Toothbrushes with nylon bristles are best. Since nylon breaks up static electricity, you won’t have to worry about damaging the internal workings of the earbuds. [1] X Research source The bristles of the toothbrush will be long and narrow enough to penetrate into the mesh covering the ear openings, making it one of the safest ways to clean and maintain them.
While cleaning around the ear openings, be careful not to brush too hard. You might end up pushing the earwax and debris further into the openings, making it hard, or even impossible, to clean. You might also scrub your earbuds with a toothbrush to prepare them for being cleaned with other products.
Boiling or washing a toothbrush can cause the bristles to soften, but the heat will eliminate any bacteria on it and make it useable again.
The soap solution should only contain enough detergent to allow you to effectively clean your earbuds. In addition to the obvious risks to the electronic components of the earbuds, using too much soap can leave behind a slick residue.
Make sure your hands are also mostly dry and clean before you start cleaning to prevent any accidental accidents.
It may help to keep the input jack and cords covered with a towel while you work on the earbuds. Hold the earbuds with the openings facing downward to prevent water and dislodged debris from running into them. Wipe the earbuds lightly. Using too much force could force water out of the washcloth.
Just to be safe, consider letting the earbuds dry overnight. Never attempt to dry your earbuds or any other electronics using a heat source such as a hair dryer. Headphones are made up of plastic, thin metal wires and other materials that can easily be melted or destroyed by direct application of heat.
You can purchase a bottle of rubbing alcohol for just a couple dollars or pounds and it will last you for many, many cleanings (of your earbuds or other objects). Isopropyl alcohol has antibacterial properties, making it ideal for sanitizing objects that have been inserted into the ears or other orifices where germs may congregate.
Wet the cotton swab with more alcohol as needed, but don’t use too much. It’s not a good idea to directly expose your electronics to moisture of any kind. You might also think about using an alcohol swab if you happen to have one on hand, although even these can be oversaturated and may need to be wrung out beforehand. It’s preferable to use a cotton swab because you can control exactly how much liquid goes on it.
Use one end of the cotton swab for each earbud to ensure that you’re cleaning with a fresh surface.
This is the method that most professional technicians recommend for cleaning heavily-used earbuds. [8] X Research source
