x
Breaking News
More () »

Why are they called q-tips when they don't look like the letter Q | Why Guy

Q-tips started in the 1920's when the founder noticed his wife applying wads of cotton to toothpicks. The original name for the cotton stick was Baby Gays, but switched to Q-tips in 1926.

Today's Why Guy viewer question comes from Daniel Reber.

Credit: Walt Gray
Walt Gray's latest Why Guy question.

White guy, really? Is it that obvious? Okay, I'll answer this WHY GUY question. The only thing I'm told about Q-tips is not to jam them all the way up your ear to your brain.

But here's your official answer: According to the company, Q-tips is the name, because the "Q" stands for Quality.

Q-tips started in the 1920's when the founder noticed his wife applying wads of cotton to toothpicks. The original name for the cotton stick was "Baby Gays," but switched to Q-tips in 1926.

So that's my quick answer to the question about the quest to solve the Q-tip quandary. Also, bonus info, there's a rapper named Q-Tip who's pretty well known in my vast hip-hop circles, so there's that.

Continue the conversation with Walt on Facebook.

Before You Leave, Check This Out