You’re not alone if you’ve ever taken out your earbuds to discover that they’re covered in wax and dirt. The majority of people who use earbuds are unaware of how to maintain them to prevent wax buildup. The heat that is contained in the ear canal when you use earphones melts earwax, which then collects on or inside the earbuds. This distorts the image, makes it appear unclean, and draws bacteria, dirt, and grime to the sticky surface.
Follow these easy instructions to learn how to clean your earbuds.
When Should Your Earbuds Be Cleaned?
If you use your earbuds every day, you should, at the very least, clean them once a week when you clean your laptop screen or other gadgets with an alcohol wipe.
The simplest method for cleaning your earbuds will help get rid of any build-up of dirt, dust, and wax.
A thorough cleaning has to be performed once a month, or more frequently if you use them in hot weather or after an intense activity that causes your ears to perspire a lot.
Tools and Equipment
- Toothbrush
- Wipes with alcohol or a microfiber cloth
- Bowl Substances
- Water, dishwashing liquid, isopropyl alcohol
- Swabs of cotton
- Mounting putty (optional)
- Toothpick (optional)
How to Maintain Your Earphones
The cleaning procedures are essentially the same whether you use wireless or corded earphones, like Apple’s AirPods or Samsung’s Galaxy Buds.
Never, even for a brief moment, place the buds under a faucet or submerge them in water. It will harm the wiring. When the earbuds are attached to your phone, laptop, or other device, never clean them.
The same technique works well for cleaning headphones as well. Simply clean the inner mesh screen and the bigger surfaces.
Soak the tips of the earbuds overnight
Remove any covers, silicone tips or foam tips that are attached to your earphones. In a small bowl, mix one portion of dishwashing liquid with five portions warm water. After adding the tips, give them at least half an hour to soak. To give them a deeper cleaning after soaking, use a cotton swab dipped in the soap combination.
After giving the tips a thorough rinse, let them air dry for a few hours or overnight. Wait until they are totally dry before putting them back on the earbuds.
Rub the mesh cover of the earbuds
To remove any visible earwax from the mesh screen of your earbuds, gently brush the screen with a clean, dry toothbrush, either new or old. To prevent particles from being trapped within the earbud and falling out, hold the earbud with the mesh facing down.
Take care not to exacerbate the issue by pushing the wax or dirt back into the mesh cover’s holes.
Clean the mesh cover
Wipe the bud mesh with a cotton swab that has been lightly dampened with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol to disinfect and remove any leftover residue. Avoid soaking the cotton swab with excessive alcohol. You do not want any moisture to seep into the earbud’s internal workings. It should not take long for the alcohol to dry.
Clean the earbuds’ exteriors and their cords
Finally, wipe the earbud’s outside rubber surfaces with the microfiber cloth dipped in isopropyl alcohol. The surface will be disinfected and cleaned as a result. Microfiber doesn’t leave fibers in the mesh and doesn’t produce lint. Prepackaged alcohol wipes are another option.
Use an alcohol-dipped microfiber cloth or alcohol wipe to clean the cords on any wired earbuds you may have.
Give the earbuds time to dryBefore using or putting the earphones in a case, let them air dry away from direct heat for at least fifteen minutes. Fans and hair dryers can blow lint back into the mesh screen, so avoid using them.
Tips to Maintain Clean Earbuds for a Longer Time
- When not in use, place your earbuds in a case. Earbuds gather dust and fur every time you place them in your pocket, backpack, or handbag.
- Additionally, dust and debris can interfere with charging, so clean your case. Wipe the inside of the earbud case with a microfiber cloth dipped in a little rubbing alcohol after cleaning the earphones. For cases that support wireless charging, this is very crucial.
- Your earphones should not be kept wet for extended periods of time, even if they are water-resistant, as moisture may seep into the internal components. If they do become wet, let them air dry away from the heat source.
Image From Freepik