Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

How to clean your AirPods or AirPods Pro case

If you feel like you see Apple’s AirPods everywhere, it’s because you do. They’re the most popular true wireless earbuds on the market and, after Cyber Monday, the AirPods Pro looks like they’ll be more ubiquitous than ever. Released at the end of October, the AirPods Pro, have pushed Apple’s earbuds to new heights — and a new price bracket ($250). Whether you’re

purchasing the latest AirPods Pro

or you have a pair of the first or second edition buds, you undoubtedly want to keep the charging case clean.

But, first and foremost, you don’t want to damage your precious wireless pals. Here’s how to completely clean your AirPods case without causing any harm to the case or the earbuds.

Recommended Videos

Cleaning the exterior

  1. Use a soft, dry cloth to rub-down the exterior to get some of the surface lint, dirt, or other gunk off the case. (Tip: if you don’t have a suitable cloth, an eraser, toothbrush, or scotch tape can be effective at removing surface stains.)
  2. If necessary, use a slightly dampened cloth to remove the more difficult grime. However, be aware that getting even slight amounts of liquid inside the charging case could damage it.
  3. Use a cotton swab or Q-tip to clean the joints, ridges, and other tight areas of the case. Again, you may lightly dampen the swab if dirt is really resistant but be careful when cleaning around the interior.

Cleaning the interior

  1. Use a dry cotton swab or cotton ball to clean the charging ports. Dust and lint may affect the case’s charging speed so be sure to do this every few weeks or so.
  2. Clean the grooves on top of the case using a clean cotton swab or cotton ball. You may lightly dampen the cotton but be sure to let the grooves completely dry before closing the case.
  3. Use a toothpick to work out the stubborn grime on the interior joint of the case. Be gentle — you don’t want to damage the joint.

Now, your AirPods case should be looking good as new! Go forth as the person with the shiniest AirPods case on the block.

Nick Perry
Nick Perry is a freelance writer who bounced from Hollywood to Silicon Beach to pajama pants. His work has been featured on…
I’ve been using AirPods Pro as hearing protection for years
Apple AirPods Pro 2 sitting in front of a motorcycle helmet.

With the launch of iOS 18.1 imminent, Apple is about to officially recognize the AirPods Pro’s hearing protection capabilities. And all I can say is this: What took so long?

For seven years, I rode a Harley-Davidson touring bike with aftermarket pipes and a high-flow air intake — modifications that made it a lot louder than when it rolled off the assembly line. On most motorcycles it’s wind noise and not the sound of your bike that poses the greatest risk to your hearing. Not so with my Harley.

Read more
Best Apple deals: Save on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, MacBook
Apple MacBook Air M1 open, on a table.

With Apple being one of the biggest tech companies on the market, it's probably no surprise that it makes some of the best wireless earbuds, the best smartwatches, the best laptops, and even the best tablets. So, if you're within the Apple ecosystem, then you have a pretty substantial plethora of options when it comes to your tech, and with the best on offer, it's probably no surprise that Apple gear is expensive. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent Apple deals floating around, which is why we've gone out and collected a few of our favorite ones.

That's why we've gone out and searched through various big retailers to find you some of the best deals we can find. That includes everything from the MacBook deals, AirPods deals, Apple TV deals and Apple Watch deals to the AirTag, so hopefully, you can find the perfect deal that fits your needs and budget.
Apple AirTag (4-Pack) -- $80 $99 19% off

Read more
New Bose earbuds let you snap photos with your voice, cost way less than AirPods Pro
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds.

Bose has added a new set of noise-canceling wireless earbuds to its lineup, and they're surprisingly affordable at $179. Simply known as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, the company says they're for folks who want everyday earbuds with great sound and noise cancellation. The new model comes in three colors (black, white, and lilac) and can be ordered starting September 18 at .

Bose's QuietComfort lineup of noise-canceling wireless earbuds have traditionally been pretty expensive, with prices that exceed what Apple, Sony, and Sennheiser charge for similar features. This makes the QuietComfort Earbuds something of a radical departure for the company and a welcome change for Bose fans.

Read more