So that you can enjoy your
The good news is that you don't need any special cleaning products or expensive tools. You probably already have everything we recommend for cleaning AirPods at home. If not, at least you won't have to worry about high costs.
How to clean AirPods properly
In our opinion, you only need three things to clean your in-ears thoroughly and gently. We only use the following for cleaning:
- A microfiber cloth: This should be lint-free, soft and dry, similar to a glasses cleaning cloth.
- A brush: It is best to use 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 the surfaces.
We'll explain below how you can use these tools to clean your AirPods. There are a few differences between the individual components.
Cleaning the charging case
Let's start with the charging case. You can wipe the outside of this with the microfiber cloth. If you want, you can moisten the cloth a little with the cleaning alcohol. But this only applies to the outside of the case.
Inside the charging case you should only work with a brush. This is especially true for the sensitive charging contacts. Carefully wipe the inside of the charging case with the brush to remove any dirt.
Cleaning in-ears
The silicone tips of your headphones are the parts that get dirty the fastest due to constant contact with your ears. Ear wax can build up and should be removed regularly. To do this, you should remove the tips from the AirPods.
You can then rinse them under running water. If there are stubborn deposits, you can use a rubbing alcohol A cotton swab soaked in water or a toothpick can help. It is important that you make sure that the silicone plug is completely dry before you put it back into your headphones.
What is the best way to clean the speaker grille on AirPods?
This area is not only the hardest to clean, it is also particularly important for enjoying music. To clean the AirPod grille, only a narrow brush is suitable. 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 any dirt through the grille into the interior of the speaker. To disinfect it, 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 electronic components. That's why you should never work with too much moisture. This applies to both water and alcohol, which you can use to clean them. You should also never work with too much force. If dirt cannot be easily wiped away, then you should not work with too much pressure.
To avoid dirt 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 in a hurry or on the bus. When you separate the silicone plugs and the headphones, make sure you do it in a clean place and that 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 in order to extend the lifespan of your headphones. There are a few substances that it is better not to let them 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 rub it into your inner ear.
What if the headphones can no longer be cleaned?
Unfortunately, it can happen that individual parts of your bundle can no longer be cleaned. Fortunately, this does not mean that you have to buy a new set straight away. You can buy the silicone tips directly from
With us you can book a single left AirPod or order a right AirPods. We also have a replacement charging case for the devices of the different generations. So if you have an accident and don't want to use a totally dirty pair of headphones anymore, you can order a replacement from us.
Conclusion – Cleaning AirPods properly is not difficult
It actually only takes a little discipline to keep your headphones ready for use. Even if you're working in peace, 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 a fixed part of your weekly schedule or spontaneously on the weekend when you're at home.
The devices will thank you and regular cleaning of the speaker grilles ensures that you can enjoy the sound in the usual quality. If you treat and care for your devices carefully, you will quickly notice when performance deteriorates. This gives you the chance to react before a headphone is defective is.
And then we have a very simple tip for you. Instead of getting 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 either.
