If you notice that your AirPods no longer sound the same as the first day, it is not your imagination or a Bluetooth problem. Earwax, dust, and sweat slowly build up on the speaker grills, literally muffling the sound reaching your ears. Apple itself recognizes this problem in its technical support and recommends regular cleaning using a cloth slightly dampened with clean water, always avoiding liquids with bleach or hydrogen peroxide.

The funny thing is that many users don't even notice the difference until they clean their AirPods for the first time in months. The mixture of earwax and debris gets into every corner, from the small hole in the earbud to the slots in the charging case. The result is muffled sound, bass that feels flat, and even connection problems when dirt blocks the case's sensors.

How to clean your AirPods without damaging them

The golden rule here is patience, because you should never submerge AirPods in water or use liquids with pure alcohol directly on the grills. Apple suggests using a soft, lint-free cloth for the exterior, and 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes only on the exterior surfaces, never on the speakers. For more complicated areas, such as the speaker meshes, the ideal is a completely dry or slightly moistened cotton swab, moving it gently without pressing.

Another technique that many users use is the soft-bristle brush, passed very gently through the grates to release the wax without pushing it further inside. There is also the option of special putty (popularly known as “glutac”), which is pressed against the grille and when removed, it takes much of the accumulated dirt with it. The important thing is to let it dry completely before storing the AirPods in their case, checking that there is no moisture left in any corner.

Cleaning kits worth every penny

Now, if you prefer something more practical than improvising with things from around the house, the market is full of specialized cleaning kits that cost less than $20 dollars and that include everything you need in a single package. Belkin, for example, offers an official kit with a long, thin-handled brush, microfiber cloth, and deionized cleaning fluid for $12.95, available directly from Apple. Its most recent version for AirPods 3, 4 and Pro 2 adds two different liquid solutions to optimize cleaning depending on the area.

If you are looking for something even cheaper, at Walmart there are kits with compressed air and cleaning spray for less than $8 dollars, while on eBay you can find options with a brush included from $5.45. The best thing about these kits is that almost all of them come with multiple interchangeable tips, a thinner one for the delicate speaker grills and a thicker sponge-like one for the silicone tips on the AirPods Pro. This variety of tips is just what you need because each type of dirt requires a different tool, and using the wrong one can push the wax further in instead of getting it out.

A kit widely mentioned online includes a multifunction 360-degree cleaning pen without blind spots, which reaches the small hole in the silicone plug. There are also versions that come with metal tips for the toughest corners along with dual brushes for microphones and speakers, all in a compact kit that fits in any pocket or backpack.

In the end, spending just five minutes a week on this cleaning routine can give you back that crystal-clear sound quality you had the day you took your AirPods out of the box. You don't need to spend a fortune or be a tech expert, just the right kit and the consistency of using it regularly. Your ears—and your music—will thank you.

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