Earwax, grime, perspiration, and even harmful microorganisms can be found in your headphones. Here’s how to clean them without causing any damage.
I always have my Beats Studio Pro headphones within ten feet of me. I’m not making this up. As I recently mentioned, I use them for at least four to five hours every day and carry them with me practically everywhere. For example, I listen to music at the gym and on my morning walk, stream podcasts while I walk my dog four times a day, or immerse myself in an audiobook while grocery shopping, traveling through airports, or performing household tasks. They really are a physical extension of myself.

This implies that they endure a great deal every day. I have to clean my Beats headphones on a daily basis since I use them so much. Every time you insert AirPods or any other wireless earbuds or headphones—from Beats to Bose to JBL and more—into your ears, they gather germs, earwax, dirt, and debris. This accumulation can eventually degrade the sound quality of your headphones, but more dangerously, it can also introduce germs into your ear canal and result in an unpleasant illness. This may be avoided by simply cleaning your AirPods and other wireless headphones. However, in order to avoid damaging your expensive headphones, you need be sure you’re doing it correctly.

Ways to keep your AirPods clean

Apple has provided some cleaning tips for your AirPods. The simplest method is to clean the outside surface using an alcohol or disinfectant wipe. Before putting the buds back in your ears, make sure they are totally dry with a fresh cloth and avoid wiping the mesh speaker portion. You shouldn’t have to wait longer than 60 seconds or so because alcohol dries fast. We advise using a soft-bristled brush and a dry cotton swab to carefully remove any debris from the speaker and microphone meshes. However, if you use too much pressure, you risk pushing the wax through the mesh, making its removal all but impossible.

Bonus CNET Insider: After your initial wipe-down, CNET senior editor Matt Elliott advises using Fun-Tak to get rid of any remaining tenacious earwax. He suggests warming up the Fun-Tak by rubbing it together before pressing it up against the speaker. Anything that has adhered to the sides of the speaker hollow can then be scraped out with a wooden toothpick.

How to clean detachable silicone tips on wireless earbuds

The protective aspect of the silicone tips makes cleaning wireless earbuds with removable tips—like the AirPods Pro or JBL Reflect Flow Pro—easier. The speaker never becomes very filthy since the silicone protects it from earwax, dirt, and debris. To make cleaning easier, the tips may be taken off.

Simply remove the silicone tips from the earbuds and give them a half-hour soak in warm, soapy water. In order to remove tough stains, you can shake the container. After cleaning, remove any last bits of dirt or earwax with a cotton swab or soft cloth, then leave the silicone tips to air dry fully. You can buy silicone tips separately from places like Amazon if your earphones don’t already have them. These reasonably priced $13 ear tips that fit over regular AirPods are what we suggest.

How to maintain wireless over-ear headphones

I can’t go a day without seeing those stylish wireless headphones that go over the ear, such as the Beats Studio Pro or Apple AirPods Max. I don’t mind because they’re quite fashionable, and I even wear my own pair every day. However, cleaning them takes a little longer.

As with other headphones, you should never use abrasive equipment, run them under water, or let liquids go into any apertures. The ideal way is to use a disinfectant wipe to clean the headband section and then put the removed cushions in a container with a solution of one cup of lukewarm water and one teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent. Use a fresh towel to completely wipe the headband and ear cushions dry after soaking. Before reattaching the cushions and using the headphones, let them air dry for at least a day.

Remember to bring your charging case.

Indeed, your charging case also becomes dirty. Furthermore, returning your earphones to a filthy charging case after making the effort to clean them is not very smart.

To clean the casing, remove any visible dirt using a dry, lint-free cloth. Water or rubbing alcohol can be used to mildly moisten the cloth, but take care not to get any liquid within the charging ports.

General cleaning guidelines to adhere to

Here are some more earbud cleaning pointers to keep in mind:

• No matter how “waterproof” or “water-resistant” they are marketed as, you should never completely submerge your headphones or earbuds in water.
• Your best option is to use cotton swabs.
• Avoid cleaning the speaker or microphone mesh with sharp things such as pencils, safety pins, or kitchen utensils.
• Ensure that no liquid enters the apertures.
• Steer clear of items that might discolor or harm your headphones and earbuds, such as soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, perfumes, solvents, detergents, sunscreen, oils, hair dyes, and other hair products.

Disclaimer:

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or hygiene.