Compared to the AirPods (Gen 1, 2, and 3), AirPods Pro can get dirty faster because of their in-ear design – which also means there are more parts to clean, such as the silicone ear tips. Unfortunately, aside from aesthetic concerns, dirt in your AirPods Pro can result in functionality issues like muffled sounds, disconnections, or even charging hiccups. But a quick clean now and then should prevent this from happening. Luckily, cleaning the AirPods Pro isn’t difficult – and this article will walk you through every step so you won’t miss a thing when you’re trying to clean your AirPods Pro and their case. Let’s dig in!
What You Need When Cleaning AirPods Pro
Apple advises against using sharp objects or abrasive materials for cleaning, so it’s best to gather the correct supplies to avoid damaging your AirPods Pro. The recommended supplies include:
Cotton swabs Dry lint-free cloth Soft toothbrush Solutions with isopropyl alcohol (preferably, 70% alcohol) Soapy water (for the ear tips only)
Another common material you’ll come across on the internet is an adhesive putty-like Blu Tack. However, we’re not including Blu Tacks in this guide, and for a good reason: Blu Tacks push the wax in your AirPods Pro deeper instead of digging it out. They may also break apart and get stuck in the speaker mesh, creating a more stubborn blockage. Other resources to avoid include water. AirPods Pros aren’t waterproof. Instead, they’re water-resistant, which means they can keep water from entering the system at a specific capacity and depth. Going beyond this can cause irreparable damage to your AirPods. That’s why it’s recommended to use alcohol for cleaning electronics instead of water, as it evaporates faster and doesn’t leave traces of oil from the cleaning. You can, however, use water to clean your AirPods’ ear tips since they technically have no electronic components. Lastly, pointy tools should also be avoided. If you’re looking for something to use to reach edges during your cleanup, it’s best to use wooden toothpicks instead. They’re less likely to scratch your AirPods Pro because their wooden tips are easier to bend, unlike metal.
How to Clean AirPods Pro Ear Tips
Separating the silicone ear tips from the AirPods Pro helps you clean them easily and prevents you from damaging the AirPods Pro accidentally since you’ll be using soapy water for this. This also lets you access other parts of the AirPods Pro, like the speaker mesh, for deeper cleaning. Here’s how to take off the AirPods Pro ear tips:
Cleaning the ear tips
Now that you’ve removed the ear tip, it’s time for cleaning. Follow the steps below: Make sure to allow the ear tips to dry for some time before placing them back on. While waiting, you can continue cleaning the other parts of your AirPods Pro.
How to Clean AirPods Pro: Earbuds & Mesh
Despite the common consensus on how gross and unclean that gunk in our ears is, earwax is actually quite crucial in maintaining ear health, and is a sign of normal, healthy ears. That said, earwax has a knack for getting stuck in the earbuds and mesh of AirPods Pro, leaving them looking unhygienic and even affecting some of their functions. Fortunately, cleaning wax out of AirPods Pro is easy. In fact, it isn’t very different from cleaning your standard AirPods, once you separate the ear tips. Here’s what to do:
How to Clean AirPods Pro Case
AirPods Pro come with a white case for storing and charging. Since the charging cases are small, it’s easy to carry them around. You can tuck them in your pocket or shove them into your bag without complications. However, this portability comes at an expense. Unless you own an exterior covering for your AirPods Pro case, your snow-white case will probably get dirty. Here’s how to clean your case:
3 Tips for Keeping Your AirPods Pro Clean
Like every other electronic device, you don’t need to wait until your AirPods Pro malfunction before maintaining them. Instead, you can prevent a host of AirPods-related problems by simply keeping them clean. Not to worry, we’ve highlighted some handy tips to keep your AirPods Pro clean.
Clean your AirPods Pro regularly
It’s best to wipe your AirPods Pro and the case after every use. That’s why, it’s advisable to keep a lint-free cloth (or at least a clean, dry tissue) handy when you go out. This neat little practice can help you quickly wipe dirt and grime off your AirPods Pro before they can ‘settle in’ and cause harder buildup.
Clean your ears
Cleaning your ears does more than keep your AirPods Pro neat. It also reduces your risk of having ear problems from the frequent use of earbuds. So, to prevent further buildup, clean your ears regularly. About three drops of earwax removal oil should do the trick. For this, simply tilt your head for about 4 minutes after you put a drop in one ear so the oil can work. Then, tilt your head so the oil can trickle out. Repeat the process for the other ear. Do this for two consecutive days, and you’ll notice less wax buildup when you next use your AirPods Pro. However, if your earwax buildup feels too hard to be tackled with these simple home remedies, or you’re experiencing pain/itching in one or both your ears, it would be prudent to seek professional help instead to prevent ear infection, or worse, hearing loss.
Avoid sharing your AirPods Pro
As sentimental as it is, sharing your AirPods Pro with anyone, even your closest people, is a bad idea. When you share AirPods, you share more than just music. However, there are times when you just can’t say no to sharing your AirPods. If that’s the case, ensure you disinfect your AirPods Pro before using them again. You can also change your ear tips regularly.
Conclusion
AirPods Pro aren’t going out of style anytime soon and continue to be user favorites because of their sleek design and a variety of high-end features. And so, it’s essential to consistently maintain their hygiene and shine so you can enjoy the best these true wireless earbuds have to offer! Hopefully, with this article, you’ll have learned how to properly clean all the different parts of your AirPods Pro and their charging case. Including all the additional tips on maintaining ear health and not sharing your precious earbuds with anybody else. There, you have it! You no longer have to face the embarrassment of being seen with dirty AirPods. How did you find your guide? Did you find any of the tips in this article helpful? Or are there other secret ways you know to keep AirPods Pro clean and would like to share the same? Please drop us a comment below!
