How to Clean Your Headphones Because They’re Even Rougher Than You Think
Germs that cause fungal and yeast infections can build up on earbuds when you insert them into your ear canals, not to mention wax that sticks noticeably to their surfaces. By sending a headphone swab for analysis, Inside Edition even found pneumonia-causing bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus on regularly used headphones, and one set showed evidence of nearly one million different cultures of bacteria. Part of this, of course, is fear-stirring – some bacteria are okay, not to mention inevitable. However, our headphones tend to be pretty rough.
So how do we clean them properly and how often should we do it? Let’s take a look.
How often should I clean my headphones?
Plan to clean your headphones according to usage – sounds simple, but pretty easy to forget. If you’re anything like most people, you go for a run, come back and put them back in their protective carrying case so they fester and grow more germs. But health professionals recommend regular cleaning – both before and after each use.
Ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Darius Cohan told Inside Edition that if they are not cleaned regularly: “You put them inside . You fill your ear with wax. Bacteria on them – you will start an infection.
Kohan advises not only to clean them more often, but also switching between in-ear and in-ear headphones will help reduce exposure to germs.
Audiologist Dr. Arica Black repeated the same, telling one local news network that cleaning the earbuds is preferable before each use. She also recommended brushing them more often during the summer months when you sweat more and conditions like swimmer’s ear are more common.
How to clean headphones
You can wipe the headphones with regular disinfectant wipes – just remember to let them dry before putting them away. You may be concerned if regular disinfectant fluids and wipes might damage their inner workings, but for whatever the cost, Apple confirms that it’s perfectly okay to use 70 percent isopropyl alcohol or disinfectant wipes on your AirPods. They also warn of liquid getting into crevices and recommend that you dry your AirPods with a lint-free microfiber cloth afterwards. You can find detailed instructions for cleaning similar products like AirPod Max headbands, earpads, and carrying cases on their website.
Of course, not all in-ear headphones are from Apple, so if you are concerned about any special considerations for your particular brand, you can check with the manufacturer for instructions, but it’s probably safe to assume that the same method will work. You can also use a small amount of regular hand sanitizer on a napkin or toilet paper square rather than using the entire napkin. Either way, just know it’s important to regularly disinfect your headphones and let them dry before putting them away.