Have you looked closely at your earbuds lately? I did, and I was horrified at how gross they were. My trusty Apple AirPods had become so mucky and caked in ear wax I was genuinely embarrassed, and almost reluctant to put something so nasty back in my ears.
But are my yellowing Airpods actually a risk to my health? I asked general practitioner Dr. Jonathan Webster, from Doctify, who explained that while earwax is protective and part of the normal cleaning process of the ear, “problems arise because long-term use of the earbuds prevents the wax from naturally migrating outwards—and so it builds up, trapping moisture, and making it prone to getting infected.”
Earbuds can also push earwax deeper into the ear canal, leading to blockages and discomfort. There’s a reason your ENT surgeon likes the saying, “Do not put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.” Dr. Webster also explained that “there has definitely been a rise in problems associated with earbud use, including hearing loss, tinnitus, and infections.”
Hearing loss has little to do with my poor headphone cleanliness, but it is worth remembering that “prolonged exposure to loud noise can damage the very delicate hair cells in the inner ear (cochlear), leading to permanent hearing loss. With the in-ear headphones, there is a concentration of the sound directed into the ear, which may make it more likely to cause a problem.”
It’s also worth noting that the UK’s National Health Service advises that headphone users should not listen to music at higher than 60 percent of the maximum volume, and not for more than an hour at a time.
Chris Haslam
Can Dirty Earbuds Really Cause Infections?
There’s not been a huge amount of clinical research into headphone cleanliness, but according to an investigation by ABC 11 back in 2019, microbiologist Dr. Michael Taveirne, from North Carolina State University, swabbed several different headphones and sent the cultures in for testing. The results showed staphylococcus and pseudomonas, two types of bacteria that can cause infection under the right circumstances.
Similarly, according to a Florida-based ENT specialist headphones house around 2,700 times more bacteria than the average cutting board, or six times more bacteria than the kitchen sink. That’s pretty gross—but even then you’re not guaranteed to get infected.
Bacteria isn’t inherently problematic, but if your earbuds don’t fit properly and you’re always fiddling with them, there’s a higher risk of you scraping or damaging the ear canal, which will create the perfect conditions for bacteria to thrive. Add in sweat from sports, and hours of daily wear, and you could be in for a nasty surprise.
How to Clean Your Earbuds
So, your earbuds are disgusting—but fortunately, it is surprisingly easy to restore their cleanliness safely with just a few household essentials.
- Disinfectant spray or wipes: Alcohol-free wipes and sprays won’t harm rubber, plastic, silicone, or acrylic, but will make quick work of your grubby buds, dissolving wax quickly.
- Earbud cleaning tool: There are countless options available, each designed to get into the smallest spaces. But before you invest, try using an old toothbrush or Q-tip first.
- A microfiber cloth: If you have a lens cleaner with your sunglasses this will work fine, although specific tech cloths are available. The key is to use a fabric that won’t scratch, as well as minimize static build-up.
- Soapy water: A mild soap without added moisturizers will remove any exterior residue. Check the IP water resistance rating of your buds before you do anything other than a careful wipe.
- Silica gel pack: Chuck one in your gym kit bag along with your headphones and it will help to absorb excess moisture.
