How To Clean Airpods, Earbuds Or Headphones Without Damaging Them — Do It Regularly ’Cos They’re Full Of Germs
For some of us, our earphones and headphones are practically an extension of us. If you can’t commute, work or even work out without it, you probably should be asking: How often do you clean them?
Think about it: Earwax, sebum, sweat, dust, and even make-up accumulate over time in earbuds and headphones. Nasty, to say the least. Keeping them clean not only helps to keep the audio quality in tip top shape but also reduces your risk of breaking out your skin or infecting your ears with a nasty pathogen.
Before we get into how to actually clean earbuds and headphones without damaging them, make sure you have these essential cleaning products first.
What you’ll need to clean earbuds and headphones
AirSquares Earbud Cleaning Putty 24-Pack ($24.50)
If your AirPods and wireless earbuds are getting softer despite no other damage to them, it could be because the speaker grille is congested with earwax, dirt, and other debris. The AirSquares cleaning putty is handy in getting gunk out of crannies where the sun don’t shine as dirt sticks onto the putty and is easily removed. Available here
Versatile, compact, and convenient, the Hagibis cleaning pen performs three functions in one product. There’s a flocking brush meant for cleaning dust away from the exterior casing, a high-density brush to sweep debris out of the speaker grille or sound outlet. Finally, there is a metal pen tip to dislodge stubborn dirt and dust. Buy here
Using tissue to clean electronics may leave lint all over your devices. Using a dedicated wipe for electronics would remove that problem. Plus, the Weiman wipes also disinfect, clean, and shine without leaving streaks so you can use it on your mobile phone and computer screens too. Shop now
Not all microfibre cloths are created equally. The Koala Lens microfibre cloth is made to be dense and plush to clean and absorb any surface oils and dirt without scratching precious screens or leaving behind lint and streaks. These washable and reusable cloths are made to be gentle and effective on spectacles so you know they can clean any electronics with ease. Buy it here
The Boeteco reusable ear and makeup swabs are an eco-friendly alternative — not just for cleaning earbuds, but also in your daily skincare routine. These are made with silicone that can be cleaned after using mild soap and water. Dip these swabs into cleaning alcohol or soapy water before proceeding with precise cleaning. Buy here
How to clean wireless earbuds, including Airpods
Step 1: Take the earbuds out of the casing, then remove the silicone ear tips.
Step 2: Use a toothpick to gently dislodge any earwax and dirt buildup around the sound grate or mesh. Take note of the little nooks and crannies of earbuds where nasties can be hidden out of plain sight.
Step 3: Place the opening of the grate onto a cleaning putty to further remove any remaining stubborn buildup.
Step 4: Using an ear swab or Q-tip dampened with rubbing or cleaning alcohol, clean the earbuds but be careful not to get any liquid into the internal mechanism.
Step 5: Clean the casing. Wipe it down with a cloth and rubbing alcohol — the same goes for the silicone ear tips. Use a Q-tip to reach into any tight nooks.
Step 6: Let everything dry before putting the wireless earbuds back together.
See how it's done:
How To Clean Headphones
Step 1: Check if you can detach the earmuffs from the headphones. Separating them will make it easier to clean each part individually.
Step 2: To clean earmuffs, dampen a microfibre cloth with soap and water. Then use gentle, circular rubbing motions to clean off stains and grime as much as visibly possible. If they’re made of synthetic leather, let them dry completely, away from the sun.
Step 3: For the main body of the headphones and its casing, use rubbing alcohol or the same soap and cloth method as above. Ensure that water does not drip into the internal mechanism, and let it dry completely before assembling the headphones back together.
See how it's done:
Popular Wireless Earbuds And Headphones To Buy
No amount of cleaning can save your current pair of earbuds or headphones? Then it might be time for a new pair.
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