The buildup of earwax, sweat, dirt, and other grimy substances can not only harm the performance and life span of your AirPods, she says, 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.
More than just looking grimy, eventually that earwax buildup could start blocking sound and impacting the quality of the audio.
Buildup of debris or earwax can affect the sound output quality of your AirPods, so giving them a thorough cleaning to see if dirt is interfering with sound may save you a trip to the Apple store.
Your AirPods gradually accumulate dust, earwax, and debris over time. As these worsen, they may eventually cover the crevices of your AirPods' speakers, blocking the soundwaves from entering your ears and causing muffled audio.
Hydrogen peroxide is a cerumenolytic. This means that it softens, loosens, dissolves and breaks down earwax. This treatment should only be completed under the guidance or at the direction of a health care professional who will direct you on proper use, including the number of drops and length of time.
However, health care professionals advise that ear buds should not be used to clean ears. Ear wax is a natural substance produced by your ears, it acts as a barrier and protects the ear from dust, microorganisms, water and foreign particles.
Clean your EarPods
Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. Make sure not to get any liquid in the openings. Clean the microphone and speaker meshes gently with a dry cotton swab. Remove any debris from the meshes with a clean, dry, soft-bristled brush.
Because of this, we recommend you clean your AirPods or other in-ears every 72 hours of listening time. Like any other orifice, ears are gross and filled with gunk that's actually supposed to be there—so this is something that really can't be avoided. Don't forget to swab down your carrying case with alcohol!
AirPods typically last about 2-3 years before most users feel the need to replace them. This short lifespan is because of their lithium-ion batteries. AirPods have proven tough in several durability tests and have shown that they can withstand pressure.
AirPods Pro and AirPods (3rd generation) aren't designed for use in water sports like swimming, or for showering.
For the vast majority, ear wax does not cause any problems and there isn't a need to remove it. There are actually benefits to having ear wax including a self-cleaning mechanism and some antimicrobial properties.
Finger & Tissue
This is one of the easiest and most obvious solutions. Cover your index finger with a clean piece of tissue or cloth and gently remove the excess wax from the ear, but without inserting the finger into the ear canal. Only scope out the wax that has already moved into the outer parts of the ear.
Blood on Q-tip after cleaning ears
It's also possible to scratch your ear drum while using a cotton swab or sticking a sharp fingernail into your ear. This bleeding typically stops on its own. Other causes of bleeding in the ears could be due to a punctured eardrum, an ear infection, head trauma, or other causes.
The Ear and Air Pressure
Normally, each time (or each second or third time) you swallow, your ears make a little click or popping sound. This occurs because a small bubble of air has entered your middle ear, up from the back of your nose.
Don't try to dig it out
Never attempt to dig out excessive or hardened earwax with available items, such as a paper clip, a cotton swab or a hairpin. You may push the wax farther into your ear and cause serious damage to the lining of your ear canal or eardrum.
Most people don't need to clean their ears
Once earwax naturally moves toward the opening of the ear canal, it typically falls out or washes away.
When the pressure inside of your ears changes, whether from altitude, going underwater, or just yawning, you might hear popping or crackling noises. The eustachian tube, which is a tiny tube in your ear, is the cause of these noises.
Frequent washing, however, can do more harm than good because it strips the ear of this delicate, protective lining, leaving the way open for bacteria to get in and multiply. Experts, recommend that you only clean your ears every two to four weeks.
The bottom line
Many people routinely clean their ears with cotton swabs. But this is not recommended and is usually unnecessary. Earwax protects against dirt, debris, and infections.
Why have GP surgeries stopped providing this service? A few people would say that ear syringing can be dangerous and potentially damage the ear canal if it is not undertaken correctly. However, the main reason it was taken away from GP surgeries is due to the fact it was no longer classified as an essential service.
For many individuals, the ears are a powerful erogenous zone. Therefore, stimulating the ear by creating certain sounds or blowing on or massaging it may lead to an orgasm.
Putting anything in your ears has the potential to cause damage, which could affect your short or long-term hearing function. Due to this, you shouldn't attempt to dislodge anything from your ear canal or remove earwax yourself.
What are those two silver holes on the side of my new AirPods? Those two silver holes on the side of your case are another nifty feature that will help you make sure you don't lose your new AirPods. You can attach a lanyard to these holes so you can wear your AirPods on your wrist or even your neck.
Leave AirPods with desiccant
You may have heard that you can leave a water-damaged device in a bowl of rice to dry it out. While the science behind this does work, rice is certainly not the best desiccant to use in this situation. Instead, you can use silica gel.