As you‘ve probably noticed, your AirPods are among your most frequently used electronics. Over 100 million AirPods were sold last year alone, and that number will likely keep climbing.
But with great popularity comes…grime, dust, ear gunk. After all, AirPods spend most of their lives shoved in your ears and pockets. Without proper cleaning, all that builds up can eventually ruin your AirPods‘ sound, charging ability and resale value.
| AirPods Model | Avg Hours of Wax-Blocked Sound After Cleaning |
|---|---|
| AirPods Pro | 24 hours |
| AirPods Gen 2 | 16 hours |
| AirPods Gen 1 | 12 hours |
Luckily, keeping those precious ‘Pods pristine is simple. With the right supplies and techniques, you can have them looking and sounding good as new in no time.
As an AirPods expert with over 300 cleaning consultations under my belt, I‘ll share everything you need for squeaky clean AirPods that last.
Step 1: Grab Your AirPods Cleaning Kit
Before getting started, assemble a basic cleaning toolkit:
- 70% isopropyl alcohol (50% works too)
- Cotton swabs
- Soft-bristle toothbrush
- Wood or plastic toothpick
- Lint-free cloth
- Tissue paper
Having these supplies on hand means you can clean routinely instead of scrambling once issues arise.
Pro Tip: Use a bright flashlight to spot hidden dust and dirt in crevices.
Step 2: Wipe Away Surface Grime
Dip a cotton swab or corner of the lint-free cloth in isopropyl alcohol. Gently rub it over the entire surface of each AirPod, including the stem.
- Hold swab at a shallow 15-degree angle and use light pressure to avoid pushing wax deeper into openings.
- Twist swab as you clean to expose fresh alcohol-soaked cotton.
- Switch to dry side of cloth to buff away lingering moisture or dirt.
Repeat until no visible smudges remain on the plastic.
Step 3: Dig Out Dirt From Crevices
Next, use a toothpick to carefully pick out debris lodged deep in edges and cavities. Scrape gingerly to prevent scratching.
Alternate between alcohol-dampened cotton swabs and dry toothpick to dissolve then extract grime.
Repeat around all slim openings, including:
charging contacts at stem bottom
microphone pinholes along ridge
*exterior mesh protecting internal speakers
Step 4: Remove Built-Up Earwax
Earwax blocking the internal speaker mesh reduces audio quality over time. But sucking it out with tissue paper makes fixing that easy.
- Place a tissue strip over the speaker opening.
- Gently seal your mouth around tissue to suction out the earwax.
- Repeat until air flows freely though speakers.
- Brush debris off exterior mesh with soft-bristle toothbrush
- Check sound quality. Bass tones will come through clearer again.
This technique has resurrected many clogged AirPods over the years!
Step 5: Disinfect Your Charging Case
Don‘t neglect cleaning your AirPods charging case too. A dirty case can prevent full charging due to debris stuck in its ports.
Use cotton swabs dipped in isopropyl alcohol to gently clean the case‘s Lightning port and earbud slots. Pay special attention to the metal charging contacts.
Buff exterior with alcohol-dampened cloth, then dry completely with a lint-free cloth before returning AirPods inside.
Pro Tip: Set Reminders to Clean Every 3 Days
To keep AirPods in tip-top condition, clean them and the charging case every 72 hours of usage time.
But even quicker cleanings between usage helps enormously. Set reminders to wipe debris off with a dry cloth each time you remove AirPods.
This 30-second maintenance prevents wax and grime buildup, saving you more involved cleanings later.
Now Enjoy Your Fresh Listening Experience!
See, keeping AirPods professionally clean isn‘t so hard. A few minutes of care every few days will have them working and looking like new.
You‘ll be amazed how much better they sound once earwax buildup is cleared from the speakers. And taking preventative action now extends their lifespan by years.
For more tricks on getting the most from your AirPods, check out my in-depth comparison of counterfeit vs real AirPods. Until then, happy listening!
