Wireless earbuds meet water constantly: sweat at the gym, rain on the commute, a forgotten pocket on laundry day. Most survive, provided you resist the urge to test them straight away.
Check what yours are rated for
Most current earbuds, including AirPods Pro and AirPods (3rd generation and later), are rated IPX4. That means sweat and splashes. It does not mean swimming, showering or a wash cycle. A few sports models are rated IPX7 and can cope with a short dunk. The original AirPods and AirPods (2nd generation) have no water resistance at all.
The charging case is usually the weak point. Many cases have no rating, and a wet earbud placed in a case brings water straight to the charging contacts. For what the codes mean, see IP ratings explained.
What to do straight away
- Do not put them in the case and do not charge them.
- Do not play audio yet. Running current through wet parts is how corrosion starts.
- Remove silicone tips and dry them separately. Water hides underneath.
- Wipe everything with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth.
- Shake gently with the speaker mesh pointing down to get loose drops out.
- Leave them to air-dry on a cloth, mesh side down, somewhere with moving air. Allow at least two hours after sweat or rain, and a full day after a soak.
- Dry the case too. Leave it open and upside down. Wipe the inside with a dry cotton swab.
If they went through the washing machine
Detergent and heat are harder on earbuds than plain water. Wipe them down with a cloth that is very slightly damp with fresh water to remove soap, then dry them as above and wait at least 24 hours, ideally 48. Many pairs come back to life. Battery life may be shorter afterwards.
After salt water, pool water or a sweet drink
These leave residue as they dry. Wipe the earbuds with a cloth dampened with fresh water, then dry them. Do not hold them under a running tap.
Clearing a muffled earbud
If one side sounds quieter once everything is dry, a film of water or wax is probably still on the mesh. Clean the mesh gently with a dry soft-bristled brush. Then you can use sound to shake out what remains:
- Connect the earbuds to your phone but keep them out of your ears.
- Open the frequency generator and set it to somewhere between 200 Hz and 500 Hz. Earbud drivers are tiny and respond better to this range than to the deeper tones used for phone speakers.
- Hold the earbuds with the mesh facing down and play the tone at a moderate volume for 30 seconds.
Never do this with the earbuds in your ears. A sustained tone at high volume that close to the eardrum can damage your hearing.
What to avoid
- Heat. No hair dryers, radiators or sunny windowsills. Earbud batteries are small and sensitive.
- Rice. Grains and dust lodge in the mesh. See why rice does not help.
- Compressed air and sharp tools on the mesh.
- Charging to "see if they work". Wait until you are sure they are dry.
When to give up
If an earbud will not charge, will not pair, crackles constantly or gets warm after two days of drying, it has probably failed. Manufacturers generally sell single replacement earbuds and cases, which costs much less than a new set.