how do i deep-clean wireless earbuds?

RollinLower · September 16, 2022

Every morning when i drive to work i always listen to a podcast, usually They're just movies (awesome show btw) on my Sony WF1000XM4's.

Anyway, i wasn't fully awake yet and i dropped my left earbud into my coffee when i went to put them in.

I got it out pretty fast, and managed to rinse it off a bit. But right now the sound and especially the ANC on the left earbud is pretty muffled.

TL;DR: is there a way to really deep-clean wireless earbuds? I was debating just letting them run out of charge and dunking them in alcohol or something.

jaslion · September 16, 2022

3 minutes ago, RollinLower said:

But right now the sound and especially the ANC on the left earbud is pretty muffled.

Stop using it immediatly. DO NOT CHARGE IT. Put it on a paper towel in a warm room and rotate it every day for a week. Then after get some isopropyl alchohol and clean it with a toothbrush dipped in it. Let it dry fot another day rotating again.

If its not already damaged from the coffee and rinsing it should be fine

RollinLower · September 16, 2022

1 minute ago, jaslion said:

Stop using it immediatly. DO NOT CHARGE IT. Put it on a paper towel in a warm room and rotate it every day for a week. Then after get some isopropyl alchohol and clean it with a toothbrush dipped in it. Let it dry fot another day rotating again.

If its not already damaged from the coffee and rinsing it should be fine

eh, i'm not too worried about the electronics. these buds have pretty good waterproofing if you look up a teardown or something. more worried about the sound quality. I work in datacenters and i really need headphones to cope with the noise of the servers.

jaslion · September 16, 2022

Just now, RollinLower said:

eh, i'm not too worried about the electronics. these buds have pretty good waterproofing if you look up a teardown or something. more worried about the sound quality. I work in datacenters and i really need headphones to cope with the noise of the servers.

Oh I'm aware about the waterproofing its good. Just dont use it with water in as the extra strength needed can wear out/break the drivers.

Maybe get a temporary pair of those noise isolating headphones for loud machinery? I use those + old cabled earbuds :p. Always nice n quiet