Howto: How to properly clean headphones

Headphone owners buy their earbuds and use them normally until they just stop working. There are many reasons for "dying": On the one hand, the cable can break or the electronics simply fail. What many people don't know is that dirt impairs the sound. Of course, it would be a shame if you paid a lot for your headphones and didn't treat them properly. In order to counteract dirt and the like, they must of course be cleaned at regular intervals . So neither the sound quality can suffer nor the wearing comfort is impaired. Below are some tips and instructions for cleaning.

In-Ear Headphones: How earwax, sweat, bacteria and other contaminants affect them

It seems almost impossible how much dirt our gadgets can take. The smartphone, for example, is probably the dirtiest object that we hold in our hands every day. A lot of bacteria accumulate here over time, because only a few people clean their mobile phones regularly. The situation is similar with headphones, especially earbuds. They are thrown together somewhere in a bag or backpack until they have to do their job again. A cleaning is often not due at all – and that is a problem that needs to be taken seriously.

In-ear headphones are particularly susceptible to dirt. This is not only due to the sometimes unorthodox handling of the users, but also to the nature: When worn in the ear, the in-ear headphones always come into contact with secretions from the earwax glands. If the earplugs are not cleaned regularly, the risk of damage increases. It is not only the almost invisible earwax that poses a risk, bacteria and other dirt also accumulate in in-ears.

The first contaminants first reach the outside of the ear adapters . With appropriate cleaning, these can be removed directly. If there is no cleaning, the dirt will get under the silicone attachments over time and from there later into the audio output. In sporting activities such as jogging, other factors such as sweat also come into play. For sports activities, there are sports headphones that are more resistant to human fluids.

Cleaning in-ear headphones :

1. As previously mentioned, water is harmful to all headphones. If you do sports, you should use special products that are designed for athletes. In most cases, cleaning after sport does not help much because they cannot withstand the strain over the long term.
2. It sounds banal, but with very light soiling it is often sufficient to literally blow the dirt away . This process can be performed after each use. Otherwise, a damp cloth is also a good idea to wipe away the dust.
3. Silicone or foam attachments need to be cleaned regularly, which means once a week. Cotton swabs, which are also used for cleaning the ears, and gentle household cleaners are suitable for cleaning. Toothpicks can also be used for hard-to-reach places.
4. If you are afraid of the risk of infection , you can also use light disinfectants that do not give bacteria and viruses a chance. This is particularly advisable if the headphones are used by several people.
5. In the rare cases that you have access to a compressed air device, the in-ear headphones can also be cleaned effectively. But be careful : Consumers could damage their headphones if the compression is too high!

Headband headphones: They too cannot do without regular cleaning

Headband headphones are less susceptible to typical dirt, but that doesn't mean that you don't have to clean them at all. With expensive models, the ear cups can be unscrewed or removed, which makes cleaning much easier. As with the in-ears, the following applies: Avoid water as much as possible! In contrast to in-ear headphones, headband models are not susceptible to earwax because they rest on the ears. Dirt and bacteria can also settle here.

Clean headband headphones :

1. The first thing you should do is unscrew the ear cups and examine the inner workings more closely. The contacts can be cleaned with cotton swabs or a cloth. Headphone users should also check adapters regularly. If dirt accumulates here, the contacts can no longer function.
2. The membrane of a headphone is usually protected by a grille. Here you should not work with liquids, a damp cloth is sufficient to avoid damaging anything.
3. The cushions on the ear cups can be removed from expensive models . If you can afford it, replace them with new ear shells, alternatively they can also be cleaned in the washing machine.

Anyone who is unsure about how to clean their headphones should also take a look at the instructions for use. Manufacturers sometimes provide important information on how to clean their products.

Source: http://eartastic.de/howto-kopfhoerer-reinigen

 

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