How to Clean AirPods and AirPods Cases—Without Damaging Them

Experts give the lowdown on how to clean earwax, sweat and other gunk off your AirPods and AirPods case

I use my AirPods constantly throughout the day, listening to music, taking calls and catching up on my favorite podcasts. As for the last time I cleaned them? That would be never. If your answer is like mine, experts say you should learn how to clean AirPods, stat. “It’s a good idea to clean your AirPods to make them look presentable and make sure you are removing germs,” says Burton Kelso, owner and chief tech expert at Integral, a tech-repair company.

The buildup of earwax, sweat, dirt and other grimy substances can not only harm the performance and life span of your AirPods, but it can also cause irritation or an infection in your ear canal. The problem: AirPods have a lot of tough-to-reach spots, and cleaning them the wrong way could damage them.

Not to worry! We’ve tapped three tech repair and cleaning experts for the scoop on how to clean AirPods (including Pro and Max) with items you probably have in your home right now. Once you add your AirPods to your regular cleaning schedule, read on for expert-approved cleaning recommendations to keep your ears healthy and your audio experience crisp and clear.

Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more cleaning, humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.

About the experts

  • Burton Kelso is the owner and chief tech expert at Integral, a tech-repair company. He has more than 30 years of experience working with and educating people about technology.
  • Chris Capelle is a tech expert who’s spent the past 30 years working with Apple products (and cleaning them).
  • Jessica Ek is a senior director at the American Cleaning Institute, where she creates how-to guides for correctly cleaning and sanitizing hundreds of common products and household items.

Reviewed for accuracy by: Burton Kelso.

What to use

You don’t need a special AirPod cleaning kit or cleaner to wash your AirPods. “Using a cleaning agent can actually ruin your AirPods, so you want to only use water and the microfiber cloth,” Kelso says.

Apple also suggests using 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes, 75% ethyl alcohol wipes or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes to clean the outside of your earbuds. That said, you should use alcohol or disinfecting wipes on only the plastic coating of any AirPods—avoid the knit mesh or ear cushion parts because the chemicals could damage the material, says Chris Capelle, a tech expert with three decades of experience working with (and cleaning) Apple products.

What not to use

No matter which type of AirPods you have, you should never clean them with bleach or hydrogen peroxide products, according to Capelle. Those cleaners are more abrasive and could damage your AirPods.

Capelle also advises against other harmful cleaning practices, like submerging your AirPods in liquid or using a sharp object, like a toothpick or pocketknife, to clean them out.

How often to clean Airpods

Your Airpods may have a lot of gunk built up, in which case you’ll want to clean them now. But consider giving them a wipe-down after each use, especially if they were exposed to sweat, sunscreen, lotion or makeup. That way, you can prevent the sort of germiness and buildup that affects ear health and listening quality.

How to clean AirPods

close up cleaning AirPod with cotton swabMackenzie Williams/rd.com

Before cleaning any piece of tech, whether it’s a computer screen, TV screen, phone charging port or headphones, be sure to read any instructions that came with the product. The last thing you want to do is accidentally damage your device—say, by using a toothpick to dig earwax from your speaker instead of scrubbing it with a much safer cotton swab.

Luckily, the safest method is also super simple. You can clean most AirPods by following the steps below.

Supplies you’ll need

  • Lint-free cloth and/or microfiber cloth
  • Cotton swab

Directions

  1. Wipe down your AirPods with a dry, lint-free cloth.
  2. To clean sensitive spots, like the mesh on the microphones and speakers, scrub them with a dry cotton swab.
  3. If your AirPods are extra dirty—or clogged with earwax, lotion or sweat—Kelso suggests washing them with a slightly damp microfiber cloth. Then wipe them with a dry, lint-free cloth and place them on a clean surface to dry.

How to clean AirPods Pro

These AirPods can do a lot. A downside: They have ear tips that accumulate grime (like earwax, dirt and sweat) in hard-to-reach spots. To give them a more thorough cleaning, take the following steps.

Supplies you’ll need

  • Lint-free cloth
  • Cotton swab

Directions

  1. Remove the ear tips and rinse them with water.
  2. Dry the tips with a lint-free cloth.
  3. Wipe down your AirPods Pro with a dry, lint-free cloth.
  4. To clean the mesh on the speakers and microphones, scrub them with a dry cotton swab.
  5. When the ear tips are thoroughly dry, place them back on your AirPods Pro.

How to clean AirPods Max

Heads up: You might need a bit more elbow grease to get your AirPods Max sparkling clean. “AirPods Max have more material to get dirty, including the ear cushions and band,” as well as the extenders, Ek says.

Capelle notes that AirPods Max are made with a material that shows more dirt and is more difficult to clean. “The foam and cloth covering tends to absorb sweat, rather than repelling it,” he says.

Start with a basic cleaning by wiping them down with a slightly damp, lint-free cloth and drying them with another microfiber cloth. To clean the grimy headbands and cushions on your AirPods Max, follow the instructions below.

Supplies you’ll need

Directions

  1. Remove the ear cushions.
  2. Combine 1 teaspoon of mild detergent with 1 cup of water.
  3. Dip a lint-free cloth into the solution and use it to scrub the band and cushions.
  4. Wipe the band and cushions with a dry cloth.
  5. Dry all the components completely before reassembling them.

How to clean an AirPods case

If your AirPods case is getting dirty, a simple cleaning can make it look brand-new again. Like many old-school cleaning tricks, this one doesn’t require a ton of products or tools. Here’s how to clean AirPods cases in four simple steps.

Supplies you’ll need

  • Lint-free cloth
  • 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe (optional)

Directions

  1. Wipe down the case—both outside and inside—with a clean, lint-free cloth dipped in water. Avoid getting any liquid in the charging port.
  2. To give the case a deep-cleaning, Capelle suggests cleaning with a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe. Be careful to avoid getting liquid on the charging ports.
  3. Use a dry, clean, soft-bristle brush to remove debris from the charging port.
  4. Turn the case upside down and wait for it to dry completely before putting your AirPods back inside.

FAQs

airpods in earPATRICK T. FALLON/Getty Images

Are AirPods waterproof?

Avoid washing your AirPods under running water, because those babies aren’t waterproof. The amount of water resistance they offer depends on the type of AirPods you use. AirPods Pro have a water-resistance rating of IPX4, which means they’re protected against splashing water. That’s low compared with, say, the first-generation Apple Watch’s water resistance, which is IPX7. And older versions of AirPods have no water-resistance rating at all.

Although they can handle the moisture equivalent of a sweaty workout or light rain, beware of exposing your AirPods to water for long periods of time. You should never shower or swim with AirPods, either, according to Apple.

How do you fix AirPods if they get wet?

To save AirPods that have gotten wet, you need to act fast. Shake out the excess water, then place them upside down in a container filled with desiccant packets or rice, and seal it shut. It can take up to 24 hours for AirPods to completely dry, according to Kelso.

Even if your AirPods are only a little damp, wipe them down with a lint-free cloth and leave them upside down to dry for a few hours, Ek says.

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. For this piece, Brooke Nelson tapped her experience as a seasoned tech reporter, and then Burton Kelso, owner of tech-repair company Integral and a technology expert with more than 30 years of experience working with all types of tech devices and gadgets, gave it a rigorous review to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We also relied on reputable primary sources, including Apple. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

  • Burton Kelso, owner and chief tech expert at Integral; email interview, Dec. 22, 2023
  • Chris Capelle, Mac and Apple products expert; email interview, Dec. 22, 2023
  • Jessica Ek, senior director at the American Cleaning Institute; email interview, Dec. 21, 2023
  • Apple: “How to clean your AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and EarPods”

Brooke Nelson Alexander
Brooke is a tech and consumer products writer covering the latest in digital trends, product reviews, security and privacy, and other news and features for Reader's Digest. She's a two-time Emmy-nominated reporter with nearly 10 years of publishing experience, and her work has been recognized by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.