Wireless headphones have changed the way we listen to music. Practical, comfortable and above all very small, these devices have opened the door for us to enjoy all types of songs and programs wherever we are. But its big advantages are accompanied by small disadvantages. And since most of them are intraural – they must be partially inserted into the ear cavity – they accumulate dirt and earwax very quickly. Cleaning them if you don’t know how can be quite a challenge, especially considering that they are very delicate devices. Whether you have AirPods or any other headset, leaving them looking brand new takes a bit of technique, but it’s a process that will be worth it.
First of all, you need to distinguish the type of wireless headset you have. You will have noticed that there are a large number of models and that each requires a specific cleaning method.
How to clean in-ear headphones
As we mentioned, in-ear headphones are the ones that can accumulate the most dirt. Being inside our ear canal at all times, it is very likely that they accumulate dirt within a few days.
To leave them as good as new, one piece of advice we give you is to dismantle them as much as possible. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to find out which components you can separate and which you cannot. Many of them headphones come with adapters silicone, a piece that acts as a barrier between the device and the inside of our ear. It is important to remove it so that you can clean it as precisely as possible. If your headphones are equipped with this silicone rubber, cleaning them will be extremely simple. All you have to do is wipe them with a little water and mild soap.
It is very important that before putting the adapters back into the device you ensure that they are completely dry. Otherwise, they could compromise the integrity of the product or cause infection due to moisture accumulation in the ear.
It should also be borne in mind that this is a part of the helmet that must be changed with a certain regularity. To do this, we ask you to refer to the product instructions again, in order to know precisely how often you need to change the silicone adapter.
If you purchased a silicone cover for the headset or if it already came with the product, cleaning is exactly the same. All you have to do is remove this protective element, wash it with soap and water, and let it dry well before putting it back in place on the helmet.
If your the earphones do not come with a silicone adapter, like the famous AirPods, things get complicated. And there is no barrier mechanism that separates the earphones from the ear canal, so the dirt from our ears will go directly to the earphone grill. The best way to clean is to use a cloth that does not leave lint, like those traditionally used to clean the lenses of our glasses. Alternatively, a microfiber cloth is also a good option.
Dampen this cloth with household isopropyl alcohol. With this you will be able to disinfect the helmet while you clean it. On the other hand, due to the high ability of alcohol to evaporate into the air, it will be more difficult for the headphones to become excessively wet and you will not put your headphones at risk.
Finally, we do not recommend using a toothpick or any other sharp object to clean wax and dirt from your headphones. Although it may be tempting, you should avoid using these types of instruments to clean your device, as they could detach the earpiece grille or damage it. As an alternative, we recommend a small brush with very soft bristles. There are specific brushes on sale for this purpose, but if you don’t have them on hand, a children’s toothbrush may be your best option.
How to clean over-ear headphones
You may have wireless headphones at home that completely cover your ear and do not need to be inserted into your ear canal. When it comes to cleaning, what we commonly call “helmets” are the forgotten ones. And being in constant contact with the outside of the ear and the top of our head, these sound devices accumulate more dirt than we initially suspected. Cleaning them can be difficult for fear of damaging their synthetic fabric parts or causing moisture buildup. If you are methodical, you will be able to keep your over-ear headphones clean for a long time.
Typically, wireless over-ear headphones feature a protective sponge inside the speaker. As you can imagine, since it is in constant contact with the ear, it is the dirtiest part of the headset. Fortunately, they are very easy to clean:
- Synthetic leather ear cushions: If your headset sponge is covered in synthetic leather or a thin polyester-type fabric, cleaning it will be quite simple. First, check if you can remove the pads, which will speed up the cleaning process. Then, simply dampen a microfiber cloth with a little soapy water. Be careful in this step, because if the fabric accumulates too much moisture, it could crack. Finally, using an ear swab and a little isopropyl alcohol, go over the toughest corners of the sponge.
- Hair pads: This is a relatively unusual type of pad. More comfortable than their polyester counterpart, they have the difficulty of being more prone to accumulating humidity. As a result, they are also dirtier. If you can take them apart, cleaning them will be easier, since you may be able to put them in the washing machine. No two towels are the same, so check with the manufacturer if you can machine wash them. Otherwise, clean them with a cloth dampened with soapy water. It is extremely important that they are completely dry before reassembling them in the helmet, so allow them to dry for at least a day.
