Earwax and debris on the speaker mesh can make earbuds sound muffled, and a rough clean pushes it further in. Apple, Sony, Bose and Samsung differ on details, but all four keep liquid out of the openings and warn against digging into the mesh.
Quick answer: Pull off the ear tips and brush earwax off the speaker mesh with a dry, soft toothbrush, mesh facing down. Wipe the shells with a cloth barely damp with water. Rinse silicone tips in plain water; wipe foam tips dry. Wipe over-ear cushions with a cloth wrung out in diluted dishwashing liquid. Keep liquid out of every opening, and let everything dry for at least two hours.
What to use on each part
Part | Default | Keep off it |
|---|---|---|
Earbud shells | Soft dry cloth; for marks, a cloth barely damp with water, then dry | Running water; alcohol on Sony and Samsung buds |
Speaker mesh and sound outlet | Dry soft brush or cotton bud, light pressure, mesh facing down | Pins, toothpicks, metal brushes, compressed air |
Silicone ear tips | Taken off and rinsed in plain water, then dried | Soap on AirPods Pro tips (Apple) |
Foam ear tips (such as Sony's) | Dry cloth; a cotton bud turned gently over the tip's mesh | Water, wet wipes, alcohol (Sony) |
Charging case | Dry, lint-free cloth outside; dry brush in the port; dry cotton bud on the contacts | Liquid in the ports, or anything pushed into them |
Over-ear cushions and headband | Cloth dampened in diluted dishwashing liquid, wrung out | Wetting the fabric screen inside the ear cup; alcohol on Sony headphones |
Any other brand | Dry cloth and dry brush until you've read the maker's steps (search the model name and "clean") | Water on the buds, alcohol, anything sharp |
How to clean earbuds, step by step
You'll need a soft toothbrush (Apple uses a children's one), cotton buds, two lint-free microfibre cloths and a small bowl of water.
- Take off the ear tips by pulling at the base, where tip meets bud. Sony twists as it pulls and says never to pinch the end.
- Brush the mesh dry, mesh facing down so debris falls out rather than in (Samsung). Use light strokes: Sony says to lift dirt without pushing it deeper. A dry cotton bud picks up what the brush loosens.
- Wipe the shell with a cloth barely damp with water, then dry it (Apple's step for AirPods).
- Rinse silicone tips in plain water and dry them completely. Wipe foam tips with a dry cloth, turning a cotton bud slowly over any wax on the tip's mesh without tearing it (Sony).
- Brush the case's charging port with a dry, soft brush, wipe the contacts and the cups where the buds sit with a dry cotton bud (Samsung, Sony), and wipe the outside with a dry cloth. Apple allows a trace of isopropyl alcohol on the cloth for its cases; it's flammable, so let it dry. Never push anything into the ports: Apple says it damages the metal contacts.
- Let everything dry before the buds go back in the case: at least two hours for AirPods (Apple). Lay Sony buds with the sensors facing up or sideways, or they act as if worn and drain the battery.
Done looks like: no wax on the mesh, sound back at its usual volume, and buds that charge in the case.
How to clean AirPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max
Muffled meshes (AirPods 3, 4 and 5; AirPods Pro 2 and 3). Apple suggests the Belkin AirPods Cleaning Kit, or micellar water containing PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides (Bioderma Sensibio H2O lists it; 500 mL was $20.39 on special at Chemist Warehouse on 6 October 2026), distilled water, a soft children's toothbrush, two small cups and a paper towel. Take the ear tips off AirPods Pro first.
- Soak the brush in a little micellar water, hold the AirPod mesh up and brush in circles for about 15 seconds.
- Turn it over and blot the mesh on the paper towel.
- Repeat twice more, three rounds in all, for each mesh.
- Rinse the brush in distilled water and do the same three rounds with distilled water.
- Let the AirPods dry for at least two hours before they go in the case or your ears.
Clean only the meshes Apple marks for your model; it says to avoid every other area.
AirPods Pro ear tips. Rinse them in water with no soap, dry them completely, and line them up before clicking them back on, because they're oval. Apple's Australian store sells replacements: four pairs for AirPods Pro 2 were A$19 on 6 October 2026.
AirPods Pro 3 only. Apple allows a quick rinse: seal the ear tip hole with a finger, dip the AirPod in a bowl of water for 10 seconds while shaking it lightly, dab the tip on a lint-free cloth for 10 seconds, dry it and wait two hours. Other AirPods stay out of running water.
AirPods Max. Mix 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of liquid laundry detergent into 1 cup (250 mL) of water. With the cushions off, rub each cushion and the headband gently for one minute with a lint-free cloth dipped and wrung out slightly, holding the headphones upside down so liquid can't run into the headband joint. Wipe with a cloth damp with fresh water, dry, and lay flat for at least a day before refitting. Apple allows a 70% isopropyl or 75% ethyl alcohol wipe on the outside, but not on the knit mesh canopy or the cushions.
How to clean over-ear headphones and ear cushions
- Take the cushions off if they unclip. On Bose headphones, pull the top of the cushion away from the ear cup.
- Add a little dishwashing liquid to warm water, dip a cloth and wring it out until it's damp, not wet. Sony uses a diluted neutral detergent the same way.
- Wipe both sides of each cushion in small circles to lift sweat and earwax, then the padded headband.
- Keep the fabric screen inside each ear cup dry (Bose says water there can damage the electronics) and just dust it.
- Wipe the outer ear cups with a dry or barely damp cloth. Bose uses a little rubbing alcohol on its plastic; Sony says alcohol can damage its finish, so use alcohol only where the brand's own steps include it.
- Let the cushions air-dry completely before refitting.
Bose suggests a weekly wipe, especially after workouts, because sweat soaks into the foam and causes odour and discolouration. Earpads also wear out with long use (Sony); Bose's replacement cushion kits include new inner screens.
What not to use on earbuds
Hack | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
Alcohol wipes | Only where the brand uses them | Apple allows a little alcohol on a cloth for AirPods cases, and wipes on the outside of AirPods Max; Samsung says no, and Sony says alcohol wears out foam tips. Phones get the same rule in How to Sanitise and Disinfect Your Home |
Compressed air | Skip on earbuds | Sony says it can blow dust into the sound outlet and cause a fault, though Bose uses it for loose dust |
Toothpicks, pins, paperclips | Skip | Apple rules out sharp objects and anything in the charging ports; Samsung rules out metal or wire brushes |
Blu Tack, putty or tape | Hard shell only | Bose suggests putty or tape for stuck gunk; Sony warns adhesive tape can damage or deform ear tips |
Soaking tips in soapy water | Plain water | Apple says no soap on AirPods Pro tips; Bose washes its own tips with a little detergent |
Running water or soaking the buds | Skip | Apple keeps AirPods out of running water, bar the Pro 3 dip; Samsung uses no liquids |
Hot wax | Skip | None of the four brands' steps use heat or wax; Apple's fix for muffled meshes is a brush and micellar water |
Keeping earbuds and headphones clean
- Wipe earbuds after every use and give them a full clean at least every two months (Bose).
- Clean and dry them after a workout or after sunscreen, make-up or lotion, which Apple says helps avoid skin irritation.
- Dry sweat off the charging contacts to prevent corrosion (Samsung), and keep buds in their case, not loose in a bag (Bose).
Cleaning the rest of your setup? See How to Clean Your Desk and Keep It Organised and How to Clean Your Laptop Safely.
When cleaning won't fix it
- Still muffled: Sony calls ear tips consumables, so try new ones; if that fails, Apple's advice is to book a service.
- Won't charge: Sony says a thorough clean of the charging ports may help; if not, contact the brand.
- Liquid got inside: stop using them; Sony says to see a dealer.
- Sore or blocked ears: a health question, not a cleaning one. Healthdirect says to clean only the outer ear, never to pick wax out with cotton buds, and to see a pharmacist or doctor if wax causes hearing loss, pain or discomfort.
Simply Maid's cleaning checklists don't include personal electronics, so headphones and earbuds are a job for you.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my earbuds get so much earwax on them?
Some people simply make more: Healthdirect says ear wax build-up isn't a sign of poor hygiene, and that wax usually comes out on its own. A quick wipe after each use keeps it off the mesh.
How do you clean Samsung Galaxy Buds?
Dry only. Samsung says not to use alcohol or soapy water on its earbuds, or hold them upright while cleaning. Use a cotton bud and dry brush on the tip and mesh, a soft dry cloth inside the tip, a cotton bud on the charging contacts and sensors, and a soft dry cloth on the touch areas.
Last reviewed 6 October 2026 · Update history
Sources & References
- Apple Support, How to clean your AirPods (September 2026): micellar water mesh method, body, charging case, two-hour drying.
- Apple Support, How to clean your AirPods Pro (February 2026): ear tips, AirPods Pro 3 rinse, case.
- Apple Support, How to clean your AirPods Max: cushions and headband, alcohol wipes, water resistance.
- Apple (Australia), AirPods Pro 2 Ear Tips, 4 pairs: replacement tips and price.
- Chemist Warehouse, Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water 500 mL: ingredients and price.
- Sony, WF-1000XM5 Help Guide: Maintenance: earbud tips, mesh, charging ports, no air duster, drying.
- Sony, WH-1000XM5 Help Guide: Precautions: over-ear cleaning, no alcohol, earpad wear, not waterproof.
- Bose Australia, How to clean headphones and make them last: ear cushions, inner screen, replacement kits, weekly wipe.
- Bose, How to clean earbuds properly: tips, canned air, putty, two-month clean, storage.
- Samsung, How to clean your Samsung Galaxy earbuds: dry-only cleaning, contacts, corrosion.
- Healthdirect, Ear wax: outer ear only, cotton buds, when to see a pharmacist or doctor.
