How to Clean AirPods Case

This article explains how to clean your AirPods case without damaging the finish or mechanism. The cleaning process is the same for AirPods or AirPods Pro cases.

How to Clean Your AirPods Case 

You need a microfiber cloth and a cotton swab. If you don't have a microfiber cloth, an ordinary soft cloth will do. If you have a particularly dirty case, you can also use some isopropyl alcohol, but follow the directions below carefully.

Here is the best way to clean your AirPods charging case or AirPods Pro case when it's dirty.

1. First clean the interior. Open the case and remove the AirPods or AirPods Pro. 

2. Get a cotton swab. If it's especially fluffy, gently remove a little of the fluff from the end of the swab, leaving behind just the tightly packed tip. 

   

3. Use the swab to remove dirt, grime, and ear wax on the interior of the case, cleaning the inside upper lid, groove around the lower half of the case, and the carve-out for the earbuds themselves. 

   

4. Be careful when cleaning the stem well. It's rare for dirt to get down into that part of the case, but if it does, extend the swab into the well past the debris and then push the swab against the well as you pull the swab up, "sweeping" the debris out with the tip of the swab. It's important not to accidentally push deeper into the well or to touch the charging contacts at the bottom.  

   

5. If necessary, you can dampen the swab with isopropyl alcohol to clean the upper portions of the case but never use a dampened swab in the stem well. 

6. After the interior is clean, close the lid and clean the exterior. Use a microfiber cloth to thoroughly wipe the outside of the case. If needed, dampen the cloth with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to encourage the dirt to come loose. 

   

7. If the case's charging port is dirty or clogged, you can clean it using the same techniques discussed in Safely and Properly Cleaning Your iPhone's Charging Port. 

What Not to Do When Cleaning Your AirPods Case

Cleaning your AirPods case seems like common sense, but in this case, common sense cleaning strategies can get you in trouble. Here are some hard "don'ts:"

• Never pour or spray any liquid directly on or into the case. The worst-case scenario here is that liquid will get on the charging contacts at the bottom of the stem well.
• Never blast compressed air in the open case. It can force debris into the stem well, where it can foul or damage the charging contacts at the bottom of the well.
• Never use anything metallic or sharp to work gunk lose or scrape dirt away.