{"id":14841,"date":"2023-02-01T11:00:12","date_gmt":"2023-02-01T11:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/?p=14841"},"modified":"2026-07-03T09:33:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T08:33:02","slug":"the-ultimate-guide-to-cleaning-your-airpods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/2023\/02\/01\/the-ultimate-guide-to-cleaning-your-airpods\/","title":{"rendered":"The ultimate guide to cleaning your AirPods"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Are your AirPods looking a bit rough? If you want your AirPods looking and sounding good as new, why not give them a good old clean! Here\u2019s everything you need to know about how to clean AirPods correctly, including how to clean each model and its case.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">In this blog:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#What-you\u2019ll-need\">What you\u2019ll need<\/a><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#What-you-shouldn\u2019t-use\">What you shouldn\u2019t use<\/a><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#How-to-clean-AirPods\">How to clean AirPods<\/a><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#How-to-clean-AirPods-Pro\">How to clean AirPods Pro<\/a><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#How-to-clean-AirPods-Max\">How to clean AirPods Max<\/a><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#How-to-clean-AirPods-case\">How to clean AirPods case<\/a><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#How-often-should-you-clean-your-AirPods\">How often should you clean your AirPods<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"What-you\u2019ll-need\" style=\"text-align: center;\">What you\u2019ll need<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/what-to-use.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14843 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/what-to-use.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/what-to-use.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/what-to-use-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/what-to-use-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Before you get started on cleaning your dirty AirPods, you\u2019ll need to grab a few things. You won\u2019t need to go out and buy a special cleaning kit, as most of these items can be found around the house or can be found in your local supermarket.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what you\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Lint-free cloth<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Microfiber cloth<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Cotton swabs or a toothpick<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">70% isopropyl alcohol wipes, 75% ethyl alcohol wipes or Clorox Disinfecting wipes (or just a bit of water!)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Detergent (for AirPods Max)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Soft bristle brush<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you can\u2019t find any of the above wipes, you can get by with water instead, but bear in mind that <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-gb\/HT208729\">Apple recommends 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve collected the items you need, it\u2019s important that you follow the instructions below. There are certain parts of your AirPods that should not get wet with water or alcohol wipes, so don\u2019t go rogue now!<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"What-you-shouldn\u2019t-use\" style=\"text-align: center;\">What you shouldn\u2019t use<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/blu-tack.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14844 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/blu-tack.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/blu-tack.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/blu-tack-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/blu-tack-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Regardless of which AirPods you have, don\u2019t try to clean them with bleach, hydrogen peroxide or other cleaning products not outlined in this guide. Most cleaning products are extremely abrasive, so it\u2019s more than likely that using these would damage your AirPods.<\/p>\n<p>Another highly used product is compressed air. Although you may think compressed air is a useful cleaning tool, it could damage your AirPods internal components.<\/p>\n<p>Some people reach for Blu-tack to clean the mesh of the AirPods, however this can do more damage than good. By pushing the Blu-tack into your AirPods, you\u2019re essentially pushing the wax and dirt further into the mesh and could be left with bits of Blu-tack stuck in the mesh &#8211; leaving you more mess to clean.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also important to note that the mesh part of your AirPods shouldn\u2019t be cleaned with any alcohol or disinfecting wipes &#8211; this is a very delicate part of AirPods, so you don\u2019t want to be adding anything abrasive to this area.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"How-to-clean-AirPods\" style=\"text-align: center;\">How to clean AirPods<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/airpods.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14846 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/airpods.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/airpods.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/airpods-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/airpods-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The best way to clean AirPods is as follows:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Wipe down your AirPods with a dry, lint-free cloth.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">To clean sensitive spots, like the mesh on the microphones and speakers, scrub them with a dry cotton swab.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">If your AirPods have built up wax and dirt in hard to reach areas, try gently dislodging the gunk with a toothpick.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Wash the exterior with your alcohol or disinfecting wipes (or a slightly damp microfiber cloth if you don\u2019t have the other options).<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Wipe them with a dry, lint-free cloth and you\u2019re done!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 id=\"How-to-clean-AirPods-Pro\" style=\"text-align: center;\">How to clean AirPods Pro<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/pro.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14845 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/pro.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"502\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/pro.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/pro-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/pro-768x482.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you have AirPods Pro, the method of how to clean your AirPods will differ slightly, as they have removable ear tips. Here\u2019s how to clean AirPods Pro:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Remove the ear tips and rinse them with water to remove any dirt or wax.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Dry the tips with a lint-free cloth.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Wipe down your AirPods with a dry, lint-free cloth.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">To clean sensitive spots, like the mesh on the microphones and speakers, scrub them with a dry cotton swab.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">If your AirPods have built up wax and dirt in hard to reach areas, try gently dislodging the gunk with a toothpick.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Wash the exterior with your alcohol or disinfecting wipes (or a slightly damp microfiber cloth if you don\u2019t have the other options).<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">When both the AirPods and the ear tips are thoroughly dry, place the ear tips back on your AirPods and you\u2019re done!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 id=\"How-to-clean-AirPods-Max\" style=\"text-align: center;\">How to clean AirPods Max<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/max-.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14847 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/max-.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/max-.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/max--300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/max--768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Cleaning AirPods Max requires a different method too. As AirPods Max are headphones, there\u2019s more surface area to clean, so you\u2019ll need to set aside a bit more time to clean these. Here\u2019s how to clean AirPods Max:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Wipe the headphones down with a slightly damp, lint-free cloth and dry them with another microfiber cloth.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Remove the cushions from the ear cups.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">In a clean container, mix 1 tsp (5 ml) of liquid laundry detergent into 250 ml (1 cup) of water.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">When you clean the headband, hold your AirPods Max upside down to prevent liquid from flowing into the headband attachment point.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Dip a lint-free cloth into the soapy water solution, wring it out slightly and rub the cloth on the cushions and headband gently for 1 minute each.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Wipe the cushions and headband clean with a separate cloth that&#8217;s slightly dampened with fresh water.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Dry the cushions and headband with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, making sure you remove any excess moisture.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Lay your AirPods Max flat to dry completely before reassembling them.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 id=\"How-to-clean-AirPods-case\" style=\"text-align: center;\">How to clean an AirPods case<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/case.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14848 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/case.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/case.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/case-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/case-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Since you\u2019re cleaning your AirPods, why not go all out and clean up the case too? Here\u2019s how to clean AirPod cases:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Remove the AirPods and use a dry lint-free cloth to wipe the outside of the case.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">If your case is extra dirty, you can use a cloth dampened with a bit of alcohol on tougher spots, but be sure to dry the spots afterwards with a microfiber cloth.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">To remove debris from the charging port, use a soft bristle brush (you can also use a toothpick to gently remove any clogs of dirt)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 id=\"How-often-should-you-clean-your-AirPods\" style=\"text-align: center;\">How Often Should You Clean Your AirPods?<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/how-often.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14849 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/how-often.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/how-often.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/how-often-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/how-often-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While the gold standard is to clean your AirPods after every use, we know that\u2019s just not possible for everyone. Instead, try to clean your AirPods after every 72 hours of listening time.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to ensure your AirPods will stay cleaner for longer, make sure you\u2019re keeping your ears clean, after all, your ears will be the main culprit in dirtying your AirPods to begin with!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>Are your AirPods too dusty or damaged to save? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/sell-tech\/sell-apple-goods\/sell-airpods\/\">Trade them in<\/a> for cash towards <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/store\/category\/sound-and-vision\/?filter=grade:New\">new AirPods<\/a> with musicMagpie! You buy new or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/store\/category\/sound-and-vision\/?filter=collections:apple-airpods\">refurbished AirPods<\/a> at great prices on the musicMagpie Store. Get your hands on other Apple devices, including a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/store\/apple-iphone-store\/\">refurbished iPhone<\/a> or shop our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/store\/mobile-phones\/\">refurbished phones<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>You can trade in phone for cash with us too. Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/sell-mobile-phones\/\">sell mobile phone<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/sell-mobile-phones\/sell-my-iphone\/\">iPhone trade in<\/a> pages for more info!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are your AirPods looking a bit rough? If you want your AirPods looking and sounding good as new, why not give them a good old clean! Here\u2019s everything you need to know about how to clean AirPods correctly, including how to clean each model and its case. In this blog: &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":14842,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14841"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14841"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14841\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18541,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14841\/revisions\/18541"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14842"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}