2023-08-18 15:32:00
Many of us today use in-ear headphones, whether wired or True Wireless Stereo (TWS), in various activities, due to their portability and their passive noise isolation. However, it is necessary to be careful with this type of headphones, as they are in constant contact with the person’s body fluids. If poorly sanitized, they can lead to bacterial and even viral infections.
Why should you sanitize your in-ear or earbud?
Cleaning the headphone body. Source: beatsbooster
Where does body fluid in the ear come from?
Our ear naturally produces a type of secretion called wax (or cerumen). This fluid is produced by the ceruminous and sebaceous glands, which are in our auditory canal and in the external part of the ear, as in the concha region, between the tragus and the antitragus.
Stimulation of wax production by headphones
One of our ear’s protective mechanisms is wax. When we put the earbuds or in-ears, the ear interprets it as a foreign body that must be expelled, so the ceruminous and sebaceous glands start producing fluids to try to protect the body from pathogenic organisms. Yes, cerumen has the function of protecting our auditory canal against the entry of dust and infection by viruses, bacteria and fungi, through an acidic pH (between 4 and 5).
However, excess wax in the ears or headphones can cause infections and transmit disease. In the case of in-ear headphones, ear tips (“tips”, “rubbers”) tend to accumulate wax both on their external and internal parts. In earbud-type headphones, microorganisms accumulate in the foam that surrounds the body of the phone.
Only the excess production of wax causes infections, diseases?
You must be wondering, only wax can cause infections, diseases? The answer is no, because there is a set of factors that lead to the growth of the population of bacteria, fungi and viruses. What microorganisms like best is warm, humid environments with organic matter. That is, if our ear is hot, humid and has organic matter (wax and dead skin), it is the perfect scenario for an exaggerated growth of these pathogens.
Should I be concerned about other bodily fluids when using the headphones?
Yes, you also have to worry about your hands coming into contact with other body fluids, such as saliva when you sneeze. Through them, it is possible that you contaminate your headphones with some pathogenic microorganism.
There is also the possibility of contact with surfaces contaminated with fluids from other people who may be sick. Depending on the disease, it is possible for you to be contaminated by touching the surface with bacteria and/or viruses and then picking up the phone to remove or place it in your ear.
How do I properly clean my headphones?
To properly clean (or sanitize) your headphones, just follow the steps according to the type of headphones you have (in-ear or earbud).
To clean the in-ear headphones, we will use a flannel, a milk jug, a plastic pot, a bar of coconut soap and a paper towel.
Materials used for cleaning in-ear headphones
Follow the steps below:
1 – Remove the eartips (silicone tips) from the in-ear headset;
2 – Pass the tip of the flannel moistened with water on the body of the phone and then pass the dry part to remove as much excess water as possible;
3 – Heat the water in the milk jug until it is lukewarm;
4 – Pour the warm water into the plastic pot and stir the coconut soap bar in the water for about 3 or 4 seconds. Observation: do not leave the soap inside the pot with water;
5 – Place the eartips (silicone tips) in the warm water, which was mixed with the soap, and let it soak for 5 minutes;
6 – Remove the eartips (silicone tips) and rinse with pure warm water (no soap);
7 – Dry the excess water from the eartips (silicone tips) with the flannel and let it dry naturally on top of the paper towel. This must be done as water is trapped in the grooves of the eartips;
Structure of an in-ear headphone
To avoid excess wax on the ear tip (silicone tip) of the earphone or dirt in the nozzle region (mouthpiece to output the sound) a tool called “Hearing Aid cleaning tool” is used, which you can check below. It is very common to find it inside custom in-ear headphone cases. The “Hearing Aid cleaning tool” is usually sold in hearing aid stores and/or clinics.
Hearing Aid cleaning tool Hearing Aid cleaning tool Using the tool to remove dirt inside the eartip
As the earbuds type headphones have their body (house) in contact with the ear, we will have to carry out the cleaning in a different way, compared to the in-ear type headphones.
We will need a flannel, a milk jug and a coconut soap bar.
Materials used for cleaning earbuds
Follow the steps below:
1 – Remove the foam covering the earbuds;
2 – Heat the water in the milk jug until it is lukewarm;
3 – Pour the warm water into the plastic pot and stir the coconut soap bar in the water for about 3 or 4 seconds. Observation: do not leave the soap inside the pot with water;
4 – Place the foam covering the arbuds in the water. Dip the end of the flannel cloth in soapy water and gently pass it over the headphone body (house);
5 – Soak the foams in the water for 5 minutes. Wet another end of the flannel with clean water (without soap) and pass it over the headphone body (house) until all the soap is removed;
6 – Dry the excess water from the headphones and foam with the dry part of the flannel and then let it dry naturally;
Clean the headphone body too
It is important that you clean not only the regions of the headset that come into contact with your ear, but also the body of the headset. This is necessary due to possible contamination by body fluids other than wax, as mentioned above.
Conclusion
It is extremely important to clean your headphones, as in addition to the buildup of earwax being able to cause infections and transmit diseases (Coronavirus can be transmitted through any body fluid), you can contaminate them by taking them outside, as well as like your cell phone. That is, any objects that we take out into the street can pose a risk of infection and contamination. In the case of headphones, it is even worse due to the favorable environment (temperature, humidity and organic matter).
This article is made in partnership with Grupo Fones de Ouvido High-End:
1692519329
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