How to Clean Your AirPods Case

AirPods are an absolute necessity for anyone who has an iPhone (and even if you don’t!). Listening to music is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and your AirPods will help to amplify the experience to great heights. However, there’s nothing worse than putting your headphones in only to realize that they haven’t charged! 

Sometimes, this is due to a dirty AirPod case rather than anything more serious. Discover how to clean your AirPod case so you won’t have to worry about your headphones breaking or sacrificing the good times.

Why Should You Clean Your AirPods Case?

Letting germs accumulate is never a good idea; electrical devices carry countless germs and even have 10 times more germs than toilet seats. This is why your AirPod case and even your AirPods will carry germs that could make you sick. While looking after your health is always a priority, a primary reason to clean your case is to ensure maximum charging capabilities. 

Your AirPod case will likely travel with you. Whether commuting to work, walking around the house, or running, your case will naturally accumulate dirt and dust. When dust and dirt particles build up in your AirPod case, it can prevent charging efficiency. Over time, it might seem like your AirPods are losing their charge quicker than they should. 

However, chances are your case just needs a bit of cleaning. With a good disinfectant for the potentially harmful bacteria and some gentle cleaning with a cotton swab, you can clean your AirPods to ensure they’re clean and working effectively. 

How Do You Clean a Dirty AirPods Case?

How to Clean AirPods With a Cotton Swab

1. Prepare Your Materials and Cleaning Station 

Before you start, you must choose a neat cleaning station (with no dirt or dust around it) to ensure your cleaning isn’t in vain. Then, gather all the materials you’ll need to complete the cleaning. For this cleaning process, you’ll need: 

• Cotton swaps 
• Microfibre cloths 
• A little water 

2. Wipe Your AirPods

You won’t keep your AirPod case clean for long if you don’t first clean your AirPods. Start by wiping your AirPods down with a microfiber cloth. Microfibre cloths should prevent any fabric or material from getting attached to the AirPods as you clean (unlike a towel). Wipe down every part of the AirPod.

3. Clean The Mesh Areas 

It’s then best to tackle the trickier mesh areas. While the mesh areas are aesthetic and stop debris from getting into the AirPods, debris can still get caught. So, take your cotton swap and gently clean away debris in the mesh areas. 

4. Clean Away Debris 

Once you finish the mesh, apply the same technique to the rest of the AirPod. Ensure that your cleaning technique is not too rough or harsh. 

5. Clean Away Dirt 

It’s possible that a bit of dust and debris isn’t your primary concern; instead, they’re dirty. If you dab your microfibre cloth in a bit of water so it’s damp - not wet - then rub away the dirt. That should be enough to clean away mud, sun lotion, or little dirt scuff marks. 

Then wipe down any slightly damp areas on your AirPods with the dry part of the microfibre cloth.

6. Clean Out Dust From Charging Points

Once you’ve ensured that you have two clean AirPods, it’s time to tackle the AirPod case. Using a cotton swab, remove any visible debris, such as dust, from the charging ports and surrounding areas. 

Apply the same technique to dirty areas of your case as you did with the AirPods, but make sure that no liquid is left in the charging case.

7. Wipe Your Charging Case Down

After completing the above processes, wipe your case down with the microfibre cloth to ensure it’s clean and dry.

How to Disinfect AirPods With Alcohol

1. Wipe Down The Outside of The Case 

After cleaning your AirPods, wipe the outside of your AirPod case with alcohol wipes or a microfibre cloth dipped in a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Ensure you don't get any liquid in the charging ports as you do this, as it could damage the ports, such as causing corrosion. 

2. Clean The Inside 

Then, you're ready to clean the inside of the case. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush or a cotton swap, remove any dirt or debris that you can see around the charging points. 

3. Leave To Dry 

Ensure that the case is completely dry before you place your AirPods back in the charging case. It's best to let your case air dry. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Black Stuff in My AirPods Case?

The black stuff in your AirPod case is likely debris buildup, be it small particles like lint or dust (or a combination). These little black marks aren’t usually something to worry about, but keeping a clean AirPod case will ensure you don’t see these buildups often. 

Can You Use Alcohol Wipes To Clean an AirPods Case?

Yes, but be careful that the wipes aren’t too wet; you don’t want any liquid messing with the charging points and causing more damage than good. You can clean the outside of your AirPod case with alcohol wipes, but using a cotton swap with a bit of rubbing alcohol instead will allow for greater precision.

Why Do AirPods Cases Get So Dirty?

If you often use your AirPods to listen to music, podcasts, or streaming services, chances are that your case will get dirty occasionally. Like anything used frequently (even if little and often), it will accumulate dirt, debris, and dust if left uncleaned, mainly used in locations like the beach or subway. 

Final Thoughts

Cleaning your AirPods and AirPods case is a simple method to avoid any unnecessary accumulation of dirt. To prevent this, your AirPods should work effectively. However, if you find that there are still some problems after cleaning, you may need a new case. 

But don't worry! Check out Casely's range of AirPod cases today to find a chic case that suits your style.