- Separate rubber pieces from earbuds
- Plug drain in sink and wash rubber pieces in soapy water, then let dry
- Fold a sheet of tissue paper over and saturate with 70% isopropyl alcohol from a dropper bottle
- Wipe earbuds thoroughly with the saturated tissue and let dry
- Reassemble and repeat once every 1 to 2 weeks
this post was submitted on 14 Feb 2025
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Asklemmy
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I know this might sound like overkill but I have ear issues so it's necessary for me.
Tips go in a little dish of 99% iso alcohol. Don't have to worry about the whole evaporation to water ratio that is often mentioned. Then if there is visible crud I will use a soft textured toothbrush (like for kids, the extra soft kind) and let them air dry (which is very fast because alcohol)
For the rest, a cotton swab dry to remove crud, and then all the parts go into a UV sterilization box (open the lid of the case to make sure the UV gets in there too)
It's a whole ritual but it keeps me from getting irritated ears.
And yes I have over the ear headphones but I can't lug those around everywhere all the time like earbuds.
And never ever use soap because it can and will break water surface tension and penetrate barriers like the speaker and microphone grills.
I clean the earwax off/out of them when I see it or the sound is affected (I wear deep insertion IEMs with tri-flange silicone tips), but otherwise just replace the tips when they wear out a couple times a year.
Feeling worried about germs after dropping it on the ground for a short time is probably not healthy behaviour mate :)
You have a shit ton of unpleasant germs on your hands which touch them all the time and that works out fine yeah?
Anyway, a toothpick from time to time, maybe alcohol if the gunk is really set.
80% isopropyl alcohol. Use a soft brush wet with some of the alcohol. Brush around the affected areas. Let it dry and thatโs all for me.
I wouldnโt recommend dousing electronics in less than 90%. Feels sketchy. But I have nothing to back that up besides โelectronics cleanerโ being 99% iso.
70% iso is actually more effective for killing bacteria, as the additional water helps to penetrate the cell wall. Higher concentration iso is better for dissolving crud off a bong tho.
If you use 70% the remaining 30% are typically water. And water and electronics aren't necessarily best friends.
This is true but if the water used to create alcohol is distilled, which I think it is, I think itโs okay because itโs the minerals in the water that are the real problem.
That's true but the electronics are not as clean and the water will pick up the residue and become conductive again.
I think in a 70% solution the alcohol disrupts polarity of of the water molecules enough to stop it from picking up the residue. Only one way to find out. pours 70% alcohol onto computer while power is on
Nooooooooo
Also, the reason for that is that the water conducts electricity, which only matters when the electronics are on at the time. 70% is still going to evaporate before you turn it on (given that you're not fully submerging the thing and getting liquid deep in crevasses).
Also maybe look out for charged capacitors and batteries.
i dip it in piss. nothing survives in that
Do you mean earbud style? Generally, never...
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, you know?
But if I do drop them and dirt or something, you can remove the rubber and clean it with soap, water, and qtip. You need to be very mindful of the actual speaker portion. A toothpick can be helpful for removing debris, but I wouldn't apply any liquids to the face of the speaker. There's usually a piece of fabric that's glued on and you don't want to lose that or get it gunked up.
I just pop mine in my mouth every now and then.
Eh?
Humor, I hope.
Yes
Okay good, I was afraid you were unaware of the importance of rebalancing the humours in your blood.
How does one balance the humors in their blood, when blood itself is one of the humors?
Leeches? Leeches.
๐
Toothpick
You can buy a big box of alcohol wipes for cheap. They're great for cleaning small things like earbuds and the case.
I just clean out the earwax with whatever I have on hand when I notice the buildup. Usually a nail or screw or splinter of wood, seeing as how im a carpenter and all and thatโs whatโs usually nearby.
A quick wipe on my shirt and back in the ear it goes. I'll do an occasional wipe with alcohol if they get extra gunky but that's about it.
I may or may not be a gremlin.
I use an old toothbrush to get all the bits of crud out, then wipe down with disinfectant hand wipes.
give it a good rinse in acetone
Do not do this, OP
Isn't it carcinogenic?
It'll also dissolve the plastic . This is terrible advice .
Well don't drink it lol