We wear headphones for everything, work, leisure, walks … Over time, it is normal for them to accumulate dirt, grease and ear wax if they are an in-ear model. But don’t worry, we show you how to clean your headphones very easily, whatever type they are . As you will see, you will not need anything special to make them like new in less than ten minutes, but yes, take into account the advice we give you, so as not to damage them and that everything is easy and fast.
The cleaning procedure is simple and will depend on the type of headset you have. So we are going to start with the in-ear model and then we will see the ones that are shaped like a headband. But first, let’s clear up a couple of general questions about headphone maintenance.
How often should I clean the headphones?
It depends on the use. If you go for a run with them and then also wear them all day on your trips and work, you should clean at least every two weeks .
If you don’t use them in activities where you sweat or wear them for less time, once a month is the minimum .
Do I need any special liquid or material to clean headphones?
Not really. Although “specialty” cleaners are sold, they are not necessary or contain anything magical that is better than what we have around the house.
As you can see, soap, water, and rubbing alcohol (or hydrogen peroxide) are just as effective at cleaning and disinfecting.
How to clean an in-ear headphones
Whether they are in-ear pads that go further into the ear or vintage design ones that don’t go as far into the ear, the main enemy is the wax we generate.
In the same way, those that are introduced into the ear can insert something that infects it, so it is important that they are very clean and do not accumulate dirt, which is a breeding ground for bacteria.
To clean them, follow these steps.
1. Remove the small rubber ear pads
If they do (which is not the case with Airpods or Pixel Buds ) carefully remove the rubber pads that you insert into the ear.
As this is the least sensitive part, it is also the easiest to clean. It does not have much science, you can soak it in a glass with water and neutral soap . A gentle hand wash or hand wash will do the trick, and you don’t need to add too much.
If you leave them for ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, the dirt will soften and it will be easier to remove. Then rub with your fingers or a cloth soaked in the solution, rinse with water and dry with kitchen paper, for example.
It is important that they are very dry before putting them back on, so leave them in the air for a while .
It is not advisable to leave them in the sun because it will degrade the rubber, nor do you use a dryer that can deform it. These last two tips are for everything related to cleaning any headset.
2. Use a soft toothbrush for the rest of the headset
If the bristles of the brush are soft, you will avoid damaging the headset, especially the metal grill.
Some people use ear buds, but personally I don’t recommend them . I find them less comfortable and, above all, you can leave a cotton residue , especially on the grill or on the joint of this with the rest of the hearing aid.
Regarding the use of the brush, there are two schools. Those who use it completely dry to prevent liquid from entering the headphones and those who moisten it with hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol (that’s me, and that is 70, that you should not go over, if you do not have, the ethyl alcohol of pharmacy can be worth) and remove the excess so that it is not wet, but very slightly damp .
That way, there is some alcohol on the brush that will sanitize, but it won’t get through the mesh. In any case, be very careful when you go through it , better five very light strokes than one squeezing.
In the same way, do not clean the rest of the headset towards said mesh, but away from it , so you will not introduce dirt inside the device.
3. Clean the rest of the exterior surface
With the same solution, you can very lightly dampen a soft kitchen paper or cloth and clean the outer plastic of the headset. You can also continue to use the brush, especially if the shape of the earpiece creates difficult nooks.
Then let it air dry completely without the sun shining and put the pads back on.
Some use disinfectant wipes to clean the headphones. Now that they are everywhere because of the pandemic and they are cheap, they are comfortable, but use them only if they meet two conditions:
- First try another plastic similar to the one used in the headset and check that they do not contain any ingredient that damages the plastic or the color.
- That it does not leave a residue or it falls apart as you clean. In that case, the remedy will be worse than the disease.
4. Clean the cargo box if they have one
If your headphones are Bluetooth , they will have a charging box and you also have to clean it, because it becomes a nest of dirt.
It is very easy, you can use a cloth to remove the remains and, again, some (again me) prefer it moistened to disinfect better. If the box is very dirty, you may need it. I am a heavy, but again we speak of slightly damp, never wet, and take care when cleaning the sensitive parts.
When we finish going through everything (with caution in the holes in which the headphones fit in the box), we leave it open for a while to dry, before putting the headphones back in.
How to clean an over-ear headphones
Ideally, the pad that surrounds the ears can be detached. That will allow us to clean it better. It is possible that, in the case of your headphones, this may not be. In that case, cleaning will be a bit more difficult, but it is not an engineering career either.
Be that as it may, again we divide into two parts, the ear pad and the body of the headset.
1. Clean the pads
In addition to cleaning, we need to disinfect, so again we resort to alcohol and moistening a soft cloth.
Next, we have a good time on the pad, removing traces of grease or dirt.
We put the pads to dry on a kitchen paper, again, avoiding the sun and without using direct heat.
If the pads do not separate, the procedure is the same, taking care to carefully review the joint between the pad and the receiver on the inside , which tends to accumulate dirt. The ideal is that little bit of alcohol on the cloth, but that it does not drip or saturate the cloth, being able to get through the grill.
Again, disinfectant wipes can be ideal if they meet what we’ve seen. Our friend the previous toothbrush can also help us here.
2. Clean the outside of the headset
As they will surely be made of plastic, there is not much problem. A soft cloth dampened with alcohol will do.
Just have a good time and remove dirt and debris. Some people moisten with a soap and water solution. Clean, clean the same, but the alcohol dries and evaporates before , that’s why it seems more suitable.
3. Clean the inside of the headset
This is the part in contact with the ears and the material can vary greatly. If it is rigid or plastic, clean with the cloth and be very careful not to get alcohol through holes and gaps.
If there are other materials and you don’t dare with them, you can dry clean. You will have to give several passes of a cloth or soft toothbrush. Patience and that there is nothing left.
To finish, you can give a very light pass over it with a damp wipe or cloth to disinfect. I repeat, very light, rather levitating over the surface , do not get cleaning solution.
Let everything dry well before using, put the pads if they were removable and that’s it.
Now you know how to clean your headphones. As you will see, it is very easy and it is more a matter of patience than difficulty.
