Clean dirty earphones with two ingredients – but avoid ‘cocktail of chemicals’

Having a day away from our favourite songs is unthinkable for many of us, but cleaning our earphones can often fall off the priority list.

You may just leave your earphones in your handbag, coat or car compartment ready for when you next need them. But putting them in and out of your ears, onto different surfaces, or in your pocket is not every hygienic.

So regularly cleaning your in-ear devices is important to avoid bacteria and debris building up. However, it’s important to be very careful; earphones can often be expensive and the last thing you want to do is soak them in water and break them.

They need to be handle delicately. Thankfully, a viral cleaning and hygiene expert known as ‘Madame Sweat’ – real name Nikitta – has come up with a simple trick to get rid of earphone dirt.

Madame Sweat shared a video on her Instagram page, and holding a pair of Apple Airpods, she said: “When was the last time you cleaned these…naturally?”

“You don’t want to put a chemical cocktail in your ears,” she added. She says there are two ingredients she recommends using to naturally clean your earphones.

The first is white vinegar and the second is distilled water – which can be bought from pharmacies or on Amazon. She noted that after cleaning your earphones, distilled water can be used to clean a number of household appliances. “It’s much healthier than using plain water,” she added.

Mix equal parts distilled water and white vinegar to disinfect and remove grom without causing any damage to your earbuds. Before cleaning you should remove the rubber piece from the earphone.

Next, using a toothbrush, gently scrub the mesh area of your earphone. Madame Sweat warns to be careful not to push through the debris through the mesh. Then use a dry, lint-free cloth to wipe off excess moisture.

Leave your headphones to dry for two hours after cleaning before using again. Commenting on the video, one individual said: “Your content is so useful.” “Love her approach,” said another.

Others offered their suggestions. One individual said they use dry q-tips while others said they use alcohol wipes to get rid of dirt in their earphones. Someone asked if using isopropyl alcohol is good or not, and Madame Sweat responded: “There’s nothing wrong with that option. I am simply a big proponent of natural and believe in giving natural cleaning solutions to everyday situations.”

How often do you clean your earphones? Comment below.