So that you can enjoy your
The good news is that it doesn't require any special cleaning products or expensive tools. You probably have everything we recommend for cleaning AirPods in your home anyway. If not, then at least you won't incur any high costs.
Clean AirPods properly – this is how it works
From our point of view, you only need three things so that you can clean your in-ears thoroughly and gently. We only use:
for cleaning- A microfiber cloth: Similar to a glasses cleaning cloth, this should be free of lint, soft and dry.
- A brush: Ideally a brush that has never come into contact with paint and is not too wide.
- Cotton swabs: Ideally, these have a smooth and firm surface.
- Rubbing alcohol: You can use this to disinfect surfaces.
We will explain below how you can clean the AirPods using these tools. There are a few differences between the individual components.
Clean the charging case
Let's start with the charging case. You can wipe this from the outside with the microfiber cloth. If you want, you can moisten the cloth slightly with the rubbing alcohol. However, this only applies to the outside of the housing.
You should only work with a brush inside the charging case. This particularly applies to the sensitive charging contacts. Carefully wipe the inside of the charging case with the brush to remove the dirt.
Cleaning in-ears
The silicone tips on your headphones are the parts that get dirty most quickly due to constant contact with your ears. Earwax can build up and should be removed regularly. To do this, you should remove the attachments from the AirPods.
You can then rinse them under running water. If there are stubborn adhesions, a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol or a toothpick can help. It is important that you make sure that the silicone plug is completely dry before you put it back together with your headphones.
What is the best way to clean the speaker grill of the AirPods?
Not only is this area the hardest to clean, it is also particularly important for enjoying music. To clean the AirPod grille, you only need a narrow brush. With this you can wipe very carefully over the speaker and thereby clean the grille.
You have to be particularly careful because you don't want to push dirt through the grille into the interior of the speaker. To disinfect, you can also use a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol and carefully clean the grille with it.
What should you avoid at all costs?
If you want to clean your AirPods properly, always remember that they are sensitive electrical parts. That's why you should never work with too much moisture. This applies to both water and alcohol, which you can use for cleaning. You should also never work with a lot of force. If you can't easily wipe away dirt, then you shouldn't use too much pressure.
To prevent dirt from forming that is difficult to remove, you should clean your AirPods regularly.Set a schedule that should be based on the intensity of use. The more often you use the headphones, the shorter the intervals between cleaning the AirPods should be.
Take your time cleaning and don't do it between the doors and doors or even on the bus. If you separate the silicone earbuds and headphones, make sure you do so in a clean place where you can easily put the individual parts away.
Extend the life of your AirPods
In addition to regular and thorough cleaning, there are a few things you should pay attention to so that the headphones can last longer. There are a few substances that it is better not to come into contact with. This includes, for example, dishwashing liquid, which you should never use to clean your AirPods.
Cosmetic products such as creams, lotions and oils can also attack the material. Sunscreen also contributes to the silicone tips aging faster and, above all, becoming unsightly. So when applying sunscreen, be careful not to smear your inner ear.
What if the headphones can no longer be cleaned?
Unfortunately, it may happen that individual parts of your bundle can no longer be cleaned. Luckily, this doesn't mean that you have to buy a new set straight away. You can buy the silicone tips directly from
You can order a single left AirPod or a right AirPod from us. We also offer a replacement charging case for devices of different generations. So if a mishap happens to you and you no longer want to use a totally dirty pair of headphones, you can order a replacement from us.
Conclusion – Cleaning AirPods properly is not difficult
It actually just takes a little discipline to keep the headphones always ready for use. Even if you work quietly, it won't take more than 15 minutes to clean your AirPods. You can always take this time in your everyday life. Be it as an integral part of your weekly schedule or spontaneously on the weekend when you are at home.
The devices will thank you and regular cleaning of the speaker grilles ensures that you can enjoy the sound in the quality you are used to. If you treat and look after your devices carefully, you will quickly notice if poor performance occurs. This gives you the chance to react before a headphone is defective.
And then we have a very simple tip for you. Instead of being annoyed that your in-ears are dirty again, you can pay attention to where and how you store them in everyday life. The safest place is always the charging case. And if you keep this clean, the headphones themselves won't get dirty.
