Ammon News - It’s a common, if somewhat unappealing, reality for earbud users: a quick inspection of your AirPods or other in-ear headphones often reveals a build-up of yellowing wax on the silicone tips, metal grilles, and even the case itself.

However, there is no need for alarm. "It’s perfectly normal," states Gordon Harrison, Specsavers’s chief audiologist. He explains, "If your earbuds start looking yellow, orange or slightly brown, it’s usually a sign of everyday earwax transfer, rather than anything harmful."

How to clean your AirPods
If that’s totally grossed you out, the good news is that cleaning your AirPods isn’t difficult, and you don’t need to buy any special equipment to do it. While Apple does sell a Belkin AirPods cleaning kit (£12.95, Apple.com), you really only need a couple of things to remove that caked-on wax from your buds.

Firstly, if you’ve got the AirPods Pro, gently pluck the silicone ear tips off your AirPods. Apple recommends rinsing the ear tips with plain water only, then wiping them with a soft, lint-free microfibre cloth and leaving them to dry completely before reattaching them.

Once the ear tips have been removed, clean the AirPods themselves. Apple recommends gently wiping the outer plastic with a slightly damp cloth, keeping moisture well away from the speaker mesh and microphone grilles.

The mesh is the most delicate part of your AirPods. Apple recommends cleaning it with a soft-bristled brush, such as a children’s toothbrush .

Turn the AirPod over and blot the mesh on a paper towel. Apple says to avoid pressing too hard, using sharp objects or letting liquid drip into the openings, and allow the AirPods to dry completely before using them again.

Once you’ve finished cleaning, make sure your silicone tips are completely dry before plopping them onto your AirPods, and ensure the AirPods themselves are fully dry before putting them back into the charging case. Apple recommends leaving them to air dry for at least two hours.

How often should you clean your AirPods or replace the ear tips?
How often you clean your AirPods depends on how you use them. “If you wear earbud for long periods.

Independent