Let’s be honest for a second. Your AirPods Pro are probably gross. We don’t like to talk about it because Apple products feel like high-end jewelry, but they spend hours jammed into your ear canals. Earwax happens. Skin oils happen. Dust from the bottom of your backpack happens. If you’ve noticed that your Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feels "off" or your Transparency Mode sounds like you’re underwater, it’s usually not a software glitch. It’s literal gunk blocking the external microphones.
Knowing how to clean AirPods Pro isn't just about making them look shiny for a resale photo. It’s about acoustics. Apple’s engineering relies on tiny mesh grilles to balance internal and external pressure. When those get clogged, the frequency response tanks. You lose the bass. The "seal" test on your iPhone starts failing.
Don't go grabbing the rubbing alcohol and a paper towel just yet. You can actually kill your $249 earbuds by being too aggressive or using the wrong liquids.
The stuff you actually need (And what to avoid)
Forget those "cleaning pens" you see in targeted Instagram ads. Most of them are just cheap plastic tools that push the wax deeper into the mesh. You want a surgical approach.
Grab some high-quality 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes or a bottle of 70% ISO. Why 70%? Because 99% evaporates too fast to actually disinfect, and anything lower than 70% has too much water content. Water is the enemy of the H1 and H2 chips inside these things. You also need a clean, dry microfiber cloth—the kind you use for glasses is perfect.
You’ll also want a few wooden toothpicks and some "Blue Tack" or mounting putty. This is the secret weapon. If you use a metal SIM tool or a needle, you will puncture the delicate acoustic mesh. Once that mesh is torn, your noise cancellation is dead. Permanent. No fix. Use wood or putty.
Lastly, get some cotton swabs. But don't get the cheap ones that shed lint everywhere. If a tiny fiber of cotton gets stuck in the microphone port, it’ll whistle every time the wind blows.
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How to clean AirPods Pro tips and mesh grilles
First, pull the silicone ear tips off. Give them a good tug; they’re snapped on pretty tight. If you see a bunch of wax inside the tip, don’t panic. This is the only part of the AirPods Pro that you can actually wash with soap and water. Throw them in a bowl of warm water with a drop of Dawn. Let them soak. Rinse them. Dry them completely. If you snap them back on while they’re damp, you’re trapping moisture against the driver. Bad move.
Now look at the actual earbud. See that black mesh? That’s the "outward-facing" microphone. It’s responsible for canceling out the sound of the bus or the hum of your office. If it looks shiny or filled in, it’s clogged with oils.
Take a dry cotton swab and gently—seriously, gently—rub the mesh. If the wax is stubborn, take a tiny piece of that mounting putty, press it onto the mesh, and pull it away quickly. The putty sticks to the wax and pulls it out of the holes. It’s weirdly satisfying.
Whatever you do, do not spray alcohol directly onto the earbud. Apple’s official documentation (and common sense) warns that liquid ingress will void your warranty faster than you can say "Spatial Audio." Dampen the cloth, don't soak it.
Why your Transparency Mode sounds "staticky"
If you hear a crackling sound when you walk or move your head, it’s often because the mesh grilles on the top and sides of the AirPods are dirty. These are the ports that help the earbud calculate how much anti-noise to produce. Even a thin film of hairspray or sweat can mess with the sensors.
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Use the dry brush or a clean toothbrush (soft bristles only!) to flick away debris. Hold the AirPods upside down while you do this so the dust falls out instead of into the device.
Deep cleaning the charging case
The case is a magnet for "pocket lint" and iron filings. If you look at the magnets around the lid, you’ll probably see tiny black specks that won't wipe away. Those are actually microscopic metal bits that have been magnetically attracted to the case.
Don't use a damp cloth here. The Lightning or USB-C port at the bottom is wide open. Use a dry, soft-bristled brush to clean the charging contacts inside the "wells" where the stems go. If those gold contacts get covered in grime, your AirPods won't charge, or one will stay at 10% while the other is at 100%.
If the hinge is gritty, use a toothpick to trace the seam. You’d be surprised how much dead skin accumulates there. It's gross. We're all gross. It's fine.
Dealing with the "Death Whistle"
Sometimes, after cleaning, you might hear a high-pitched squeal. This is feedback. It happens when the internal microphone (the one that listens to your ear canal) and the external microphone get confused because something is blocking the sound path.
If this happens:
- Remove the silicone tips again.
- Check the black mesh on the "bulb" of the earbud.
- Ensure there is no leftover putty or cloth fibers.
- Perform a "Fit Test" in your Bluetooth settings.
If the whistle persists, you might have pushed debris into the driver. This is why we don't use compressed air. Never use a can of "air duster" on your AirPods. It’s tempting. It seems like a good idea. It isn't. The pressure can rupture the delicate diaphragm inside the earbud. You're basically blowing the dirt into the engine.
The 70% Isopropyl Alcohol rule
Apple updated its cleaning guidelines a couple of years ago. They explicitly state that you can use 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes, 75% ethyl alcohol wipes, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes on the exterior surfaces.
But keep them away from the actual mesh. Alcohol can dissolve the adhesive that holds the mesh in place. If the mesh falls out, your AirPods lose their IPX4 water resistance rating. You don't want that. Stick to the plastic stems and the outer white casing with the wipes.
Honestly, the best way to keep them clean is preventative. Wipe them down with your shirt (we all do it) after a sweaty workout. Don't let the sweat dry and "set" into the grilles. Once it crystallizes, it's a nightmare to remove.
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Real-world fix: The "Sucking" Method (Use at your own risk)
There is a legendary fix in the Apple community for when the volume on one AirPod is lower than the other. It sounds insane. People swear by it. They suggest literally putting a thin cloth over the mesh and... sucking on it.
The idea is that the vacuum pressure pulls the earwax out from behind the mesh. Does it work? Sometimes. Is it hygienic? Absolutely not. Is it recommended by Apple? Heavens no. If you’ve reached the point where you’re considering "vaping" your earwax to fix your earbuds, it might just be time to visit the Genius Bar or look into a replacement.
Actionable maintenance steps
To keep your AirPods Pro in peak condition, you should implement a simple routine. Don't wait until they sound like garbage.
- Weekly: Wipe the exterior with a microfiber cloth and check the silicone tips for buildup.
- Monthly: Use mounting putty to "lift" debris out of the black mesh grilles.
- After Workouts: Dry them completely before putting them back in the charging case. Moisture trapped in the case leads to corrosion of the charging pins.
- The Case: Use a dry Q-tip to clean the bottom of the charging wells every two weeks.
If you follow these steps, you’ll likely avoid the dreaded "reduced noise cancellation" issue that plagues older sets. Most people think their batteries are dying or the tech is getting old, but in reality, the microphones are just "blinded" by dirt.
Clean them properly. Use the right tools. Keep the liquids away from the openings. Your ears (and your music) will thank you.