Stop Putting Dirty AirPods in Your Ears. Here’s How To Clean It The Right Way

Stop Putting Dirty AirPods in Your Ears. Here’s How To Clean It The Right Way

If you use your AirPods every day without cleaning them, it’s almost like reusing cotton — gross, right?

Dirt and earwax can not only get stuck in the crevices of your earphones, muffling the sound, but they can also harbor bacteria. Repeatedly placing your earphones in your ear without disinfecting them can transfer bacteria into your ear canal, which can lead to infection.

But trying to clean your earphones the wrong way can damage them, even if they’re waterproof. Don’t worry, though — we’ll show you how to do it the right way.

The best way to clean AirPods and other earphones
Apple has several recommendations for cleaning your AirPods. One recommended method is to use a disinfectant or alcohol wipe to clean the exterior surface — but don’t use it on the speaker mesh. If you use any liquid to clean your earphones, dry them completely before use.

For microphone and speaker mesh, use dry cotton and a soft bristled brush to gently wipe away dirt. Don’t press too hard, as you don’t want to push the wax through the mesh. It is almost impossible to remove it from there.

CNET contributor Matt Elliott suggests using Fun-Tak to remove stubborn earwax residue. To do so, rub the Fun-Tak together to heat it up and then press it on the speaker. You can then use a wooden toothpick to scrape out anything stuck to the side of the speaker hole.

If you want to use only Apple products, the tech giant has its own Polishing Cloth, which costs $19 and has a compatibility list. While AirPods don’t seem to be on the list of products that are compatible with… fabric, they’re still useful for die-hard Apple fans who want to flaunt their earphones. Otherwise, you might be looking for a basic microfiber cloth for outdoor dusting.

How to clean earphones with removable silicone tips
If you have a set of earphones with removable silicone tips, like the AirPods Pro or the JBL Reflect Flow Pro, they’re even easier to clean: The silicone tips help protect the speakers from earwax and other debris, and they come out easily.

To clean the tips, remove them from the earphones and soak them in warm, soapy water for 30 minutes. If it’s really dirty, you can shake the container to loosen the gunk. Next, use a clean cloth or cotton swab to remove any remaining earwax or dirt and allow the silicone tip to dry completely.

If you have earphones that don’t come with silicone tips, you can often buy them separately on Amazon. These $13 ear tips can slip over regular AirPods.

First, use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to wipe away any dirt. You can slightly moisten a cloth with water or alcohol, but avoid getting any liquid inside the charging port.
How not to clean your earphones
Although some earphones are advertised as waterproof (or waterproof), we don’t recommend submerging them in water to clean them– only the silicone tips are removable. Stay on the safe side and dampen a microfiber or cotton cloth and gently wipe away the dirt.

We also do not recommend using sharp objects, such as safety pins, to clean the speaker or microphone mesh, as they can puncture the speaker. Instead, use a soft-bristled toothbrush or wooden toothpick to gently remove any gunk.