Here’s how to clean your AirPods safely

With regular use, everything AirPods Eventually cleaning is required. It is inevitable that earwax and other dirt will accumulate in the ears. It’s not just ugly; This can potentially affect the sound quality and worse, even cause health problems. ear infections. However, if you’re not careful, earbuds like AirPods and over-ear headphones like airpods max and max 2 Can be easily damaged during the cleaning process.

The most important tip: do not soak them or rinse them in running water. You should also avoid using most cleaning products or wipes. Luckily, even with those limitations, it’s pretty easy to clean your Apple headphones — and we’ve got a few methods to help.

If you have some non-Apple headphones you want to clean as well, check out How to Clean Your Headphones and Earbuds (And Yes, You Should).

Apple’s AirPod cleaning instructions

Like all expensive tech devices, use caution when cleaning your AirPods — you don’t want to damage them by being overzealous. To clean carefully, Apple gives instructions You should use a slightly damp cloth and a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, and caution against using soap, shampoo and solvents or running your AirPods under water (if you accidentally get soap on them, wipe them with a slightly damp cloth and let them dry before further cleaning). To remove debris from the microphone and speaker mesh, Apple recommends using a dry cotton swab and a soft-bristle brush.

For airpods proAccording to Apple, you can remove the ear tips and wash them with water, but without soap or other cleaning agents. Apple then wants you to follow its usual rules of using a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to clean the ear tips and letting them dry completely before reassembling.

For over-ear AirPods Max, the above methods apply, but be careful of any oily substances that could stain or damage them — Apple’s extensive list of worrisome liquids includes soap, perfume, solvents, detergents, insect repellents, sunscreens, and even hair dye. If any of these get on your AirPods Max, wipe them with a cloth slightly damp with water and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

To clean the AirPods Max ear cushions and headband—which you’ll want to do frequently, especially if you wear them to work or sweat in hot weather—make a solution of 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of liquid laundry detergent with 1 cup (250 mL) of water. Remove the ear cushions, dip a cloth in the solution and wipe the cushions, then wipe the headband (make sure you’re holding the AirPods Max upside down so nothing gets into the audio electronics). Then wipe them with a cloth soaked in water and finally with a dry cloth. Lay the cushions out to dry for at least a day before reassembling them.

To kill any germs that get on your AirPods, Apple says it’s OK to gently wipe the exterior surfaces (but not the speaker mesh) with a 70-percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox disinfecting wipe. And it’s a good idea to avoid using a wipe that’s overly saturated because you don’t want moisture getting into any of the pores of your AirPods. Finally, no matter how dirty and disgusting your AirPods are, do not dip them in any cleaning products.

CNET’s Matt Elliott tested Apple’s methods, but attempting to use a Q-tip only smeared more wax and dirt. He then used an old toothbrush to remove the dirt, but got no better results.

Elliot’s solution: Fun-Tac and a wooden toothpick

Elliott had no problem wiping down the outside of my AirPods (and their case) with a dry cloth, but he needed a better way to get the wax and dirt out of the speaker mesh and hollow part.

it cult of mac article Elliott pointed to the solution – or rather, reader comments on the article did. This included two items already in the house: fun-till (because he has kids with posters hanging in their rooms) and wooden toothpicks (from baking).

To remove wax and dirt stuck inside the hollow part of your AirPod speaker, simply take a small piece of Fun-Tac and stretch it and knead it slightly to warm it up. Then press it on the speaker a few times and it will pick up the wax and dirt.

A wooden toothpick can then be used to gently remove stubborn pieces stuck to the hollow sides of the speaker. A wooden toothpick is sharp enough to pick out individual chunks of gross, waxy dirt, and it’s much safer than a sharp metal object like an exposed staple that can scratch the plastic or tear the wire speaker mesh.

Are you looking for more AirPod tips and tricks? check us out best airpods tips And 11 Amazing AirPods Pro Trickslearn more How to Pair AirPods with Your Windows PC in 1 Minute.