The Best Way to Clean Your AirPods
In a recent issue of the Recomendo Newsletter, Mark Frauenfelder suggested a set of three tools to clean earwax from your AirPods’ mesh screen. My AirPods were in dire need of a deep cleaning, and the cleaning method we once recommended on Lifehacker is just disgusting, so I ran out and bought tiny brushes to loosen wax, a poster putty to catch wax, and a magnifying lamp to test Frauenfelder recomendo ed. …
I am here to report that this method is indeed effective, but I would like to change it. Save a couple bucks on brushes and use an old toothbrush to loosen the wax, then head out into town with poster putty. There is nothing more enjoyable than using chewing gum to lift exfoliated earwax off of a mesh screen – but not so sticky that it doesn’t get caught in the mesh! – a piece of putty, which you then discard . (Suffice it to say that this is a project best done privately, sort of like popping pimples.)
Instead of a magnifying light, which is graceful but not required if you have good eyesight, I would recommend taking a cotton swab, lightly dampening it with 70% alcohol, and gently running it over the plastic parts. kidneys and upper slots of the case to remove everything that has accumulated there. Apple authorizes this method, but cautions against liquid getting into the charging ports or any openings on the modules or case, so apply the smear at your own risk.
I believe Recomendo is a spiritual cousin of Lifehacker and almost always takes some clever advice from the newsletter – you should definitely subscribe . (And subscribe to the Lifehacker newsletter while you’re at it!)