Are you replacing your AirPods ear tips frequently or being forced to buy a new pair more than once per AirPods generation?
We’ve all been there before; our AirPods start dying faster, debris accumulates in the tips, and the charging case stops charging as quickly (or at all) after one or two drops. It’s frustrating, unsanitary, and, most of all, expensive.
Fortunately, with appropriate storage techniques for your AirPods, you can avoid debris and damage that shortens their life span and hurts your wallet.
Why Do You Need to Worry About Proper AirPod Storage?
How you care for and protect your AirPods plays a significant role in their lifespan, functionality, and appearance. As a somewhat fragile piece of technology, mishandling the use or storage of your earphones can cost you in the long run.
There are a lot of things that can go wrong with AirPods, including:
- Getting lost
- Damage to speakers
- Moisture damage
- Debris blocking the ear tips
- Degraded battery life
- Case failure
- Falling or getting crushed
When you take proper care of your AirPods, they’ll perform better for longer and help save you money—and that begins with storing them effectively.
5 Strategies for Avoiding AirPod Damage and Debris
Unless you like wasting money, you should do everything possible to protect and maintain your AirPods before it’s too late. Luckily, if you follow our five recommendations for preventing debris accumulation, damage, and lost earphones, you can enjoy your favorite phone accessory for years.
Keep Your AirPods in Their Case When You’re Not Using Them
I know; it’s annoying to flip your case open and carefully put your AirPods back in whenever you take them out of your ear. But, take it from me: after you lose a pair to your dog’s appetite or they fall out of your pocket at a baseball game, you’ll wish you took the time to put them away.
Always try to put your AirPods in their case when you aren’t using them. Leaving them loose on your desk or pocket opens them up to water damage from spills, pet interference, debris getting trapped, or accidental dropping, which can cost you a pretty penny.
Clean Your AirPods and Case Before Putting Them Away
It’s easy for neglected AirPods to build up with debris after continual use. They absorb oils, wax, and other materials from your ear along with normal dust and dirt from their environment, causing the tips to get blocked and potential damage to the speakers if fine debris breaks off.
Your case can also get dirty from your AirPods or other factors, which degrades its ability to charge your earphones and creates an environment for bacteria to form when you seal the case with the AirPods inside.
You can keep things sanitary and extend the life of both devices when you clean your AirPods regularly. With a tool like the Hybuds Pen, it’s easy to wipe residue and debris off between uses and prior to storage.
Charge Your AirPods to Around 50% Battery for Long-Term Storage
AirPods use a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can easily be charged with electricity from most standard outlets. These batteries are built to last as long as possible, usually between two to three years, with optimal maintenance and charging practices.
However, if you overcharge or undercharge AirPods, especially for long periods of time, the battery will degrade faster. You’ll get less battery from a full charge, and you can even ruin the battery if you leave it empty for too long.
According to Apple, you should try to maintain 50% battery in your AirPods when you store them for an extended period of time. A 50% battery prevents the device from becoming fully discharged quickly and prevents a high charge from wearing down the battery capacity during storage.
Avoid Extreme Heat and Moisture
If you’ve ever burned your hand on your car’s seat belt buckle on a hot day, you know how strong the sun can be. And AirPods and their batteries are no exception. Accidentally leaving your AirPods in areas with a high ambient temperature can cause the internal components to overheat, which can permanently shorten battery life.
Similar to other electronics, moisture is also dangerous for AirPods. If water gets into the speakers or the case’s seams, it can damage the electrical components and break them. So, avoid leaving them by the pool, in a sauna or steamy bathroom, or in the vicinity of a spill.
Use A Protective Case and Travel Accessories
AirPods are incredibly convenient because they’re lightweight, wireless, and easy to take anywhere. However, these features also make them easy to lose or break.
If you drop your case, you can damage the sensitive components that allow the case to charge your earbuds. AirPods are small and don’t attach to anything except your ear, so it’s also easy for them to fall and get lost or break upon impact.
You can buy a protective case for your charging case that prevents debris from getting in and helps cushion some of the damage caused by dropping it. You can also get straps to help secure your AirPods so they don’t fall out of your ears and become lost forever.
Protect Your Investment With Proper AirPods Storage
Taking care of your AirPods is crucial if you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on replacements. Fortunately, with the right knowledge and tools, maintenance and safe storage are much easier.
You should try to wipe down your AirPods and case between uses while also deep cleaning regularly to avoid buildup and debris-causing damage. It’s also a good idea to put them away in a protected case for storage whenever possible, especially near liquids or when you’re on the go.
With these tips, you should be able to keep your AirPods until the next generation is released. Happy listening!
