The Simplest Ways to Clean Your AirPods or AirPods Pro

Do you need to clean your AirPods? Over time, your AirPods can accumulate dust, debris, earwax, and other gunk. If your AirPods look like they’ve seen better days, you can use a few tricks to get them to look new again. However, you must be careful when cleaning any electronic device so that water doesn’t get into the internal components, which can cause permanent damage and impede its functionality. This wikiHow article teaches you how to safely clean your AirPods and keep them clean.

Ways to Clean AirPods

Wipe your AirPods and AirPods case with a clean microfiber cloth.
Use a dry cotton swab or a soft-bristle brush to wipe away debris.
Use a pencil eraser to remove grimy spots.
Clean the meshes of your AirPods 3 or 4 with some micellar water if they're extremely dirty.

Section 1 of 4:

Cleaning Your AirPods

Download Article

Don’t use a regular cloth or rag. This could damage the polish on your AirPods.^{[1]
X
Research source} Microfiber cloths are also better at picking up small particles than regular cloths.^{[2]
X
Research source} Hold the microfiber cloth in your hand and gently bring it over the entire surface of each AirPod.
Hold the cotton swab in your hand and gently rub the soft end through the small cracks and crevices on your AirPods. Carefully wipe the speaker grills to remove any dust or wax buildup. Don’t push too hard on the speaker grills, or you could damage them.^{[3]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
Place the eraser on the spot you want to remove, and gently rub it back and forth. Once the spot is gone, wipe off any leftover eraser shavings with the microfiber cloth.^{[4]
X
Research source}
4
Brush the speaker grills with an anti-static soft-bristle brush. If you don’t have an anti-static brush, you can use the bristles on a clean, dry toothbrush instead. Use the bristles on the anti-static brush to brush away dust, dirt, or wax that’s stuck in the speaker grills. Use a gentle brushing motion so you don’t damage the grills.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- For more tips, check out the wikiHow forum post "How to clean airpods safely?" and see what other readers recommend.
5
Use a damp microfiber cloth or 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe as a last resort. If your AirPods haven’t been cleaned in a while, you may need to use a little water to remove tough dirt and grime. Add a drop or two of distilled water onto a microfiber cloth to barely wet it. You can also dampen it with a little isopropyl alcohol or use an isopropyl alcohol wipe. Then, rub the damp part of the cloth over the surface of your AirPods. Don’t let the wet part of the cloth make contact with the speaker grills, or moisture could get inside them.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Do not attempt to use your AirPods until they are completely dry.
Don't do this step if the speaker grills are filled with wax, as this will push wax further into the AirPods and damage them. However, if you have a little dust or debris in the grills, using poster tack can help remove it. Take the poster tack and press it into the grill of your AirPod, then pull it out.^{[7]
X
Research source} Make sure you're using the blue, repositionable poster tack. Avoid using glue or any permanent adhesive on your AirPods, as this will damage them.

Section 2 of 4:

Cleaning AirPods 3 or 4 Mesh

Download Article

1
Gather your supplies. If you have AirPods 3 or 4, you can clean the meshes with micellar water. Gather the following materials before you begin:
- Micellar water that has PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides (Apple recommends Bioderma or Neutrogena)
- Distilled water
- A soft-bristled toothbrush
- Two small cups
- Paper towels
You don't need much, so only use a small amount of micellar water.
Dip the toothbrush into the micellar water and hold your AirPod facing up. Gently brush each mesh for about 15 seconds.
Use the towel to soak up any excess micellar water. Avoid getting the AirPod too wet, as this can damage it.
After using the micellar water to clean your AirPods mesh, you can rinse it with micellar water.
Gently brush each mesh just like you did when you were cleaning it, but using the distilled water instead of the micellar water.
Dry up as much water as you can. Excess water can damage your AirPods.
Don't use or charge your AirPods when they're still wet, as this can cause them to stop working. Let your AirPods dry at room temperature for at least two hours before using them again.^{[8]
X
Research source}

Section 3 of 4:

Cleaning the Case

Download Article

Gently wipe the entire surface of your case using a microfiber cloth. Do not use abrasive materials to clean your AirPods case.
You can use a soft-bristle brush, like a clean toothbrush, to remove any debris from the charging ports on your AirPods case.
3
Use a slightly damp 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe as a last resort. If there is any tough dirt or grime on your case, you can clean it using an isopropyl alcohol wipe or a microfiber cloth damp with just a little bit of 70% isopropyl alcohol.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- Make sure you do not get any liquid in the charging ports.
- Wait for your case to completely dry before using it.

Section 4 of 4:

Keeping AirPods Clean

Download Article

Periodically cleaning your AirPods will stop them from collecting a lot of dust, dirt, and wax. Keep a microfiber cloth close by so you can wipe them down regularly. ^{[10]
X
Research source}
2
Keep your AirPods in their case when you’re not using them. They’ll be less susceptible to getting dirty if they’re stored away. Avoid putting your AirPods in your pocket or your bag, where they’ll collect lots of dust and dirt.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- If you often use your AirPods at night, keep their case right next to your bed.
- If you like using your AirPods on the go, carry their case in your bag. Just make sure it’s closed so dirt and dust particles don't get inside.
Not cleaning your outer ears can cause wax to build up, which can transfer onto your AirPods when you wear them. You can clean your ears with a homemade solution containing equal parts hydrogen peroxide, mineral oil, and glycerin.^{[12]
X
Research source} If your ears are very dirty, consider getting them professionally cleaned by a doctor.
4
Don't share your AirPods with other people. Your friends might leave your AirPods outside the case, which could cause dust and dirt to accumulate on them. Also, wax from their ears could get on your AirPods. Holding onto your AirPods will help keep them clean.
- If someone asks to borrow your AirPods, kindly tell them you paid a lot of money for them. Offer to let them borrow a cheaper pair of regular headphones instead.

Join the Discussion...

How to clean airpods safely?

WikiCaribouWhisperer217

I basically use my AirPods every day, and boy, you can sure tell by how dirty they look. I don't want to get them wet and ruin them for good, but I don't want to keep putting that gunk back into my ears. It looks like some of the ear wax has gotten into the case as well. Any advice on how to get these clean again?

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

My AirPods keep falling out!

Kolby Ng

Community Answer

Buy some earclips for AirPods, they'll cling on to your ear to prevent falling off.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 21 Helpful 19
Question

What part of the AirPods is the microphone?

Community Answer

The microphones are in the bottom of the AirPods (near the part that is connected to the case).

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 8 Helpful 22
Question

What if one AirPod is louder than the other?

Community Answer

You could possibly have a hearing problem. If you think this is not the case you can go to: Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Balance.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 34 Helpful 21

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Do not submerge or place your AirPods under running water.

Thanks
Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
Avoid getting liquid in any of the openings.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Do not use abrasive materials when cleaning your AirPods or AirPods case.

Thanks
Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1
Allow your AirPods or the case to completely dry before using them.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Avoid using harsh cleaners with chemicals. They could damage the outside of your AirPods.

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0