Do you know that unpleasant swamp-ear feeling you get when you wear headphones or a great gaming headset for 6+ hours? We can’t help you with that (except by recommending that you take them off every once in a while), but keeping your headphones clean will at least make that whole situation less gross.
There’s another reason to clean your comfortable gaming headset regularly: it just might extend its lifespan. Many gamers simply discard and replace their headphones when they notice that they seem quieter or less clear, but that isn’t always necessary. Giving them a thorough cleaning might fix the problem.
In this useful and mildly gross guide, we’ll show you how to take apart and clean several types of headphones and earbuds.
Earwax – The Headphone Destroyer
There is a high chance that your high-quality headphones are not broken, just clogged with earwax, the gunk that protects your ear canal from dust and germs.
When you wear earbuds or headphones for a long time, they raise the temperature inside your ear canal, leading to more wax and sweat inside—much of which eventually ends up on your headphones. That could be why they seem quieter and the sound quality diminished. You clean your ears every so often (don’t you?) so it makes sense that you should clean your headphones or earbuds, too.
Preparation/Tools
To clean your headphones, you’ll need hydrogen peroxide, isopropyl alcohol, distilled water, dish detergent, a microfiber or soft cloth, Q-tips, and a toothbrush. The exact materials and cleaning methods you use will depend on what your headphones are made of, so we’ll cover that in each section.
Plastic & Silicone Headphones
The predominant materials in most headphones and earbuds are plastic and silicone. For that material, it is recommended to use isopropyl alcohol with distilled water in a 1:1 ratio. It is imperative to use alcohol for earbuds that you insert inside your ear canal. Isopropyl alcohol will dissolve oil and completely clean your earbuds, and it will also disinfect them.
Unlike bleach, alcohol won’t corrode or damage your headphones.
Cloth & Foam Headphones
If your headphones or earbuds are covered with cloth or foam, you should not use any of the products we mentioned. Use only water and cloth to clean cloth and foam. If your headphones are too dirty and water cannot clean them, then you may need to replace them.
Metal Headphones
Manufacturers of metal headphones use aluminum, brass, and even titanium for some parts of their products. In some custom-made headphones, you can find parts made of gold or platinum. Isopropyl alcohol will work great with all different types of metal.
If you want to polish your headphones when you’re done cleaning them, you can use any of the products made for polishing jewelry.
Headphones with Wooden Parts
If your headphones have ear cups made of wood or any other wooden parts, avoid isopropyl alcohol. Alcohol will react with the surface layer and will dissolve any finish on it. For wood, use wood-specific detergent or polish. If you don’t have a cleaner made specifically for wood, use distilled water with dish detergent.
Plastic/Leather Headphones
For faux leather on the padding of your headphones, you can use isopropyl alcohol—but it can hurt real leather. If you have the real leather padding, you should use soap or detergent with water. If your padding is made out of suede leather, you’ll need special suede-friendly cleaning products.
How to Clean Earbuds
If you’re in possession of great gaming earbuds, the process of cleaning them is a bit different.
First, take the silicon or rubber tips off the earbud. Hold the earbud with the wire mesh facing down. Take a dry toothbrush and gently rub the wire mesh to remove any large chunks of debris, occasionally tapping on the back of the earbud to help shake things loose.
After that, dampen a microfiber cloth into isopropyl alcohol and clean the entire earbud, including the mesh. Make sure only to dampen the cloth; don’t soak it.
If your ear tips are made of silicone, soak them in water mixed with detergent or soap in a 100:1 ratio. Let them soak for a couple of minutes, then rinse them with water and wipe them with a cloth dampened with alcohol for disinfection. Once you’ve cleaned them, leave them to dry.
When the whole process is over, put the ear tips back on your earbuds and they are ready to use. If you haven’t cleaned them in a while, you should notice a clear improvement in sound quality.
How to Clean Headphones
Take the ear pads off your headphones. If you have a manual for your model, you should take a look at it. If not, proceed with caution and you should be fine. Once you have removed the earpads, make sure to clean them according to the material they are made of—cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol will work for most materials, but it can damage some, so check first. For small or oddly-shaped surfaces that are harder to clean, you can use Q-tips. Clean the pads and leave them to dry.
Clean the exterior of the headphones with a cloth dampened with water and detergent in a 100:1 ratio. If they’re made of one of the materials listed above, adapt accordingly. Once again, for places that are hard to reach with a regular cloth, you can use Q-tips.
Gently clean the foam mesh inside the headphones with a separate cloth, lightly dampened with water (no soap). Once you finish with the cleaning, let everything dry for a couple of minutes. When all parts are clean and dry, reassemble the headphones and they are ready to use.
Final Tips
These tips for cleaning should make your headphones work better and last longer. When you aren’t using them, keep them in a clean and protective case. That will help prevent bacteria from spreading and keep your headphones clean longer. Keep a silica gel packet inside your headphone case to absorb moisture and prevent bad odors. Wipe the headphones with a clean cloth before and after use, and don’t share them with anyone.
Sources:
- 3 Ways to Clean Your Headphones, WikiHow