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how to deep clean airpods

To deep clean AirPods safely, focus on removing earwax, dust, and grime from the speaker meshes, body, and case without using harsh liquids or anything that can push gunk further inside or damage the drivers.

Quick Scoop

  • Never run AirPods under water or use household cleaners.
  • The safest “deep clean” follows Apple’s own micellar‑water + soft brush method for the meshes.
  • Always let them dry completely (at least 2 hours) before putting them back in the case.

What You’ll Need

  • Soft, lint‑free cloth (microfiber is ideal).
  • Soft‑bristled toothbrush or children’s toothbrush.
  • Micellar water (oil‑free facial cleanser, no added fragrances if possible).
  • Distilled water (for rinsing the brush).
  • Cotton swabs (dry) for edges and crevices.
  • Wooden or plastic toothpick or interdental brush (optional, for caked wax around but not inside the mesh).
  • Paper towel or tissue.

Avoid: isopropyl alcohol directly on the speaker mesh, hydrogen peroxide on the buds themselves, compressed air, or anything metal near the mesh.

Step‑by‑Step: Deep Clean the Pods

1. Dry prep (no liquid yet)

  1. Power down what you can
    • Take the AirPods out of the case and disconnect them from your device.
    • Put the case aside for later.
  2. Knock off loose debris
    • Use a dry, soft brush to gently sweep around the speaker meshes and the outside of each AirPod.
 * Hold the mesh facing downward so dust and flakes fall away, not deeper in.
  1. Carefully remove built‑up earwax around the mesh
    • With a wooden toothpick or interdental brush, gently scrape only the edges and surrounding plastic, not the mesh holes.
 * Sweep loosened bits away with the dry brush.

2. Deep clean the meshes (Apple’s micellar method)

This is the “official” style deep clean Apple now recommends for newer AirPods and AirPods Pro meshes.

  1. Prep your liquids
    • Pour a small amount of micellar water into one cup.
    • Pour a small amount of distilled water into another.
  1. Saturate the brush
    • Dip the soft toothbrush into the micellar water until the bristles are fully wet, but not dripping.
  1. Clean each mesh
    • Hold the AirPod with the mesh facing up.
 * Using light pressure, brush the mesh in small circles for about 15 seconds.

 * Flip the AirPod and blot the mesh on a clean paper towel so the towel touches the mesh and pulls liquid out.

 * Repeat this “brush + blot” cycle three times per mesh.
  1. Rinse (indirectly) with distilled water
    • Rinse the toothbrush itself in distilled water, then shake or blot off excess.
 * Brush the mesh again in circles for about 15 seconds using the damp brush.

 * Blot on a fresh section of paper towel.

The idea is that micellar water breaks down oils and grime on the mesh, and distilled water on the brush helps remove residue—without ever soaking the AirPods.

3. If You Have AirPods Pro: Clean the Ear Tips

For AirPods Pro (and Pro 2), clean the silicone tips separately.

  1. Remove the tips
    • Pull firmly at the base to detach the ear tips from each earbud.
  1. Rinse the tips
    • Rinse under running tap water with the opening facing down so water flows out, not in.
 * Do not use soap or harsh cleaners.
  1. Dry completely
    • Pat with a lint‑free cloth, then air‑dry until there is no moisture at all.
 * Reattach only when they’re fully dry and the AirPods themselves are also dry.

If the tips are torn, yellowing, or stay grimy even after cleaning, replacement tips are inexpensive and restore both comfort and seal.

4. Deep Clean the AirPods Case

The case is often the secret source of “re‑dirtying” your freshly cleaned buds.

  1. Exterior cleaning
    • Wipe the outside with a slightly damp, lint‑free cloth (water only), then dry it.
 * For scuffs, very lightly dampen the cloth with a tiny amount of 70% isopropyl alcohol, but keep it away from the ports and inside.
  1. Interior and charging wells
    • Use a dry cotton swab to clean the inside walls and the top lid area.
 * Use a soft brush or dry swab to clean the charging wells around the contacts. Avoid liquids here.
  1. Lightning/USB‑C port
    • Gently clean around the port with a dry toothpick or brush.
    • Do not spray cleaners or insert metal objects.

Drying and Safety Check

  • Let the AirPods and tips sit on a dry paper towel or cloth for at least two hours before putting them back in the case or using them.
  • Check that no visible moisture remains in the speaker meshes or around the case contacts.
  • Once dry, reconnect to your device and test audio at a low volume first.

If sound is still muffled after a thorough deep clean and full dry time, the drivers may be damaged or the internal mesh may be blocked beyond what external cleaning can fix, and professional service or replacement is worth considering.

What People on Forums Actually Do

Public forums and Reddit threads are full of “hacks” and some are helpful while others are risky.

Common user‑recommended methods:

  • Dry cotton swab + isopropyl alcohol for the plastic shell (not directly soaking the mesh).
  • Wooden toothpick for scraping earwax along the edges before brushing.
  • Hydrogen peroxide soaks for only the silicone tips (then rinsing and drying), not the AirPods themselves.

Common risky methods people mention (avoid these):

  • Submerging the entire AirPods or case in water, alcohol, or peroxide.
  • Using metal tools or needles directly on the mesh.
  • Blasting with compressed air, which can drive debris deeper or damage components.
  • Running AirPods through a washing machine “to clean them,” which tends to show up as a joke in threads.

Overall, the safest strategy is to combine Apple’s micellar‑water mesh method with the community’s careful dry scraping and brushing tricks, while staying far away from soaking or harsh force.

Keeping Them Cleaner Longer

  • Wipe them down quickly after workouts or long listening sessions.
  • Store them in the case instead of pockets or loose bags.
  • Clean your ears regularly so less wax accumulates on the mesh.
  • Do a mini‑clean weekly and a “deep clean” every month or when sound starts to get muffled.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.