
Key Takeaways
- Clear your AirPods with isopropyl alcohol wipes to keep away from damaging them with merchandise like cleaning soap or sunscreen.
- Utilizing a toothpick to scrub AirPods can injury the audio system; use calmly with warning on seen wax.
- By no means run your AirPods underwater; Apple’s help documentation supplies particular cleansing steps.
Chances are you’ll not consider your ears as one of many dirtiest locations in your physique, however when you concentrate on it, they are often. Ears get sweaty and gunked up with wax and will persistently be cleaned, however usually get missed. Similar to how your ears must be cleaned, so ought to the stuff you stick in and in your ears: your earbuds and headphones.
In case you personal a pair of AirPods, AirPods Pro, and even AirPods Max, you may’ve observed some wax build-up on them, and maybe you’ve got tried to scrub them with a toothpick earlier than, however with a view to correctly clear them you will want precise provides. However, what is the good method to clear your AirPods with out damaging them?
Fortunately for you, Apple released support documentation for purchasers seeking to safely clear their earbuds and headphones. Listed here are the official steps from Apple and with my private user-experience, to make clear easy methods to greatest clear your AirPods.
The right way to clear and disinfect your in-ear AirPods and over-ear AirPods Max
Apple is particular about how it’s best to bodily cleanse your earbuds and headphones. Beneath are the fundamentals, but when we additionally reply extra questions you might have about easy methods to clear your AirPods, AirPods Professional, and AirPods Max additional.
Cleansing the outside surfaces
Apple mentions soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, perfumes, solvents, detergents, acids or acidic meals, insect repellents, sunscreen, oil, and hair dye as potential merchandise which may stain or injury your headphones or earbuds. In case you’re in that scenario, you may gently wipe the outside surfaces of your AirPods, AirPods Professional, and AirPods Max utilizing isopropyl alcohol wipes, ethyl alcohol wipes, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes.

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
Relating to the AirPods Max Sensible Case, we advocate utilizing a gentle, dry, lint-free material. You’ll be able to barely dampen the material with isopropyl alcohol. Both method, enable the case to dry, and stray from utilizing abrasive supplies.

Cleansing the buds themselves
To scrub your AirPods and AirPods Professional charging case, use a gentle, dry, lint-free material. You’ll be able to barely dampen the material with isopropyl alcohol, however once more, don’t get any liquid within the charging port. If you want to clear the Lightning connector, use a clear, dry, soft-bristled brush. However keep away from placing something instantly within the charging ports.
You may as well use a toothpick to scrub your AirPods and AirPods Professional, however watch out. Ensure to calmly use the toothpick to take away any seen wax on the headphones. Aggressively utilizing a toothpick to scrub your headphones might injury the audio system of the headphones, so simply make sure you tread calmly.

MagicFiber Microfiber Cleansing Cloths (6-Pack)
Be cautious of utilizing water to scrub
In your AirPods Max, you can even use a gentle lint-free material that is both dry or barely moist with recent water. However by no means run your headphones underwater. You’ll be able to’t get liquid in any openings. The identical goes to your AirPods. If they arrive involved with liquid, together with sweat from a exercise, wipe them down with a dry microfiber material. If you want to clear the microphone and speaker meshes in your earbuds, use a dry cotton swab.

Your AirPods aren’t waterproof: Here’s what to do if they get wet
Your AirPods are sweat and waterproof, however they don’t seem to be waterproof. So, what do you have to do in the event that they get moist? We break it down.
Cleansing your AirPods Max cushions and headband
Apple really recommends you make an answer, observe the recipe and steps beneath.
- In a clear container, combine 1 tsp. (5 mL) of liquid laundry detergent into 1 cup (250 mL) of water.
- Then, you may take away the cushions from the ear cups to scrub.
- When prepared, dip a lint-free material into the soapy water resolution, wring it out a bit, and rub the material on the cushions and headband gently for one minute every.
Whenever you clear the headscarf, Apple stated to carry your AirPods Max the wrong way up to “stop liquid from flowing into the headscarf attachment level.”
Apple additionally beneficial you wipe the cushions and headband clear with a separate material that is barely dampened with recent water. To dry them, it’s best to use a gentle, dry, lint-free material. Ensure to take away any extra moisture, after which lay your AirPods Max flat to dry for not less than a day.
I like to recommend that you don’t reattach the cushions to your headphones till they’re fully dry and prepared for use once more.
Moreover, you should not use any cleansing options on the speaker mesh of the AirPods and AirPods Professional or on the knit mesh cover and ear cushions of your AirPods Max.
The right way to clear AirPods Max if they’ve a stain
In case your AirPods Max are uncovered to something which may trigger stains or different injury, Apple stated to wipe them clear with a material “barely dampened with recent water” and dry with a gentle, dry, lint-free material. Ensure to not get any liquid within the openings, and by no means use sharp objects or abrasive supplies to scrub your AirPods Max. You additionally should not try to make use of your AirPods Max till they’re fully dry after being cleaned.
FAQ
Q: Are you able to run your AirPods, AirPods Professional, or AirPods Max beneath water?
No. Do not run them beneath water. It is advisable keep away from getting moisture in any openings. The AirPods (1st and 2nd technology), the charging case, the AirPods Max, and the Sensible Case all aren’t waterproof or waterproof.
If any water has collected within the ear tip of considered one of your AirPods, Apple stated to faucet the AirPod on a gentle, dry, lint-free material with the ear tip opening dealing with downward to take away. Then, pull off the ear ideas from every AirPod and rinse the ear ideas with water. Do not use cleansing brokers. Wipe the ear ideas with a gentle, dry, lint-free material, and make it possible for the ear ideas are fully dry earlier than reattaching to every AirPod.
Q: Are you able to submerge your AirPods, AirPods Professional, or AirPods Max in cleansing brokers?
No. In response to Apple’s web site you shouldn’t submerge your AirPods, AirPods Professional, and AirPods Max in cleansing brokers
Q: Why do you have to clear your AirPods, AirPods Professional or AirPods Max?
After some time, particularly with in-ear headphones, wax can construct up in your AirPods. When ear wax builds up in your headphones, it might look like your AirPods are not working when all they really want is an efficient clear. Cleansing your AirPods will enhance the sound high quality and can assist them last more.
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