PERSONAL ELECTRONICS CLEANING GUIDE

How to Clean AirPods, AirPods Pro, and the Charging Case Safely

Model-specific steps for the earbuds, speaker meshes, silicone ear tips, and charging case

To clean AirPods safely, start with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth and keep moisture out of every opening. Clean the earbud bodies, speaker meshes, silicone tips, and charging case as separate surfaces. Apple now provides a specific wet-cleaning routine for the meshes on AirPods 3 and 4 and AirPods Pro 2 and 3, but that routine should not be assumed safe for every generation. Identify your model first, follow its current Apple instructions, and let any damp-cleaned part dry completely before use or charging.

For dry detail work on accessible hard-plastic exterior seams, Swab-its® Printer & Electronics Cleaning Foam Swabs provide a soft, non-abrasive, lint-free foam tip with controlled reach. Use one dry and only where the surface is plainly accessible. Do not use a foam swab on an acoustic mesh, inside a charging well, against a metal contact, or in the charging port. Apple's instructions for those areas take priority.

Check your AirPods model before cleaning the mesh

The current Apple AirPods cleaning guide gives a detailed mesh procedure for AirPods 3 and AirPods 4. Apple's separate AirPods Pro cleaning guide covers the meshes on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3. For AirPods 1 or 2, AirPods Pro 1, or a model you cannot identify, do not borrow the newer procedure. Use the instructions Apple lists for that exact model or contact Apple Support.

What you will need

1.    A soft, dry, lint-free cloth

2.    A clean, dry, soft-bristled brush for loose debris at the charging port

3.    Fresh water for a lightly dampened cloth when Apple directs it

4.    For supported mesh cleaning only: micellar water containing PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, distilled water, a soft-bristled children's toothbrush, two small cups, and a paper towel

5.    A dry lint-free foam swab only for accessible exterior case seams

How to clean AirPods, AirPods Pro, and the case

6.    Start with a dry exterior wipe. Wipe each earbud body with the lint-free cloth. If the earbuds contacted soap, lotion, sunscreen, oil, or another substance that could stain or damage them, Apple directs you to use a cloth slightly dampened with fresh water, then dry them with a separate lint-free cloth. Do not run AirPods under a faucet.

7.    Clean supported AirPods meshes exactly as Apple directs. For AirPods 3 or 4, hold only the mesh areas identified in Apple's model diagram facing up. Saturate the approved soft toothbrush with the specified micellar water, brush each listed mesh in circles for about 15 seconds, then turn the earbud over and blot the mesh on a paper towel. Repeat the cycle three times per mesh.

8.    Rinse the supported mesh procedure with distilled water. Rinse the toothbrush, then repeat Apple's brushing and blotting sequence using distilled water on every mesh you cleaned. Let the AirPods dry for at least two hours before placing them in the case or using them. Do not use this wet mesh procedure on an unlisted model.

9.    Remove and wash AirPods Pro ear tips. Pull each silicone tip from its base instead of tugging the thin edge. Rinse the detached tips with water only. Do not use soap or household cleaner. Wipe them with a dry lint-free cloth, let them dry completely, align each oval tip, and click it back into place.

10.      Follow the correct Pro mesh procedure. AirPods Pro 2 and 3 have model-specific mesh diagrams and use the micellar-water, distilled-water, brushing, blotting, and two-hour drying process described by Apple. Remove the ear tips first. Do not treat every visible grille as an approved cleaning area.

11.      Wipe the charging case. Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth on the case exterior and accessible interior shell. If necessary, Apple permits slightly dampening the cloth with isopropyl alcohol for the case, not the earbuds. Keep all liquid out of the charging port, speaker openings, wells, and contacts, then allow the case to dry.

12.      Clear loose debris around the charging port. Use a clean, dry, soft-bristled brush at the port opening. Brush outward gently. Apple warns against putting anything into the charging port because the metal contacts can be damaged. A toothpick, pin, swab tip, or metal tool does not belong inside it.

13.      Reassemble and charge only when dry. Check that the earbuds, ear tips, case, and port are fully dry. Seat the ear tips securely, place the AirPods in the case, and confirm normal charging. If sound, charging, or fit remains abnormal, stop cleaning and seek service instead of probing deeper.

Mistakes that can damage AirPods

• Do not use sharp objects, abrasive pads, or scraping tools on the earbuds or case.
• Do not push wax or debris through a speaker or microphone mesh.
• Do not spray cleaner directly onto AirPods or the charging case.
• Do not use hydrogen peroxide, bleach, household detergent, or an unapproved solvent.
• Do not use heat or compressed air to dry AirPods.
• Do not assume water resistance means waterproof. Resistance varies by model and can diminish over time.

Apple's water-resistance guidance explains that supported AirPods and cases are water resistant rather than waterproof, and the rating differs by generation. After sweat or splashes, dry the earbuds before returning them to the case.

AirPods cleaning FAQ

Can I use rubbing alcohol on AirPods?

Apple permits a cloth slightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol on the charging case when necessary. Its current earbud-body guidance instead uses fresh water on a slightly dampened cloth after exposure to staining substances. Do not transfer the case instruction to the earbud meshes or silicone tips.

Can I use a swab to remove earwax from the speaker mesh?

Not as a general rule. Pressing a tip against the mesh can push material inward. Use Apple's exact brush-and-liquid procedure only on the models and mesh areas Apple identifies. A dry foam swab is better reserved for an accessible hard-plastic exterior seam on the case.

How often should I clean AirPods?

Wipe them whenever you notice oil, dust, or sweat, and clean them promptly after contact with lotion, makeup, sunscreen, or other residue. A deeper mesh clean is an as-needed procedure, not something to repeat automatically on a schedule.

What if one AirPod still sounds quieter after cleaning?

Confirm that the ear tip is seated correctly and the device is fully dry. If the problem remains, use Apple Support or an authorized service provider. Repeated scraping, soaking, or probing can turn a cleaning issue into permanent damage.

Clean carefully, then let everything dry

The safest routine separates broad surfaces from sensitive openings. Use a lint-free cloth for the bodies and case, follow Apple's exact model-specific procedure for supported meshes, wash detached Pro ear tips with water only, and keep tools out of the charging port and charging contacts. For the few accessible exterior seams a cloth cannot reach, a dry Swab-its foam swab offers controlled detail without loose cotton fibers.