Almost all of us carry AirPods in our bags. We use them while commuting, at our workplace or college, and then back at home. Therefore, we must know how to clean AirPods, phones, and other such gadgets.
And this guide will teach you the simple steps on how to clean AirPods. So, keep reading.
Why Should You Clean Your AirPods?
Earwax
Over time, secretions called cerumen or, in common parlance, earwax, accumulate in the ear canal. Not only does the wax get stuck to the earbuds of your AirPods and eventually damage the earbuds, but they also make your ears prone to infections and cause ear pain.
This is why you must clean earwax from the earbuds and your ears.
Sweat
It is always important to let the ear “breathe.” It increases the moisture in situ. When you leave your AirPods in your ears far too long, like when you go for a long run, do your workout listening to music, or attend a tiresome meeting, sweat gets trapped in your ears as well as in the tiny speaker grilles.
As we all know, moisture favors fungal growth everywhere and, yes, even in your ear canal. So, you must remove your earbuds soon after you are done and let your ears ventilate and dry out.
Sweat and Water Resistance v/s Sweat and Waterproof
Apple claims that the 3rd generation AirPods and the MagSafe Charging Case for these AirPods are sweat and water-resistant. At the same time, 1st and 2nd generation AirPods and their charging case do not have water resistance quality.
According to Apple, none of the above is sweat and waterproof! AirPods Pro is sweat and water-resistant, but the MagSafe Charging Case and Wireless Charging Case for AirPods Pro are not. AirPods Max and Smart Case are neither water-resistant nor waterproof.
Dirt
Most of us carry our AirPods everywhere. When we don’t have the AirPods case along, we keep our Airpods outside, exposing them to dust, dirt, and debris. Dirt damages the earbuds, causes irritation and may lead to ear infections. The audio quality worsens as dirt, and other gunk gets stuck to the speaker mesh in your earbuds.
So, we should clean the earbuds of the Airpods from time to time.
Now that we know why we should clean our AirPods, let’s learn how to do it at home.
AirPods Max and AirPods Pro users, don’t worry, we have got you covered too.
How to Clean AirPods?
General Instructions:
Do’s:
- Before cleaning any electrical gadget, please read the instructions manual that came along with it.
- Ensure that the charging ports are free. If not, disconnect.
- Always use a soft cloth to wipe the exterior surfaces gently. Also, make sure it’s a dry cloth.
- You can use disinfectants on the exterior surfaces of AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. The best way to do this is to use wipes. You may use a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or a 75% ethyl alcohol wipe to wipe the exterior surfaces only gently.
Don’ts:
- Don’t start cleaning before you know what is to be done.
- Any openings, be it charging port or lightning connector – never let in moisture.
- Never immerse your AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max in any cleaning agents or ever think of running them underwater. Remember, Apple says that they are not waterproof! Say no to moisture at all times.
- Do not put in too much pressure. You would end up damaging the AirPods. Handle with care!
- Never use disinfectants on the speaker meshes of AirPods and AirPods Pro. And likewise, don’t use them on AirPods Max’s knit mesh canopy and ear cushions.
- Obviously, touching sharp objects or abrasive materials should not even cross your mind while you think of cleaning AirPods.
Stains?
Chemicals like soaps, shampoos, detergents, sunscreen, oil, hair dye, acids, or even acidic foods leave stains on your AirPods or may even damage them. Be sure to keep cosmetics away to keep your AirPods spotlessly beautiful!
How to Clean AirPods – 3 Simple Steps
You can clean your AirPods thoroughly by following the guidelines Apple recommends. It is simple and you can easily do it at your home with the things you already have.
We all have bottles of sanitizers and surface disinfectants stocked up in our homes, don’t we? All thanks to coronavirus!
Step 1: Clean AirPods’ Exterior Surface
Use a soft, lint-free cloth to wipe off the dust and other grime. If there are any stains, take a cloth, preferably a microfiber cloth, slightly dampen it in fresh water and gently wipe the stain off. Then wipe using a soft and dry lint-free cloth and let it dry.
If you want to disinfect your AirPods, you can use 70 percent isopropyl alcohol or 75% ethyl alcohol. After your AirPods dry completely, you may use them or place them in the charging case once there are completely dry.
Step 2: Clean Earbuds
If you are careful while cleaning AirPods, be extra careful while cleaning earbuds. The earbuds house the speaker meshes and microphone holes. Therefore earbuds should be of prime concern to you while you clean your AirPods.
If you clean them incorrectly, damage occurs, and features like noise cancellation and speaker action are lost. The audio quality gets poorer and poorer, and in the end, you may even need to buy new AirPods.
Apple recommends using a dry cotton swab to remove any wax, and other debris stuck on the microphone or speaker mesh. If you don’t have cotton swabs, you may use q tips. Make rubbing movements in concentric circles. Do not push in or even put extra pressure. Then, use a soft-bristled brush to clean off the dust gently.
I know our hands might itch towards the nearest sharp object to get that gunk away. But do not surrender to the temptation! Some people say that wooden toothpicks can be used, but it is generally advised not to use sharp objects.
Apple dismisses disinfectants on the earbuds, primarily on the speaker meshes. Always make sure you dry the earbuds entirely before you use them or place your AirPods in the charging case.
Step 3: Clean AirPods’ case
As we know, the AirPods’ case is not just a protective armor or a small suitcase to carry our AirPods. From the charging case, your AirPods gets charged, and when you open its lid, you can connect to the wireless earbuds via Bluetooth.
Use a soft-bristled brush to dust off debris from the lightning port. So, when it comes to cleaning the case, use a soft, dry lint-free cloth to wipe off the dirt. If needed, you may dampen the cloth with water.
For disinfection, slightly dampen with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol. Most importantly, leave the lid open and let the case dry completely.
How to Clean AirPods Pro – 3 Simple Steps
AirPods Pro differs from AirPods in that it has removable silicone tips over the earbuds.
Step 1: Clean the outer surface
Use a dry, lint-free cloth to wipe the outer surface of the AirPods. It would help if you used a dry cotton swab to clean the microphone and speaker. It’s mostly the same as how you would clean AirPods.
Step 2: Clean Ear Tips
AirPods Pro comes with removable silicone tips. These ear tips have many tough to reach spots where dirt gets accumulated. But don’t worry, you can remove them from the earbuds and clean them separately without a lot of elbow grease.
Rinse the ear tips with water. Avoid submerging them in cleaning liquid. Use a clean, lint-free cloth to dry the ear tips completely. Re-align the ear tips to place them back on your earbuds.
Step 3: Clean the Charging Case of your AirPods Pro
Cleaning the case of AirPods Pro is similar to that of AirPods.
How to Clean AirPods Max – 3 Simple Steps
Unlike the other two, AirPods Max as headphones tends to get dirty more often. So, how can you clean AirPods Max easily?
Step 1: Clean AirPods Max’s Ear Cushions
Firstly, remove the cushions from the ear cups. Wipe them with a lint-free cloth dipped in soapy water for at least a minute. Using a clean cloth, remove the excess moisture and dry it for a day.
Step 2: Clean AirPods Max’s Headband
Always hold your AirPods Max upside down while cleaning the headband to prevent water from entering the openings. According to Apple, using a liquid detergent solution mixed with water to clean the headband removes all dirt.
Let it dry for a day before you use them again.
Step 3: Clean the Case of your AirPods Max
The same rules apply. Using a dry, soft cloth, expunge your Smart Case. You can use a very small amount of disinfectant liquid if needed. Steer clear of abrasive materials!
So, that’s all you need to know on how to clean Airpods. Don’t forget to include these tiny gadgets on your next cleaning spree.
But be gentle and meticulous. If you are looking to buy new AirPods for the new year, check out our top curated picks!
Last Updated on November 18, 2022 by Rojalin Mahapatro
