How to Properly Clean AirPods

You’ve probably come across one of those lists that mention the dirtiest objects that we touch each day. Things that we often forget to clean, like the fridge handle or remote control. Well, the AirPods should be on that list, because many people forget to clean theirs.

Scientists have discovered various types of bacteria and germs that can grow on our AirPods if we don’t take proper care of them. Some people avoid cleaning them because they are afraid they might damage them. That’s why we decided to write this guide and explain how to clean your AirPods properly.

How to Clean Each Airpod

First of all, it’s important to mention that the AirPods are not waterproof, and you should make sure that liquid doesn’t get in any of their openings. You should be cautious because you don’t want to damage them. It’d be best to clean them using a dry cloth.

What Kind of Cloth Should I Use?

You should opt for a soft cloth, made of a lint-free material. That’s crucial because small pieces of fabric could enter the openings, and you want to avoid that. They are not very harmful to us, but they could alter the sound. Also, always make sure that the cloth is completely dry.

Many people like to use a microfiber cloth, similar to the one that you’d use to clean your eyeglasses. It is convenient and you probably already have one at home.

How to Clean the Meshes?

Don’t forget to clean the meshes because earwax can accumulate there. It’s a normal thing that happens to everyone; clean your AirPods regularly, and you’ll be fine. It would be best to use a dry cotton swab or a tiny brush. You should avoid using sharp objects and opt for a softer brush instead.

However, if you need to take out debris from the mesh speakers, you have to be super careful. You may need to use a pointed, tiny object. People have tried various things that they had at hand, but we suggest you use a SIM removal tool that you’ve received with your phone.

Start slowly, and don’t rush. Bear in mind that you could accidentally push the dirt back into the mesh, and that is something you want to avoid. This process requires some time, patience, and precision.

How to Clean Charging Case

Many users complain that their AirPods case gets dirtier than the AirPods themselves. We are not sure why this happens, but the good news is that it is much easier to clean it than the AirPods.

You should wipe down the charging case using a microfiber cloth. If you want to disinfect it, you could put 70% isopropyl alcohol on it. We suggest you do it from time to time, to prevent problems with germs. However, you should be very careful because the liquid mustn’t get in the charging ports.

If there is a speck of persistent dirt that is difficult to clean with a cloth, you could use a toothbrush or a Q-tip. It usually happens if you haven’t cleaned them in a while, and dust and dirt have settled down. Scrubbing with a toothbrush should enable you to get into less accessible places.

Precaution

Even though it might seem like the fastest option, we have to warn you one more time that you should never put your AirPods in water. When you are using other liquids to clean them, you have to be very careful.

If your AirPods or their case have stains, you might be tempted to use some detergent to get rid of them. It is better to scrub them using a toothbrush. It may take some extra time, but you will be able to remove them if you are patient.

Before you use your AirPods again or before you put them into the charging case, make sure they are entirely dry.

Squeaky Clean AirPods

We hope that this article was useful and that you managed to clean your AirPods. Most people haven’t realized how dirty their AirPods were until they cleaned them. If you take a photo before and after the deep cleaning, you might be shocked.

If you have any other tips and tricks for cleaning and maintaining the AirPods, we would like to hear them in the comments section below.