Doctors strongly advise paying attention to the often-overlooked process of cleaning earphones, as failure to do so may result in unintended health consequences.
Whether you want to disconnect from the world and focus, need a buddy on your daily metro ride, or want to watch one more episode late at night without bothering anyone, a set of earbuds is always handy.
But before you use them again, take a closer look. Warning: the sight will not be pretty! You will most likely see built-up grime, persistent stains, and collected earwax. Earbuds accompany us everywhere, from pockets to bags to ears, gathering an unpleasant mix of dirt, sweat, and wax. If you have white earbuds, the graphics will likely be significantly worse.
Anyway, the point is that this buildup is not only unpleasant for the eyes, but it can also degrade hearing quality and cause serious hygiene difficulties.
Earbuds have clearly become an essential everyday device, available at all price points, but the discussion about their cleaning and maintenance has yet to attract public attention. Doctors strongly advise paying attention to this frequently overlooked task since failure to do so may result in unintended health consequences.
Excessive usage of earphones is already a contributing cause to a variety of ear-related disorders, including impaired hearing and tinnitus.
“The usage of earbuds causes damage to inner ear hair cells, resulting in permanent nerve damage. Tinnitus, or the inability to identify small sounds or words during speech, is the most common early indicator of hearing loss. Long-term usage of earbuds causes irreversible hearing loss,” says Dr Satish Nair, skull base surgeon and ENT-head and neck surgeon at Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road in Bengaluru.
Not cleaning the earbuds is another major source of various issues.
“Using earbuds for longer durations, combined with sweating, leads to inflammation and infection of the ear canal, resulting in severe pain, swelling, and pus discharge from the ear that needs medical treatment,” according to Dr. Nair.
“If the earbuds are not properly hygienically cleaned, they will become a source of infection, and that infection may spread to the tympanic membrane and cause further damage,” says Dr. Ajay Swaroop, senior consultant and advisor, ENT, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi.
Dr Kalpana Nagpal, ENT, head and neck surgeon at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, recommends cleaning the earphones on a regular basis, particularly after workouts.
“Dirty earphones bring dangerous microorganisms into your ear canal. “Over time, infections or irritation can cause temporary or permanent hearing damage,” explains Dr. Nagpal.
Additionally, doctors strongly advise against sharing earbuds.
How to clean the earbuds properly
Proper earbud cleaning kits are now accessible in the market. They typically include a collection of tools such as small brushes, pen-like cleaning gadgets, and cotton swabs for cleaning sensitive surfaces and reaching the nooks and crannies of the earphones.
Purchasing a kit, however, is optional. Disinfectant wipes can also be used to quickly clean the nasty buds. You can even use a lens cleaner with a microfiber cloth (the same one you use to clean your glasses).
Make it a habit to regularly examine your electronics for grime. Clean them with a little brush or a smaller hoover for suction. After cleaning, use a disinfectant cloth to remove earwax, grime, and other contaminants.
You may also just remove the earbuds’ silicone tips and immerse them in warm, soapy water for around 30 minutes. After cleaning, use a soft cloth or cotton swab to remove any remaining earwax or debris, and then let the silicone tips dry completely by air.
Just be careful not to let any liquid enter the perforations. Avoid fully soaking your earbuds or headphones in water.
When cleaning the speaker or microphone mesh, avoid using sharp things like safety pins, pencils, or utensils.
Oh, and remember to wipe the casing from the inside. It’s futile to clean your earbuds only to put them back in a dirty case. Simply wipe off any dirt with a dry towel. You can dampen the cloth slightly with water or rubbing alcohol, but make sure no liquid enters the charging system.