The Right Way to Clean Clip-On Earbuds and the Mistakes to Avoid
Clip-on earbuds don't go inside your ear, so it's easy to assume they stay clean. Then one day you hold them up to the light and see a greasy film over the speaker mesh, the inside of the clip feels tacky, and the volume seems lower than when they were new. So why are clip-on earbuds this dirty, and can you just wipe them with an alcohol wipe or rinse them under the tap?
Clip-on earbuds rest against your outer ear, so skin oil, sweat, and skincare residue build up on the speaker mesh and the clip. A dry, soft cloth, a soft brush, and a cotton swab handle most of it. Whether you can use alcohol depends on your earbuds' manual, and either way, skip the tap: a water resistance rating covers accidents, not washing.
Below you'll find why they get dirty, what the buildup leads to, the cleaning mistakes that cause damage, a 3-step clean, and a simple cleaning schedule.
Note: This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. If redness or itching on your ear doesn't go away after you stop wearing your earbuds, see a doctor.
Why Clip-On Earbuds Get Dirty Even Though They Stay Out of Your Ears
Staying out of the ear canal means less earwax, not less grime. Clip-on earbuds get dirty for two reasons: the speaker sits against the skin at your ear canal opening, and the clip touches your outer ear all day. The sweat they pick up can also dry into salt on the charging contacts.
The Speaker Sits Right Next to Your Ear Canal
The speaker part of a clip-on earbud rests on the skin just outside your ear canal opening. When you talk or chew, that skin moves against the earbud, and tiny amounts of oil and dead skin end up on the speaker mesh (the fine grille the sound comes through). Hold the earbud up to the light, and you may see a greasy film over the mesh.
The Clip Touches Your Skin All Day
The other end of a clip-on earbud wraps around the outer ear, so it stays in contact with your skin for as long as you wear it. How that contact feels depends on what the clip is made of. On Anker soundcore AeroClip 2, for example, the GoldenFit™ C-Bridge (the curved band that wraps around your outer ear) is covered in ultra-soft liquid silicone, so it stays gentle on your skin through a long workday. Soft material that touches skin all day also picks up skin oil, sweat, sunscreen, and hair products, and over time the surface starts to feel sticky. That's normal and easy to wipe off. To check, run a finger along the inside of the clip.
Since clip-on earbuds sit on your skin through workouts and warm commutes, the sweat they pick up doesn't stay on the clip. Some of it reaches the charging contacts (the small metal points that touch the case) and dries there, leaving salt behind. Look for dull spots or white marks.
If you also use in-ear buds with silicone tips, our guide on how to clean earbuds covers ear tips and earwax.
What Built-Up Grime Does to Clip-On Earbuds
Grime on clip-on earbuds tends to cause problems in a chain: a clogged mesh lowers the sound, lower sound leads you to turn the volume up, residue on the contacts can interrupt charging, and a dirty clip keeps old sweat against your skin.
- The sound gets quieter. Oil fills the tiny holes in the speaker mesh, so less sound gets out. You may notice the overall volume drop, or one earbud sounding quieter than the other.
- You turn the volume up. It's easy to assume the earbuds are wearing out and push the volume higher to make up for it, when the mesh just needs a clean.
- Charging gets unreliable. Dried sweat on the charging contacts can stop the earbuds from connecting properly with the case. If an earbud won't charge after you clean the contacts, see our fixes for earbuds not charging in case.
- Your skin may react. A clip that's rarely cleaned keeps sweat and residue pressed against your ear. If the skin turns red or itchy, stop wearing the earbuds for a while. If it doesn't settle, see a doctor. For in-ear concerns, read can earbuds cause ear infections.
Cleaning Mistakes That Can Damage Clip-On Earbuds
Most damage from cleaning comes from too much liquid, the wrong cleaner, sharp tools, or heat. A water resistance rating doesn't make clip-on earbuds washable.
That rating is an IP code (Ingress Protection), a system from the International Electrotechnical Commission that grades how well a device keeps out solids and liquids. The first digit covers dust, on a scale up to 6, and the second covers water, on a scale up to 9. AeroClip 2 is rated IP57, so it's built to handle sweat and splashes, but not swimming or showering. The first-generation soundcore AeroClip is rated IP55, so ratings differ between models. Check yours before cleaning. Either way, a rating isn't a cleaning method, and water resistance can wear down over time with daily use.
| Mistake | Why it's a problem | Do this instead |
| Rinsing them under the tap or soaking them because they're water-resistant | A rating covers sweat and splashes, not washing, and protection can weaken with age | Wipe with a dry, soft cloth. If water gets in, follow our steps on how to get water out of earbuds |
| Washing with soap, hand wash, or dish soap | Soap residue can stay in the mesh and openings | Use a dry, soft cloth on the body and a soft brush or dry cotton swab on the mesh |
| Spraying or pouring alcohol, hand sanitizer, or cleaning spray onto the earbuds | Liquid can run into the mesh and openings | If your manual allows alcohol, put a little on a cotton swab first, then wipe |
| Poking the mesh with a toothpick or pin, or blasting it with canned air | Pressure can push dirt deeper or damage the mesh | Brush the mesh lightly with the speaker facing down, or use a dry cotton swab |
| Blow-drying with hot air, or putting them back in the case while still damp | Heat can affect the earbuds, and moisture can get onto the charging contacts | Let them air-dry fully at room temperature before charging |
The 3-Step Way to Clean Clip-On Earbuds
Earbud makers' cleaning guides mostly agree on three steps for clip-on earbuds: wipe the body with a dry, soft cloth, clear the speaker mesh with a soft brush or a dry cotton swab, and dry and clean the charging contacts.
You'll need:
- A lint-free, soft cloth
- A small soft-bristled brush, such as a clean, dry soft toothbrush
- Cotton swabs
- Wipe the body with a dry, soft cloth. Go over the outer shell, the clip, and the skin-contact surfaces at both ends. Spend a little longer on the inside of the clip, where oil and sunscreen build up.
- Clear the speaker mesh with a soft brush or a dry cotton swab. Hold the earbud with the speaker opening pointing toward the floor and brush lightly across the mesh, so loose dust and skin flakes fall out instead of getting pushed in. A dry cotton swab works too. Keep the pressure light.
- Dry and clean the charging contacts. After a workout, wipe the sweat off the contacts right away. Then go over them with a dry cotton swab, and clean the charging pins inside the case the same way.
To finish, wipe the outside of the charging case with a dry cloth and keep water away from it. Let the earbuds dry completely before you put them back in the case.
If you use Anker soundcore AeroClip 2, its user guide recommends going one step further on the speaker mesh. After brushing it 3 to 5 times, wipe the mesh with a cotton swab lightly dampened with household alcohol. If dust is still stuck in the holes, press a piece of adhesive tape or fresh modeling clay onto the mesh and lift it off quickly. Repeat 2 to 3 times, then check that nothing is left behind. If the case light doesn't come on when you put the earbuds back, wipe the charging contacts on the earbuds and in the case with a cotton swab or soft cloth and a little alcohol. For the C-Bridge, a dry, soft cloth is the safest choice.
Can You Use Alcohol on Clip-On Earbuds?
It depends on your earbuds, and sometimes on the part you're cleaning, so check the manual first. soundcore allows a cotton swab with a little alcohol on the speaker mesh and charging contacts. Shokz says not to use alcohol on the OpenDots ONE earbuds themselves but allows it on the charging contacts. Bose's guide for its Ultra Open Earbuds rules out cleaners that contain alcohol.
If your manual does allow alcohol, three limits apply:
- Put it on the swab first. Don't spray or pour alcohol onto the earbuds.
- Use only a little. A lightly dampened swab is enough, and nothing should drip into the openings.
- Don't soak the earbuds. Wipe the surface and leave it at that.
Cleaning and disinfecting aren't the same thing. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency describes cleaning as removing dirt and organic matter from surfaces, and disinfecting as killing viruses and bacteria on surfaces with chemicals. A quick wipe with a little alcohol mainly cleans the surface. It won't make your earbuds sterile.
A Cleaning Routine for Clip-On Earbuds
Clip-on earbuds stay clean with a dry wipe after each use, a quick dry-off after you sweat, the 3 steps above once a week, and a monthly check of the mesh and contacts.
| When | What to do |
| After each use | Wipe the clip and skin-contact surfaces with a dry, soft cloth. It takes about 30 seconds. |
| After a workout or a sweaty commute | Wipe the sweat off the earbuds and charging contacts right away, and let them dry before they go back in the case |
| Once a week | Do the 3-step clean: dry wipe, soft brush on the mesh, dry swab on the contacts |
| Once a month | Hold the mesh up to the light and check the charging contacts for dull spots or white marks |
If you use AeroClip 2, add the deeper mesh clean with the alcohol swab and tape every 3 months, or whenever the volume drops noticeably.
Whatever pair you use, keep the earbuds in the charging case with the lid closed between uses, and keep the case out of the bathroom, where steam from the shower can reach it.
Conclusion
Clip-on earbuds skip the earwax, but skin oil and sweat still build up on the mesh, the clip, and the charging contacts. Keep water, soap, sharp tools, and heat away, and let a dry cloth, a soft brush, and a cotton swab do most of the work. For alcohol and deeper cleans, follow your manual. If you're shopping, check the water resistance rating and the material where the clip touches your skin, and compare both across soundcore's open-ear clip-on earbuds. For other styles that leave your ears free, see our open ear earbuds.
FAQs
Can I use baby wipes or makeup remover wipes on clip-on earbuds?
No. These wipes often contain moisturizers, oils, or fragrance that can leave a film on silicone and attract more dirt. Use a dry, soft cloth instead.
Is a UV sanitizer box safe for clip-on earbuds?
No, we can't confirm it's safe, so we don't recommend one. UV sanitizer boxes aren't part of soundcore's cleaning instructions, so their long-term effect on liquid silicone and the battery hasn't been confirmed. A dry cloth and the cleaning steps in your manual do the job.
Is it OK to share clip-on earbuds with someone else?
Yes, as long as you clean them in between. Clip-on earbuds don't go into the ear canal, but the clip and skin-contact surfaces still carry the last wearer's skin oil and sweat. Do the full 3-step clean before handing them over.
Why do my clip-on earbuds sound muffled after I cleaned them?
Liquid or loose debris has most likely gotten into the speaker mesh. Set the earbuds speaker-side down and let them air-dry completely, without heat. If they still sound low, see why are my earbuds so quiet.
Should I clean my ears too, or just the earbuds?
Both. Clean the skin your earbuds touch, too. Wipe your outer ear and the area behind it with a lightly damp cloth, and don't put cotton swabs into your ear canal. For more on ear health, read can earbuds cause ear infections.
