With the weather getting colder, it means the cold season is here. The best way to keep ourselves healthy and safe from germs is to clean everything we use routinely. That includes cleaning your wireless headphone earpads, especially if you wear them daily. Having clean headphones also means you’re getting the best listening experience possible from your wireless headphones.

In this article we’ll walk you through how to properly clean your wireless headphone earpads and why it is essential to keep them clean

Why It’s Important

The importance of keeping your wireless headphone earpads clean is pretty simple. Cleaning your ear pads will save you money in the long run. Taking proper care of your headphone pads will keep them in good shape for longer, which means you won’t have to replace them as often as usual. Cleaning your ear pads will also make your headphones more comfortable to wear.  On top of that, it will keep your headphones in good condition, meaning no breakage or scratching.

Having a properly cleaned pair of ear pads also means they will be more hygienic. Regardless what type of wireless headphones you’re using, cleaning them is vital for hygiene. This will get rid of the sweat, dirt, and bacteria that have built up on them over time. Even more importantly, cleaning your earpads will also help prevent them from getting moldy over time.

How to Clean Wireless Headphones

Next we’re going to break down how to clean your wireless headphones properly. We’ll break this down into two parts, one for over the ear headphones and one for earbuds. Let’s start with over-ear wireless headphones.

After wearing your headphones, you should to wipe them down. Use a dry cloth, (microfiber is great!) to gently wipe your headphones down. This will help prevent any sweat or dirt from building up after wearing them. Once a week, clean your wireless headphones by using a soft washcloth with warm soapy water. Dampen the headphones slightly and clean the pads. Afterwards,  wipe down your headphones and make sure they are dry. The key to cleaning your headphones is to wipe them clean gently, . Try not to press down hard or scrub.

Occasionally you can condition your headphones depending on the padding. If your wireless headphones have a leather padding, then you need to purchase a special leather conditioner. It might be pricey, but you only need to condition them twice a year.

How to Clean Wireless Earbuds

Cleaning earbuds is vital since they go directly into your ears, and you want to make sure they stay clean. Besides extending the life of your earbuds you are also preventing ear infections. The first thing you want to do with your wireless earbuds is  make sure you store them in a case. Doing this will minimize the exposure to bacteria and dirt and help extend the overall life of your headphones.

Make sure to wash your earbuds daily. After all, these go into your ears, and it only takes about 2 minutes to clean them properly. Use a soft, damp cloth with warm soapy water and wipe down your earbuds. Make sure you’re not submerging them in water or putting them under running water becaue that can damage them beyond repair. After wiping them clean, use a cloth to ensure they are dry.

If you want to be extra cautious, you can wipe down your headphones before placing them in your ears. Even when stored properly, the headphones can still get dirty, and you are transferring that to your ear. Instead, wipe them down with a clean towel before heading out the door each morning.

For a deeper clean, you can do a peroxide cleanse. You want to make sure you use the right type of cleaner for your headphones because some products, like hand sanitizer, can leave residue behind. To deep clean, use a damp cloth with hydrogen peroxide. Make sure  you heavily dilute the peroxide with water before using  it on your headphones. Gently wipe your earbuds down and then dry them with a clean towel. You can do this deep clean every week or every day if you prefer.

Taking proper care of your wireless headphones is important. You want to make sure that your headphones last as long as possible, mainly since you invest a lot of money  in them. But as long as  you properly store them, clean them, and take care of them, your headphones should last you a while.