How do I ACTUALLY clean my AirPods?

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Level 1

9 points

How do I ACTUALLY clean my AirPods?

Official Apple instructions don’t work. Wiping and brushing just pushes ear wax further into the AirPod, and sound get gradually worse over time, no matter how much I clean the AirPod or my ears. With daily use, these are supposed to last how long, a year maybe, before it’s gummed up with ear wax on the inside? I really love my Airpods, but it’s clear Apple wants me to buy a new $150 pair every year, and just wear dirty EarPods. The official cleaning instructions are a joke.

Cleaning with alcohol (not the official way), no matter how carefully, is likely to break the Airpods. I’m on my second pair, busted after cleaning them, being very careful not to saturate alcohol past the mesh. I let them dry over night, and even let the airpods run out of battery before cleaning. It’s clear that Apple doesn’t want airpods to last very long. Please show me how I am wrong.

Posted on Aug 24, 2019 1:59 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

evinb39 Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 27, 2019 2:38 PM in response to deggie

How is it getting so dirty? Human ears produce what is known as “earwax”...

Wiping with a cloth will remove some earwax, but will inevitably push some further inside, which is why myself and others have attempted to used alcohol to more thoroughly remove the earwax from the speaker grill.

Also, I’d prefer not to use some “method one person came up with”, and risk Apple not covering any user-error damage if it comes time to ask Apple to repair/replace something defective. I’d prefer Apple update their official cleaning instructions to include these ideas, if these are the ways the Airpods are designed to be cleaned.

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Answer 2

evinb39 Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 24, 2019 2:01 PM in response to evinb39

Also, when posting this, there was no category for “Airpods” that I could post to, just a generic “accessories” category. This doesn’t make sense, for many reasons.

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Answer 3

deggie

Level 10

167,309 points

Aug 24, 2019 5:20 PM in response to evinb39

They are primary an iPhone accessory which is why you post here.

You can use a hearing aid kit (you can pick one up at your local pharmacy) to clean the AirPod and remove earwax. Or you can use the method one person came up with (there is a lengthy thread about it here): put the grill end in your mouth and suck.

I'm not understanding why and were you are using alcohol, what is getting so dirty that it requires that?

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Answer 4

deggie

Level 10

167,309 points

Aug 27, 2019 2:47 PM in response to evinb39

Yes, I know all about earwax. I actually use a headphone cleaning kit that came with some high end IEM's that is similar to a hearing aid kit. i've never had trouble cleaning them, never pushed earwax in and never used alcohol. Unless you are planning on spitting in your AirPods while sucking there would be no reason for Apple to void your warranty.

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