowadays, you can pick up a box of 500 for just $5, as compared to 1927, when you could buy 60 swabs for an adorable 25 cents. This plant continued to produce all Q-tips^® cotton swab requirements for the domestic market until 1974.