Why Do Airpods Get So Dirty? (How To Clean Airpods)

Why do Airpods get so dirty and how can you clean dirty Airpods? If you want the answers to these questions, then keep reading! AirPods hold a special place in the hearts of many people. These aren’t your inexpensive earbuds that you can buy and replace any time you want.

Many people spend a significant amount of money buying AirPods. The flagship earphones released by Apple were introduced as the company made the transition to phones that didn’t come with headphone jacks.

Not only that, but there was quite a bit of criticism levied at the design of these earbuds. Regardless of that, people still love their AirPods, and take special care of these devices. First of all, the reason why so many people care so deeply about these AirPods is because they are quite expensive.

The company integrates a series of different sensors in their devices, and these sensors are designed to not only improve performance, but also give you a series of gesture controls that make it easy for you to use the device.

But, no matter how much you care for them, you should know that your AirPods are going to get dirty within a few weeks of use.

But, why do Airpods get so dirty? Airpods are susceptible to dirt because the amount of wax in your ears might slowly trickle into the grille and it can leave stains on the device. Since most people keep their AirPods in their backpack or their pocket, they are also likely to attract lint and dirt from other surfaces.

Thankfully, you can make use of a traditional microfiber cloth to clean the AirPods. More importantly, you should also consider cleaning the case on a regular basis, as the AirPods are going to spend a considerable amount of time in their case. So, let’s talk about a few reasons why they get so dirty.

Why Do AirPods Get So Dirty?

First of all, you need to understand that this answer can be divided into two phases: the actual Airpods, which are the tiny buds that go in your ears, and the charging case, which is where the AirPods are kept when you are not using them or when they have to be charged.

Because the AirPods remain in your ears for prolonged periods of time, you should know that they are going to collect ear wax over the passage of time. The main focus of your cleaning should be the oval-shaped speaker that is situated at the front of each AirPod.

You should know that the speaker grille is the part with the deepest cavity, and more importantly, it’s the part that sits at the deepest point in your ear. Naturally, the amount of ear wax that accrues inside is much higher, and you need to make sure that you clean it on a regular basis.

If you avoid cleaning the AirPods over the passage of time, it’s only going to lead to more problems and can also affect the quality of sound that you get from the device.

It’s recommended that you clean the AirPods on a regular basis, otherwise the sound quality is also going to get muffled. Apart from the AirPods, you also have to clean the charging case. Remember, when you are done using the device, you are going to put it back into the charging case.

All of the dirt and grime that was accrued by the AirPods is going to fall over into the charging case, and because the charging case might be left open or might be kept in your pocket or backpack, there’s a chance that lint might get lodged inside the case as well.

There are a few nooks and crannies within the case that might attract dirt, and more importantly, areas from where it will be difficult for you to get the dirt out. In most cases, the edges of the case, where it rises up to meet the cover, are likely to get dirty with the passage of time.

How the Case Gets Dirty

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We have already covered important parts, but many people are still confused about how the case actually gets dirty. Basically, a lot of the time, the case attracts dirt and grime, which causes it to become dirty over the passage of time.

Then, you should know that a considerable amount of the dirt and grime is carried within the case with the AirPods. When you hold these AirPods in your hand, the sweat and grime from your hands is transferred to the AirPods.

Obviously, when you put them in your ears and take them out again, this is only going to get worse with the passage of time. The dust and grime is then eventually transferred to the charging case, and it continues to accumulate dust.

Before you know it, the dust is going to get lodged in the tiny nooks and crannies around the case, making it virtually impossible for you to clean it on your own.

You are going to want to make sure that you avoid giving your AirPods to anyone else, because the health dangers of sharing earphones are considerably high.

You need to make sure that you only use the AirPods by yourself. As mentioned above, the problem generally arises when the AirPods are inserted into the ears.

The last thing that you would want is for somebody else’s ear wax to end up in your ear. It’s disgusting and no matter how much you clean the buds, you won’t be able to get them properly cleaned.

But, if you notice that the case has gotten dirty, there are some pretty easy ways for you to clean it up. For starters, you are going to need a bit of rubbing alcohol, and you are going to want to make sure that you use a toothpick or a Q-tip to clean things up.

Apply a bit of the rubbing alcohol in the difficult areas and crevices of the case. Once you are done, just let the case rest for a little while. You have to allow for enough time to let the rubbing alcohol loosen the dirt and grime.

Then, once you have left it for a half hour or so, you should use a toothpick or a Q-tip and clean the case thoroughly from the inside out.

You will be surprised at the amount of dirt and grime that is released and comes out from the charging case. Once you have cleaned the case, you can start using it again.

It’s recommended that you clean the case at least once every three to six months to ensure that everything is neat and clean.

How Dirt Affects the Sound

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If too much dirt gets stuck in the grille, it’s going to have a negative impact on the sound. You need to understand that dirt can have an undesirable effect on the sound because it could get muffled in your AirPods.

The reason why people are willing to pay so much money for these AirPods is because the quality of sound isn’t affected.

As wax continues to build up, it’s going to get stored in front of the drivers inside the device, and this is going to cause the sound to get muffled.

The ear wax might pass through the mesh portion and it will affect the sound, especially if enough wax is able to enter into the speaker grille.

The best thing to do is to check under the speaker grille and determine if there is any kind of dirt or debris that is lodged within the speaker grille, if so, you should get it out. You will notice a marked improvement in the quality of sound as well, especially if the amount of ear wax was high.

How Dirt Affects the Mechanics

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This might come as a surprise to you, but dirt also affects the mechanics of the AirPods as well. As lint or grime continues to build up on the device, it’s going to cause a negative impact on the charge conductors, and there is a risk that over a prolonged period of time, the charging of your device might be rendered useless.

These devices are powered by a wireless battery, and there are charged conductors installed to ensure that the battery can be charged over time. But, if gunk finds its way inside the charging port, it’s going to cause problems.

More importantly, because these charging conductors are so small and the holes are almost minuscule, it’s going to be a big problem for you to fix it all by yourself or get the gunk out.

The best thing that you can do to ensure that your AirPods remain neat and clean is to make sure that you clean them on a regular basis.

Failure to do that could lead to a series of problems, so you should make it a habit to clean your AirPods as frequently as possible. This is going to prolong their useful life and also ensure that no issues arise while you continue to use them.

How To Clean Dirty Airpods And Case

The first step is to wipe down the exterior of the earbuds. To do this, you should consider using a microfiber cloth because it’s going to keep the dust away without leaving any scratches on the unit.

This is the best way to get rid of loose dust particles from your device. More importantly, giving the AirPods a thorough exterior cleaning is important because it will help prepare the unit for a thorough cleaning later on.

Ideally, you should consider wiping down your AirPods as frequently as possible. The next step is to clean the speaker ports. If done correctly, this step is going to ensure that all the crevices from the unit are cleaned properly.

These are relatively small indents and are incredibly difficult to clean effectively. To do this right, you are going to require a few tools.

First of all, you should consider getting the following things: a Q-tip, microfiber cloth, paper towel, rubbing alcohol, screen cleaner, and a compressed air can. Once you have everything at the ready, just follow the steps given below to clean the AirPods properly.

First, spray a bit of rubbing alcohol or screen cleaner on your Q-Tip. This is important because it will help soften all of the dirt and wax that gets lodged on your device.

Then, you need to spread a bit of the cleaner on the grill. Be careful that you do not use lots of it. Give it a bit of rest afterward, and let the alcohol work its magic.

Within a few minutes, the buildup in the crevices is going to soften up. You can then pick it off using a conventional toothpick. Make sure you clean the grille as carefully as possible and then wipe it off using a microfiber cloth.

This is going to ensure that all the buildup is carefully removed from the device. Then, you should consider using a bit of compressed air again to remove what little might be left behind and dislodge it.

Finally, leave the AirPods on the table in a well-ventilated area to dry up. Once that happens, you can just repeat the whole process with the other AirPod.

The whole cleaning process is not going to take any more than 30 minutes. But, you should also clean the charging case, because the devices are going to be kept inside the case. If the buds are clean and the case isn’t, the dust is just going to come back within a little bit of time.

You will want to make sure that your AirPods are clean and ready properly, and that includes cleaning the case as well. Basically, you should use the same process of first spraying a bit of rubbing alcohol and then cleaning the whole case properly both inside and outside.

Leave it for a bit as the dust and dirt is going to take a bit of time to dislodge before you clean it off and then use compressed air. Owing to the fact that the case is opened and closed so frequently, you might want to consider cleaning it as frequently as the AirPods.

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About David

Hey there, I'm David. I recently joined the Spacehop team from Tech Devised, and love writing about all things TECH! When I'm not writing, you can find me enjoying the great outdoors with my golden retriever Lucy or enjoying a pint at my local Irish pub.

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