Wireless headphones have exploded in popularity in recent years, thanks to the demise of the headphone jack on smartphones. And as it became popular, its prices became more reasonable. There are many inexpensive true wireless earbuds on the market. Whether you own a pair of headphones or plan to buy one soon, it’s important to keep them clean and take care of their batteries to prolong their useful life.
We know you don’t want to break your favorite headphones while cleaning them. That’s why we’ve put together the following tips to help you clean and care for your headphones properly.
before you start
Before cleaning your wireless headphones, it’s important that you know what not to do during this process. One wrong move will be enough to ruin your headphones. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Do not wash your headphones under running water, even if they are water resistant or have an Ingress Protection (IP) rating. You will harm them forever.
- Never expose charging points to liquids.
- For best results, remove the ear tips and clean them separately.
- Do not wash them in the washing machine.
- Never use a dryer or similar machine to dry the headphones or eartips.
- Avoid using rubbing alcohol to clean the headphones, ear tips or charging case.
- Make sure the earphones are completely dry before putting them in the charging case.
It is important to follow these tips. Headphones can be delicate, so using the wrong method can easily destroy them. You will keep your headphones in top condition when you use the right method.
How do you clean your wireless headphones?
The best way to remove all dirt from your wireless headphones is to clean them thoroughly with a damp microfiber cloth. You do not need to use a special liquid or soap solution to moisten the cloth. Normal tap water is fine.
Remove the eartips from the headphones before cleaning. For this, do the following:
- Hold the left or right earpiece in your hand.
- Turn the outer shell of the eartip.
- Gently pull the outer shell from the earpiece to remove it.
- Repeat the same steps for the other headset.
- Clean the ear tips by washing them under running water or using a soapy solution. This gets all the dirt and grime out of the ear.
- Wipe the earphones with a slightly damp microfiber cloth. Do not use cleaning solution or soap. Do not over-wet the microfiber cloth.
- Allow the ear tips to dry completely before inserting them into your wireless headphones.
And that’s it! You can use damp cotton swabs to clean areas that need more precision. Headphones that sit deep in your ear, such as the Sony WF-1000XM4 or AirPods Pro, can collect a lot of earwax over time, suffocating and reducing their sound output. Therefore, it is very important to clean the grill-like part of the headphones where the sound comes out. A damp cloth or cotton swab remains your best bet here. You can use a toothpick, but only on hard plastic earplugs.
Never pierce the grille that protects the earphone drivers with a sharp object. You can permanently damage them.
You can also use an air canister or air sprayer for cleaning camera lenses to remove dirt and earwax in hard-to-reach areas. Still, it won’t be enough to remove the dirt stuck to the ear tips. For a more thorough cleaning, buy a headphone cleaning pen from Amazon. They are usually inexpensive and contain tools that remove stubborn dirt and grime. This includes a fine-bristle brush to clean the charging points of your headphones’ carrying case.
As a more extreme measure, consider using tape or putty to remove debris from hard-to-reach areas. You can use Blu-Tack paste (or any arts and crafts paste) instead. It doesn’t leave any residue, but only use the paste in very small amounts. If your ear tips are too worn or too dirty to use, get replacement tips from Amazon. Matching ear tips are renowned for their comfort and fit, so consider upgrading to these.
Do not spray compressed air too closely or at an angle. If there is too much pressure, you may accidentally damage the headphones.
Cleaning the carrying case of your earphones is easier than earphones. You can clean the outside using a damp microfiber cloth. Depending on the design of the charging case, use a microfiber cloth or a cotton swab for the interior. Be gentle with the contacts and do not use sharp metal objects to clean them.
If you live in a dusty environment or use headphones while running or playing sports, we recommend cleaning them every few weeks. Ideally, wipe them after a training session to ensure your headphones don’t get dirty as often.
Keep your headphones in your backpack or pocket to prevent them from getting dirty while traveling. Also, avoid exposing them to very hot or cold environments as these are not good for the batteries that power them. Black headphones are always easier to clean than white ones. So if you’re looking to buy a pair of earbuds that are often advertised as white, like the Google Pixel Buds Pro, consider buying them in a darker shade.
How can you extend the life of your headphones’ battery?
If you have a pair of premium headphones that you use regularly, their batteries are likely to die after a year or two of use. Even without this, working times will be significantly reduced. Battery replacement is not an option in modern headphones, as non-removable batteries allow manufacturers to pack so much technology into such a small space. Unlike smartphones, most wireless earbuds do not have any advanced software-based algorithms to prolong battery life.
To ensure that your existing headphones will last a long time, you should take good care of the cells that power them. For this you need to follow some basic battery care tips.
Never completely discharge your headphones’ battery. Given how lithium-ion batteries are designed and work, this does more harm than good and causes unnecessary stress. Charge your headphones regularly instead of waiting for the battery to run out. Additionally, avoid keeping it plugged in for long periods of time after it’s fully charged, as it’s not good for batteries. Therefore, do not regularly charge the earphones overnight.
If you do not use your headphones regularly, it is recommended to store them with at least 50% charge. This helps extend the life of lithium-based batteries. Likewise, do not store it in very hot or very cold environments as it will cause loss of capacity.
The lithium-ion batteries inside the earphones lose their capacity over time, and their runtimes get shorter no matter how hard you try. By following the tips above, you can extend their life by at least a few months before you need to upgrade.
How can you throw away your old wireless headphones?
Even after your best efforts, you will eventually have to throw away your wireless earbuds. The batteries inside the earphones will one day stop holding a charge or working. Whatever the case, when the day comes and you’re looking for a new pair of headphones, it’s important that you dispose of your existing headphones properly first.
Don’t throw the earphones away, because they end up in a dump that does more harm than good. Instead, drop the headphones at a recycling center. Or if the headphones work well but don’t hold a charge for long, donate them to an NGO or give them to someone in need.
Take care of your headphones so they last longer
By following the tips above, you can ensure that your headphones last longer and stay cleaner. Even if you are not satisfied with the sound quality or are looking for a change, you can always forward them to your friends or family. It’s always better than throwing them away. Then, offering exceptional sound quality and noise cancellation, one of the best wireless earbuds on the market You might consider buying one.
Now you can get started with your headphones squeaky clean, perhaps making the most of your YouTube Music subscription. Or if you’re streaming your music locally, check out a few new music players.