Your Earbuds Are Gross. Here’s How to Clean Them Properly – WIRED

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIREDHave you looked closely at your earbuds lately? I did, and I was horrified at how gross they were. My trusty Apple AirPods had become so mucky and caked in ear wax I was genuinely embarrassed, and almost reluctant to put something so nasty back in my ears.But are my yellowing Airpods actually a risk to my health? I asked physician Jonathan Webster, from Doctify, who explained that while earwax is protective and part of the normal cleaning process of the ear, “problems arise because long-term use of the earbuds prevents the wax from naturally migrating outwards—and so it builds up, trapping moisture, and making it prone to getting infected.”Earbuds can also push earwax deeper into the ear canal, leading to blockages and discomfort. There’s a reason your ENT surgeon likes the saying “Do not put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.” Webster also explained that “there has definitely been a rise in problems associated with earbud use, including hearing loss, tinnitus, and infections.”Hearing loss has little to do with my poor headphone cleanliness, but it is worth remembering that “prolonged exposure to loud noise can damage the very delicate hair cells in the inner ear (cochlear), leading to permanent hearing loss. With the in-ear headphones, there is a concentration of the sound directed into the ear, which may make it more likely to cause a problem.”It’s also worth noting that the UK’s National Health Service advises that headphone users should not listen to music at higher than 60 percent of the maximum volume, and not for more than an hour at a time.There’s not been a huge amount of clinical research into headphone cleanliness, but according to an investigation by ABC 11 back in 2019, microbiologist Michael Taveirne, from North Carolina State University, swabbed several different headphones and sent the cultures in for testing. The results showed staphylococcus and pseudomonas, two types of bacteria that can cause infection under the right circumstances.Similarly, according to a Florida-based ENT specialist, headphones house around 2,700 times more bacteria than the average cutting board, or six times more bacteria than the kitchen sink. That’s pretty gross—but even then you’re not guaranteed to get infected.Bacteria isn’t inherently problematic, but if your earbuds don’t fit properly and you’re always fiddling with them, there’s a higher risk of you scraping or damaging the ear canal, which will create the perfect conditions for bacteria to thrive. Add in sweat from sports, and hours of daily wear, and you could be in for a nasty surprise.So, your earbuds are disgusting—but fortunately, it is surprisingly easy to restore their cleanliness safely with just a few household essentials.Some people recommend using isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), but do so with caution as it can damage certain materials. If you do, always dilute it with water and use a small amount on a soft, lint-free cloth.Apple has a comprehensive guide to AirPod maintenance that is equally relevant for other earbud brands. The main takeaway from its guide is that everything from soap to moisturizer, hair dye, and acidic food can stain your earbuds, but a quick wipe with a disinfectant wipe should do the trick.Similarly, Kimberley Bradshaw from Hearing Aid UK suggests “wiping down your earbuds and case with a microfiber cloth after each use [especially after sport] to remove dirt and sweat. Alcohol-free disinfectant wipes are great for earbuds, but avoid getting moisture on the internal parts.”Use a cotton bud or old toothbrush: This ensures that you can get deep into every corner. With AirPods, for instance, the protective mesh over the ear tip gets blocked easily, but a quick brush should remove even the smallest particles. Having done this, I also noticed my headphones sounded better too.Soak your ear tips: Once you’ve removed any wax or dust, let the silicone tips soak in soapy water for half an hour. Dry thoroughly before reattaching them to the headphones.Don’t forget the cable: If you’re a hipster or an audiophile you may still have wired headphones. You’d be surprised how often you touch the cable, so remember to give it a regular wipe to remove any bacteria buildup.Clean the charging case: There’s no point cleaning your buds if you’re just going to plonk them back in a wax-smeared charging cradle. A once-over inside with a clean cotton bud will remove any debris and keep the charging points clear. The outside can be wiped down with soapy water, although avoid contact with the charging socket. Remember to remove any dust from the socket with the toothbrush or (carefully) with a bent paperclip if it’s really impacted.If you want to go to town on your wax-off overhaul, here are our recommended all-in-one solutions to give your earbuds (and your ears) a treat.Join the WIRED community to add comments.In your inbox: WIRED’s most ambitious, future-defining storiesDOGE takeover: Elon Musk’s toxicity could spell disaster for TeslaBig Story: A crypto crimefighter’s descent into Nigerian prisonI dated multiple AI partners at once. It got real weirdSummer Lab: Explore the future of tech with WIREDMore From WIREDReviews and Guides© 2025 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Ad Choices

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