Credit: Unsplash
An object that spends hours in your ears ain’t gonna stay clean forever.
Apple’s AirPod earbuds have become quite the trendy item in recent years. For those of you who have just obtained a pair of AirPods, first of all, congratulations, you’re trendy. Secondly, if you want to get the absolute most life out of those things (and considering their price, I bet you do), you need to learn the proper way to take care of the buds and their case. Spoiler: it doesn’t involve a toothpick.
First, to clean the exterior casing, use a soft, dry cloth with no lint or dust. Make sure you don’t get any liquid in any of the openings. A gentle rub should wipe away any daily gunk. For the speaker and microphone meshes, use a dry cotton swab to gently rub stuff away. If there’s anything stuck in the meshes, use a small, soft-bristled brush to scrub it out. A pastry brush, for example, would be perfect, provided you haven’t, y’know, used it for pastries. To clean the case, use a typical microfiber cloth. The case’s plastic is pretty slick, so the cloth is usually enough to wipe away any contaminants. If there’s something a little more stubborn, though, it’s okay to use a very (VERY) small amount of rubbing alcohol, provided you don’t let it get in any of the ports. Speaking of the ports, make sure they’re empty while you’re cleaning. Use the same soft brush to clean the lightning port if necessary.
If you have the time, try to do a good clean-up at least once a week. If your AirPods happen to come in contact with moisture, give them a quick rubdown with a microfiber cloth to dry them off. You should also do this if you wear them while exercising, since they probably get some sweat on them. Remember, proper maintenance will help your AirPods last longer. Long enough until the next AirPods come out, anyway.
