How to Clean Earbuds and Ear Tips Safely

Wireless earbuds have become an essential gadget. And chances are that you wear them on and off multiple times throughout the day. With such frequent usage, they are bound to become dirty and get gunked up with ear wax. So, if you want to keep them in good shape, it’s important to learn how to clean earbuds and ear tips safely.

The safe nature of the cleaning process is important here. As in most cases, if you’re careful enough, you can damage the speaker grills, which will ruin the overall acoustics of the earbuds. But this shouldn’t discourage you from cleaning the earbuds and ear tips.

If you follow the correct steps and remember some tips, you can go through the entire without any trouble. And with this guide, things can get even more simpler.

How to Clean Earbuds and Ear Tips

So, there’s really no need to go through any intricate steps to clean earbuds and ear tips. Check how easy the steps actually are:

1.      Remove the tips and soak them in a soapy solution

Get yourself a bowl and make a soapy solution by mixing some dishwashing liquid and water. Remove the ear tips from the earbuds and soak them in this liquid solution. If you don’t know how to remove the tips, you have to rotate them and pull them out.

30 minutes should be enough to clean ear tips. However, if there’s stubborn buildup on the tips, you may need to keep them in the water for a longer time.

2.      Dry the ear tips of the earbuds

Once the gunk is out of the ear tips, it would be time to remove them from the solution. Use a cotton swap to wipe them and allow them to air dry completely. Make sure you don’t attach them to the earbuds while they are still wet.

3.      Wipe down the earbuds

The gunk and buildup on the earbuds will depend on how often you’ve cleaned them. But, in general, a gentle wipe with a microfiber cloth should do the trick. However, if there is still visible buildup on the earbuds, you would want to use rubbing alcohol.

Now, when it comes to cleaning the earbuds with rubbing alcohol, you need to do it with caution. Use the alcohol sparingly so you do not damage the microphone holes, charging ports, or the speaker of the earbuds.

4.      Use canned air

Found little debris logged into the earbuds? The easiest way to tackle this when cleaning the earbuds is to use canned air. Alternatively, you can use a rocket blower. No matter which one you use, make sure to keep the speaker grill away from your face. Otherwise, the debris may come lying to your eyes.

If blowing air into the earbuds cleans them, you can wipe them down with a dry microfiber cloth. Then, attach the ear tips and continue using them like normal.

5.      Use a cleaning tool to clean earbuds

Have you not taken the time to clean the earbuds after purchasing them? There’s a chance that a quick wipe and blow of air won’t do the trick. Instead, you would need to use a dedicated cleaning tool. It will break up the grime without damaging the exterior or the drivers of the earbuds.

In general, these tools are pretty inexpensive, and you can find them easily in major retail stores. Now, when it comes to using the tool to clean earbuds, make sure that you’re moving it gently enough to scoop out the debris and wax from the speaker grilles.

Do not jam the tool into the earbuds. That will make more of the grime get deeper into the buds, which can potentially damage the drivers of the buds. Once you get the earbuds clean, wipe the area with a microfiber cloth and re-attach the ear tips.

How Often Should You Clean Earbuds and the Charging Case?

It’s better to clean the earbuds at least once a week. You don’t need to do much. Just wipe them with a dry microfiber cloth. This will work like a charm in keeping the buds free from stubborn gunk buildups.

As for the charging case of the wireless buds, you should clean them at least once every few weeks. To clean the earbuds charging case, use a cotton swap or dry microfiber cloth. Clean the connection points and make sure that the metal pads inside are clean as well.

How to Keep Your Earbuds Clean for A Long Time?

There are a couple of things that you can do to keep the earbuds clean for a prolonged time. Here’s a brief description of each of the effective tips:

Keep the Buds Inside the Charging Case When Not In Use

The easiest way to keep earbuds clean is to put them inside the charging case when you’re not using them. When you throw them in your backpack or pocket, they can pick up a lot of dust and lint.

Keep the Charging Case Closed

Make sure to keep the charging case closed when you put the earbuds inside it. Keeping it open will make the dust settle on the earbud and the interior of the charging case.