How to Clean Airpods Mesh Say Goodbye to Dirt and Grime!

Use a dry microfiber cloth to gently wipe the mesh covering the earbuds and microphone. For tough buildup, use a disinfectant wipe or dry toothbrush to loosen debris. Never use liquids or moisture. Check charging contacts also. Regular cleaning keeps AirPods sounding crisp and clear.

AirPods have become an essential tech accessory for many iPhone users. However, like any gadget, they can get dirty over time which can impact audio quality and functionality. Cleaning the mesh covering the earbuds and microphone is important to keep your AirPods performing at their best. This comprehensive troubleshooting guide will provide step-by-step instructions to How to Clean Airpods Mesh.

The mesh on AirPods serves an important acoustic purpose. It covers the speaker and microphone ports and prevents dust and debris from getting inside the earbuds. However, the small holes in the mesh can get clogged over time due to earwax, makeup, oils, and other particles. This buildup can muffle the sound from your cleaing AirPods and make calls sound faint.

Regularly cleaning the mesh is essential maintenance to keep your AirPods working properly. This guide will walk you through the entire process with easy DIY cleaning methods. Follow the step-by-step instructions and your AirPods will sound crisp and clear again in no time!

Section 1: Common Issues Caused by Dirty Mesh

Before diving into the cleaning process, let’s look at some of the typical problems you may experience if the mesh on your AirPods gets too dirty:

• Muffled or distorted sound quality
• Music and calls sound faint or muted
• Unable to hear ambient noise clearly in Transparency Mode
• AirPods don’t engage Noise Cancellation effectively
• Reduced battery life
• Microphone issues – people can’t hear you clearly on calls
• Connectivity problems and signal dropouts
• Earbuds not charging properly in the case
• “Liquid detected in earbuds” warning message

Regularly cleaning the mesh can prevent all of these problems and keep your AirPods case cleaning performing optimally.

Section 2: When to Clean Your AirPods Mesh

It’s generally a good idea to clean the AirPods mesh every few months. However, you may need to do it more frequently if you notice any of the issues mentioned above.

Here are some specific signs that indicate it’s time to clean the mesh:

• Visible debris, wax buildup, makeup stains on the mesh
• Muffled or distorted sound from the earbuds
• People saying your voice sounds faint or far away on calls
• AirPods failing the ear tip fit test
• Need to crank up the volume higher than usual
• AirPods won’t play audio at full volume
• Noise cancellation seems weaker
• Battery draining faster than expected
• Seeing the “liquid detected” warning message

Don’t wait until you have multiple issues to clean your AirPods. Schedule periodic cleaning every 2-3 months for best results.

Section 3: Cleaning the Regular AirPods Mesh

If you have the 1st or 2nd generation regular AirPods (not the AirPods Pro or AirPods Max), follow these steps to clean the earbud mesh:

Inspect the Mesh

Pop out both earbuds from the charging case and look closely at the mesh. Check for any visible debris, wax, makeup, or other gunk blocking the tiny holes. Tilt the earbuds at an angle in bright light to get a good look.

Use a Dry Microfiber Cloth

Gently wipe down the entire mesh surface with a soft, dry microfiber cloth. Don’t press too hard or you could push the debris further into the holes.

Use a Disinfectant Wipe

For a deeper clean, use a disinfectant wipe designed for electronics. Gently rub it across the mesh. The alcohol in the wipe will help dissolve wax and makeup buildup.

Try a Dry Toothbrush

If you still see any visible debris trapped in the mesh, use a clean, dry toothbrush to gently brush across the surface. This can dislodge stubborn particles caught in the tiny holes. Avoid getting any moisture in the earbuds.

Use Blu Tack

For really stubborn buildup that won’t budge, roll a small piece of Blu Tack into a ball and gently press it onto the mesh. Peel it away – this will remove stuck-on debris from the holes.

Check the Microphone Mesh

Don’t forget to inspect and clean the microphone mesh at the bottom of each earbud stem using the same methods. Verbal audio quality starts here.

Clean the Contacts

Check the metal charging contacts on the bottom of each earbud. If needed, wipe them with a dry cloth or use a soft pencil eraser to remove any corrosion or debris buildup.

And you’re done! In just a few simple steps, you’ve cleaned the mesh and microphone on your AirPods. Listen to some music and test the mic with phone calls. Everything should sound crystal clear again.

Section 4: Cleaning AirPods Pro Mesh

The AirPods Pro has a similar mesh covering the earbud speakers and microphone. Here are some tips for cleaning the mesh on these noise-canceling earbuds:

Remove the Eartips

Twist and pull off the silicone eartips from both earbuds to access the speaker mesh underneath. Removing them prevents transferring any debris or oils from the tips to the mesh.

Check the Mesh  

Inspect the circular mesh on each earbud and look for any visible dust, wax, or other particles. Tilt the earbuds to view the mesh at different angles.

Dry Microfiber Cloth

Use a dry microfiber cloth to gently wipe down the mesh surface. Don’t rub too vigorously or you may push gunk further into the holes.

Disinfecting Wipes

Use disinfectant wipes designed specifically for electronics to break up any wax or oil buildup. Gently rub across the mesh.

Step 5: Dry Toothbrush

If you see any visible debris still trapped in the mesh, use a clean dry toothbrush to gently loosen and remove it. Avoid moisture.

Blu Tack

For really stubborn debris stuck in the holes, gently press a small ball of Blu Tack onto the mesh, let it sit briefly, then peel it away. This will remove particles from the holes.

Clean the Microphones

There are two microphone meshes at the top and bottom of each AirPods Pro stem. Clean them the same way.

Clean the Charging Contacts

Check the metal charging contacts on the bottom of each earbud. Wipe with a dry cloth or use a pencil eraser to remove any corrosion.

Reattach the Eartips

Twist and lock the eartips back onto each earbud once the mesh is cleaned. Your AirPods Pro is ready for crystal clear audio again!

Section 5: Cleaning AirPods Max Mesh

The over-ear AirPods Max use larger earcup meshes to deliver immersive sound. Here’s how to clean them:

Remove the Earcups

Gently pull the AirPods Max earcups away from the headband to access the speaker mesh underneath. Don’t tug too hard.

Inspect the Circular Mesh

Check both earcup meshes closely for any visible debris, wax, makeup, or other particles blocking the holes.

Use a Microfiber Cloth

Gently wipe down the entire mesh surface using a soft, dry microfiber cloth. Avoid rubbing too hard.

Disinfecting Wipes

Use disinfecting wipes designed for electronics to dissolve wax or makeup accumulated on the mesh.

Dry Toothbrush

If you see any stubborn debris still lodged in the holes, carefully use a dry toothbrush to dislodge it. Don’t get moisture into the earcup.

Blu Tack

For really stuck-on grime, press a small ball of Blu Tack onto the mesh, let sit briefly, then gently peel it off. This will remove particles from the holes.

Clean the Microphones

There are microphones inside and outside each ear cup. Clean the mesh covering them the same way.

Metal Charging Contacts

Check the contacts on the bottom of each ear cup and wipe clean with a dry cloth as needed.

Reattach the Earcups

Once fully dry, gently push the ear cups back onto the headband. Your AirPods Max will now sound crisp and clear!

8 Preventive Maintenance

Cleaning your AirPods mesh regularly is key, but you can also take some preventive measures:

1. Don’t wear AirPods when applying makeup, moisturizer, or other liquids that could get trapped in the mesh.
2. Clean ears and remove any wax before using AirPods to prevent buildup on the mesh.
3. Avoid exposing AirPods to oils, lotions, and debris when possible.
4. Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe down the earbuds after each use.
5. Put AirPods back in the case when not using them to avoid dust and dirt buildup.
6. Check the fit of your eartips and adjust if needed to get a tight seal. This prevents earwax from entering the mesh.
7. Replace ear tips regularly as they can collect debris over time.
8. Update your AirPods firmware for optimal performance.

Following these tips in addition to periodic deep cleaning will keep your AirPods mesh clear and your audio quality flawless!

Additional Readings:

How to clean airpods case inside.

How to Clean Airpods Microphone.

Section 7: When to Seek Professional Help

While DIY cleaning methods are effective for most users, there are a few instances when you may want to seek professional assistance:

• You damage the mesh while attempting to clean it at home.
• Debris is lodged so deep it seems unreachable.
• A chemical cleaning agent reacts poorly with the mesh.
• Audio issues persist even after thorough cleaning.
• You don’t feel comfortable disassembling and cleaning your high-end headphones.

In these cases, consider taking your AirPods to an Apple Store or authorized service provider for professional cleaning and maintenance. Technicians have specialized tools and training to safely clean AirPods mesh and diagnose any underlying issues.

While a professional cleaning service may cost money, it’s worthwhile to avoid further damaging your earbuds or voiding the warranty. Trust the experts when DIY efforts fail.

Conclusion

How to Clean Airpods Mesh? Keeping the mesh on your AirPods clean is crucial for optimal audio performance and call clarity. This comprehensive guide has walked you through foolproof techniques to clear out any earwax, debris, makeup, or other gunk trapped in the mesh holes.

Implement these cleaning methods every few months, or whenever you notice sound quality declining. Pay special attention to the earbud, microphone, and charging port meshes. With occasional DIY maintenance, your AirPods will continue sounding crisp and clear for years of enjoyable listening and calling.