While we love our technological goodies, we want to have them. There’s just one problem: Well-used technology can quickly accumulate all kinds of contamination from dirt, dust, pocket lint, body oil, and even dead skin cells. Go too long without cleaning, and your gadgets could be damaged.
For example, uncleaned smartphones can give you pimples when placed in your ear. Follow these five easy steps to make your iPhone or Android look cleaner. Speaking of your ears, you can’t forget to turn to your wireless earbuds.
These are like nifty wearable mini boomboxes that free our hands and brighten up our day with music on the go, whenever we want. Unfortunately, wireless earbuds are prone to earwax buildup. If you don’t clean them regularly, the sound quality may sound slurred or uneven.
Follow these basic steps to hear cleaner
Compared to other gadgets, earbuds spread a certain amount of dirt. Not only do they collect dirt and skin particles, but they also attract earwax, grease, and sweat. Basically, they’re like portable petri dishes for our personal biological debris—and as you can imagine, that’s not good for your health.
Luckily, we know of some easy tricks you can use to remove some of your body’s natural impurities. First, grab a microfiber cloth like this one from EliteTechGear’s 6-pack, which you can get for less than $10. Wet it lightly and wipe down the cord and body of each earbud.
If you prefer to remove debris with a more precise tool, try a toothpick. Just make sure you don’t scrape the sharp edge of the speaker. Which can cause some serious damage.
One viral TikTok trick recommends Blue Tack, a reusable adhesive putty that many people use to make posters, loudspeakers, and more. If you don’t want to use wipes or toothpicks, take some Blue Tack, carve it into a ball and poke it into your earbud speaker. Since it’s adhesive, when you pull it away, it should have removed all the junk on the inside of your buds.
Want a more thorough step to clean your earbuds? we’ve got you covered
The tips above are very general ideas that can kickstart your cleaning session. But if you bought something expensive, you might be hesitant to grab some toothpicks or balls of adhesive.
Even if your earbuds aren’t covered in precious diamonds, you’ll want to make sure your cleaning process doesn’t accidentally ruin them. In that case, we have some advice that will give you more peace of mind when cleaning your AirPods, Galaxy Buds, Pixel Buds and other wireless earbuds.
First, here’s what you should avoid
Whatever you do, don’t get water on your earbuds. Sure, you can use a slightly damp cloth – but make sure you soak up that moisture with a dry, soft, and lint-free cloth. Also, make sure your earbuds are 100% dry before you start charging. Plugging them in too soon can cause trouble.
Oh, and whatever you do, avoid metal or wire brushes. You’ll also want to give chemical detergents a wide berth.
Of course, be sure to be super careful when you wipe—no rough tugging or harsh pulling on the mesh speaker. Although toothpicks can be a helpful way to cut large pieces of earwax, you can use an ear tip instead.
The eartips won’t give you as much control or precision as a toothpick, but they’re safe for your earbuds. You can submerge them lightly in water, but make sure they aren’t dripping and use them only when they are moist. Never mind, avoid household cleaners and other soaps.
Once you’re done cleaning, dry them immediately. If you want to be 100% sure they are dry, throw them in a small plastic bag with the rice for a few hours. Better safe than sorry, isn’t it? If you want to clean the charging case, stick with your dry microfiber cloth. No matter what you do, don’t let any moisture get into the connector or charging port.
you can also try this
You can also use a soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub the speaker vents and microphone holes. Just don’t use that side-to-side motion as that can only spread the mess. Instead, go up and down and in and out so the bristles can get into all those hard-to-reach areas.
Of course, earbuds aren’t the only tech gadgets that can quickly accumulate grime. Plus, mess isn’t the only annoying part of having a lot of tech in your home. You also have to deal with organization.
This is because keeping your devices fresh and organized can seem like an overwhelming task. Fortunately, there are some tools you can use to reduce the mess in your home. Tap or click here for 12 affordable products to keep your appliances clean and organized.
