Pods are incredible earbuds that are wireless, easy to use and charge really quickly. While pods do come with a cable for use during workouts, this is for convenience and not for charging unless you have a wireless charger. When your ear wax or other debris build up inside your airpods it may be time to clean your airpods.
Cleaning airpods doesn’t require anything fancy or expensive. It is important to keep them clean especially if you use them frequently and sweat profusely or frequently go in places where you face the risk of picking up dirt and sweat such as gyms or clubs.
Table of Contents
Step1: Unpair your AirPods from your device
Unpairing your AirPods will only delete the pairing information on the device that you unpaired them from. You can pair them to a new device in the future.
To unpair your AirPods:
- Open the charging case for your AirPods, then open the lid.
- Press and hold the circular button on the back of one of the AirPods until you see an orange icon appear on both devices.
- The orange icon means that a connection is being established between your two AirPods. That way, if you have multiple Apple devices with Bluetooth turned on, you’ll know which one it’s going to connect to.
Step 2: Clean the charging case
Clean the charging case: The charging case for AirPods is made of plastic and rubber, so it’s easy to wipe down with a damp cloth if it gets dirty or sticky. A toothbrush can also be used on the lid of the case where dust tends to collect.
Make sure the lid is closed tightly when not in use: If you leave your lid open while charging, dust could enter the case and stick on your earphones. Make sure that when you’re not using them, you close both parts of the case tightly so no dust can get inside.
To clean out your charging case, follow these steps:
- Unsnap the lid of your charging case. You’ll notice that there are two different types of lids for each AirPod charging case — one for each side (left or right). Each lid has two parts: a top and a bottom piece.
- Pull off both top pieces of each side of the charging case lid. You’ll find that there are three tabs on either side, which should make it easier to remove them.
- Use a toothpick or similar tool to scrape out any debris from inside the case until it’s completely clear.
Step 3: Clean out the ear wax
You might not have thought about it, but your AirPods have a little cleaning mechanism built in. If you have ear wax build-up, you can use the small opening on the back of the case to remove it. Just place a cotton swab or paper towel into the hole and twist until you see a bit of wax come out.
If you’re experiencing any charging issues with your AirPods, there might be something blocking the charging ports on either one of them. To clean them out, simply take a toothpick or paper clip and slide it into each charging port until you get to where it connects with other parts of the earbud. Use this opportunity to clean out any debris that’s been causing your problems as well.
Step 4: Carefully wipe the speaker mesh with a dry cotton swab to remove any debris
Carefully wipe the speaker mesh with a dry cotton swab to remove any debris. To clean the charging port, use a small pin or toothpick. If your AirPods have been submerged in water, allow them to dry completely before using them again.
- Carefully wipe the speaker mesh with a dry cotton swab to remove any debris.
- Use a soft, lint-free cloth to gently wipe down the charging case, but be careful not to push it into the holes on either side of the charging case.
- Wipe down the inside of your AirPods case with a microfiber cloth or paper towel moistened with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or 70 percent isopropyl alcohol solution. You should use this only if you feel like you have an infection or if the center button is not working consistently after washing your AirPods in soap and water.
Wipe down the microphone and speaker mesh gently with a 50/50 isopropyl alcohol and water solution, use a cotton swab
This will remove any dirt or buildup that may be present on the mesh, which can affect sound quality.If you have very stubborn stains, try using a toothpick to gently scrape off any gunk. Be careful not to scratch or damage the mesh.
Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the outside of your AirPods case and charger. These surfaces can get dirty over time, so it’s important to keep them clean.
Clean the interior of your AirPods case with an alcohol-free hand sanitizer. Just apply some to a microfiber cloth and wipe down the inside walls of your case. This helps prevent mildew from forming inside over time.
Step5: Set them aside to dry
If you don’t have a clean cloth and are in a hurry, using a dry towel to wipe off the majority of the dirt and dust should be enough. After wiping your AirPods down, you’ll want to let them air dry for at least 24 hours before putting them back in their case.
If you have time and want to do a deeper cleaning, then follow these steps:
- Take your AirPods out of their case and wipe down each pod with a clean cloth or dry towel.
- Set them aside to dry completely (at least 24 hours). This will prevent any moisture from getting inside your charging case when they’re not in use.
It is important to clean your airpods because they get dirty easily
Be careful not to get anything inside the airpod. When you’re done, make sure you put them back in their case and plug in the case to your iPhone or computer. It’s important to clean them regularly because it will maintain better airflow which will result in better sound quality. With proper care and maintenance, these headphones will last a long time. Lastly, make sure they’re charging while they’re out of the case so that they will recharge when you put them back into the case.