Earbuds are incredibly convenient for anyone who wants to listen to something while they’re on the go. Whether you’re commuting and want to listen to your favorite podcast or you are doing yard work and need the latest albums to get through the monotony, earbuds are often easier to use than larger headphones.

Popping in earbuds gives you the audio that you need with more functionality in terms of movement. The more advanced the earbuds are, the more features they’ll have. This is why upper-echelon options like Apple or Bose deliver effective noise cancellation and impressive audio quality. However, no matter what brand of earbuds you have, they aren’t safe from buildup in the ear holes or other classic maintenance issues. If you take the time to clean them properly, you’ll notice a difference in how they wear.

Earbuds can come in many different shapes

Each of them has a central core design

Credit: Hannah Stryker / MakeUseOf

There are all kinds of earbuds on the market. You can find wired ones and wireless options, which both serve their own purposes. Wired earbuds tend to be less expensive and keep you tethered to a device like a phone or a computer. Wireless ones give you more flexibility and are easier to maneuver with. However, they are more easily lost.

I’ve tested countless options over the years, most of which fit in the good to pretty good range. Many boast features like different modes, active noise cancellation, touch controls, and long battery life. There are even some that have unique features like a button on the side of the case that makes the microphone sound better. While you will definitely note that some earbuds rank better than others in these features, most options that aren’t exorbitantly expensive are going to give you what you pay for, meaning they’ll be good enough for many things that you need but poor for others.

For example, the battery life of a pair of earbuds might last 10–12 hours, but the microphone when you’re on a phone might sound muffled. The pass-through audio feature might help you understand what’s going on around you, but the fit for the earbuds might be a little tight.

All earbuds have an in-ear design, whether they are stemmed, meaning they have a small stem that sticks out from your ear, or they’re stemless, in which the earbuds fit into the shape of your ear. This also includes winged earbuds that wrap around your ear. Regardless of which you prefer, the audio is being pumped directly into your ear canal. The part of the earbud that goes into the ear canal can be a silicone or foam tip to protect your ear. It can also just be the earbuds themselves with a mesh screen on the end. This is the most important part of the design when cleaning the earbuds.

Cleaning your earbuds takes some precision

But it isn’t a hard procedure to do

When cleaning your earbuds, you only need a few items. One of the most important items that can get the bulk of the most common buildup in your earbuds, which is earwax, is a Q-tip. Using a dry cotton swab or Q-tip can help you get into the area of the tip that enters your ear canal. This is where you’re going to find most of your wax buildup.

After you’ve removed as much of the wax as you can with the cotton swab, you can take a wooden toothpick to try and scrape away any of the hardened wax. You want to get around the speaker with as pointed an instrument as possible to get rid of all the gunk that is stuck there.

I was shocked at how much wax buildup can show up on different versions of earbuds. I’ve used some things like forks, toothpicks, pencils, and even scissors to get into the areas that needed cleaning. The only one I would recommend besides Q-tips is a toothpick, as it’s easier to control and more delicate than these others.

If your earbuds have tips, you can usually wash them under any water and wipe them dry. You don’t ever want to put your earbuds themselves in water as that could cause them to stop working.

There are instant benefits after cleaning earbuds

I’ve been shocked by the change before

Credit: Chris Hachey / MakeUseOf

Not only will your earbuds look better, but they will sound better too. The speaker won’t be blocked as much once you clean your earbuds and you’ll be able to hear better as well. The audio quality of the earbuds will automatically improve, thanks to the lack of blockage on the speaker.

Your earbuds will also fit better, as they could have previously sat uncomfortably in your ear if they were filled with gunk. The same goes for your case, as in order to receive the charging that earbuds need within their case, the ports have to be cleared.

Having earbuds that are cleaner can lower your risk of ear infections as well. This is because it eliminates bacteria from growing on your earbuds. If you wipe down your earbuds with isopropyl alcohol, you can keep them cleaner longer, as bacteria won’t build up as quickly. This can allow them to last longer.

Cleaning your earbuds is a smart decision

You may not think about the inside of your earbuds’ tips. But you should care about them because they should be built to last. Not only can cleaning your earbuds help your audio sound better, but you can limit the amount of bacteria entering your ear. You don’t need to stop buying earbuds. Just take a toothpick or a Q-tip and get to work.

Brand

Apple

Battery Life

6 hours with headphones, additional 24 hours with charging case

Additional Tips

XS, S, M, L

Noise Cancellation

ANC

Charging Case

Yes