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 a model in-ear headphones. But don't worry, we teach 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 look like new in less than ten minutes, but yes, keep in mind the advice that 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 let's start with the model in-ear and then we will see those that are shaped like a diadem. But first, let's clarify a couple of general doubts about the maintenance of headphones.
How often should I clean the headphones?
It depends on the use. If you go running with them and then you also wear them all day on your commute 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?
Actually, No.. 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 will see, water, soap, and isopropyl alcohol (or hydrogen peroxide) are just as effective for cleaning and disinfecting.
How to clean headphones in-ear
Whether they are some in-ear of cushions that are inserted more in the ear or ones of design vintage that do not get into the ear so much, the main enemy is the wax that 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 pads from the headset
If they do (which is not the case with the Airpods or the pixels Buds) carefully remove the rubber pads that you put in the ear.
Since this is the least sensitive part, it is also the easiest to clean. It doesn't have much science, you can soak it in a glass with water and neutral soap. A mild hand or hand wash will suffice, and you don't need to add a lot either.
If you leave them for ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, the dirt will soften and it will be easier to remove. Next, rub with fingers or a cloth dipped in the solution, rinse with water and dry with kitchen paper, for example.
It is important that they are dry before putting them back, so leave them in the air for a while.
It is not recommended 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 cotton buds for their ears, but personally, I do not recommend them. I find them less comfortable and, above all, you can leave cotton residue, especially in the grill or in 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 it's 70, you don't have to go overboard, if you don't have it, ethyl alcohol from pharmacy can do) and remove the excess so that it is not wet, but very slightly moist.
That way there is some alcohol on the brush that will sanitize but not get through the mesh. Anyway, be very careful when you go through it, better five very light passes than one pressing.
In the same way, do not clean the rest of the earphone in the direction of said mesh, but away from her, so you will not introduce dirt into the device.
3. Clean the rest of the outer surface
With the same solution, you can very slightly dampen a soft kitchen paper or cloth and clean the outer plastic of the earpiece. You can also continue to use the brush, especially if the shape of the earpiece creates difficult recesses.
Then let it air dry well out of the sun and put the pads back on.
there are those who 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:
- Try first on another plastic similar to the headset and check that they do not contain any ingredient that harms plastic or color.
- That does not leave residue or go undone as you clean. In that case, the remedy will be worse than the disease.
4. Clean the cargo box if they have it
If your headphones are Bluetooth, they will have a cargo box and you have to clean it too, because it becomes a nest of dirt.
It's very easy, you can use a cloth to remove debris and, again, some (me again) prefer it moistened to better disinfect. If the box is very dirty, you may need it. I'm heavy, but again we're talking slightly damp, never wet, and taking care when cleaning sensitive parts.
After going through everything (with caution in the holes where the headphones fit into the box), we left it open to air for a while to dry, before putting the headphones back in.
How to clean over-ear headphones
Ideally, the cushion around the ears can be detached. That will allow us to clean it better. It is possible that, in the case of your headphones, this cannot be. In that case, cleaning will be a bit more difficult, but it's not an engineering career either.
Be that as it may, again we divide it into two parts, the earpad 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 moisten a cloth soft.
Next, we pass it through the pad, removing traces of grease or dirt.
We put the pads to dry on 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 review the joint between the pad and the earpiece on the inside, which usually accumulates 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, disinfecting wipes can be ideal if they meet what we have seen. Our friend the previous toothbrush can also help us here.
2. Clean the outside of the earpiece
Since they will most likely be plastic, there is not much of a problem. A soft cloth dampened with alcohol will do the trick.
Just have a good time and remove dirt and debris. Some moisten with a soap and water solution. Clean, clean the same, but the alcohol dries and evaporates beforeSo it seems more appropriate to me.
3. Clean the inside of the earpiece
This is the part in contact with the ears and the material can vary a lot. If it is rigid or plastic, clean with a cloth and be very careful that alcohol does not enter through holes and gaps.
If there are other materials and you don't dare much with them, you can dry clean. You will have to give several passes with a cloth or soft toothbrush. Patience and let nothing be left.
To finish, you can give a very light pass over it with a damp wipe or cloth to disinfect. I repeat, very slight, rather levitating on 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.