Earbuds Cleaner: Get Water & Dust Out of AirPods and Earbuds

When should you use the earbuds cleaner?

Use it when one earbud sounds quieter, muffled or crackly after rain, sweat, a shower or a trip through the washing machine. Water sitting on the speaker mesh blocks sound. A low tone makes the tiny driver move, and that movement helps push droplets out through the mesh.

Water mode vs Dust & Wax mode

Safety first

• Never wear the earbuds while cleaning. The tones are loud and low; they are made for the speaker, not your ears.
• Do not charge wet earbuds or put them in a wet case. Dry them for a few hours first.
• Do not push pins, needles or cotton swabs into the mesh. Use a soft, dry toothbrush for wax.
• If one bud is still quiet after drying and cleaning, check the balance slider in your phone’s accessibility settings before assuming it is broken.

Earbuds still sound bad?

Wax buildup is the most common cause of a quiet earbud, and sound alone cannot remove sticky wax. Gently brush the mesh with a dry, soft brush, then run Dust & Wax mode once more. Test each side with our Left & Right Speaker Test.

Questions people ask