How to Clean Powerbeats 3

Co-authored by Hunter Rising

Last Updated: September 18, 2020 References

Powerbeats 3 are wireless earphones that are water- and sweat-resistant, which work great while you’re staying active or working out. However, they can still get dirty with regular use, which could affect how well they function. Luckily, there are easy ways to clean them using only a few tools. While you can clean most of the earphones with soap or alcohol, be sure to use a dry brush for the speaker mesh so you don’t damage the internal electronics.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Removing Exterior Sweat and Dirt

1
Wipe your Powerbeats off with a lint-free cloth after using them. Start with the ear loops or the speaker housing since they’ll usually collect the most sweat. Pinch a lint-free cloth around your earphones and wipe them in circular motions. After cleaning each earphone, run the cloth along the cord holding them together.^{[1]
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- Always clean your Powerbeats as soon as you can after each use so sweat doesn’t dry on them.
- Avoid storing your Powerbeats in their bag or case if they feel wet since the moisture could cause problems with your earphones.
2
Scrub hard-to-reach gaps with a cotton swab. Apply a light amount of pressure as you clean with the cotton swab to remove any dirt that’s stuck on the surface. Focus on cracks or small gaps where dirt could collect, such as around the plastic ear tip or where the cords connect. Continue wiping your earphones until they look completely clean.^{[2]
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- Don’t insert the cotton swab into any charging ports on your Powerbeats since you could damage the internal electronics.
Warning: Avoid rubbing the speaker mesh on the earphones with a cotton swab since small bits of fabric could get caught in it.

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Wet the swab with 70% isopropyl alcohol to remove stubborn dirt. Dip the end of your cotton swab into isopropyl alcohol and shake off any excess drops. Apply light pressure as you rub the alcohol onto your earphones. Rewet the swab as it dries out, and use a new cotton swab if the old one gets dirty so you don’t keep spreading the dirt around.^{[3]
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- You can buy isopropyl alcohol from your local drugstore. It may also be labeled as rubbing alcohol.
- Be careful not to get the alcohol inside any electronic ports in your Powerbeats since it could damage them.
- If you don’t have isopropyl alcohol, you can also mix a few drops of liquid dish soap in warm water instead.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Washing the Eartips

1
Pull the eartips off of your Powerbeats. Pinch the plastic tip between the fingers and slowly twist it in either direction. Pull the eartip straight out to remove it. Take the tip off of the second earphone the same way.
- Powerbeats usually come with multiple eartips so you can use the size that fits best in your ear. Be sure to clean any tips you’ve used with your earphones.
2
Wet a microfiber cloth with warm soapy water. Add 1 cup (240 ml) of warm water and 2–3 drops of liquid dish soap to a small bowl. Stir the water until it gets sudsy before dipping in your microfiber cloth. Wring out the cloth so it isn’t dripping wet.^{[4]
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- Avoid using a cloth that leaves lint since it could get stuck inside the eartips.
- Don’t use any harsh cleaning chemicals since it could weaken the plastic and ruin the eartips.
3
Wipe the eartips with the damp cloth to remove wax. Wrap your cloth around the eartips and rub them back and forth. Squeeze the eartips inside of the cloth to get rid of any wax that built up inside. Take the eartips out of the cloth every few seconds to see if they’re still dirty, and keep wiping them until they look clean.^{[5]
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- Be gentle while working with the eartips so you don’t accidentally damage or rip them.
Variation: If you still see wax or dirt inside of the eartips, stick a damp cotton swab through them.
4
Rinse the eartips under clean warm water. You can either run the eartips directly under your faucet or use a new cloth to wipe them. Clean off any residual soap that’s still on the eartips since it could irritate your skin later on. Shake off any excess water after you rinse the tips so they aren’t soaking wet.^{[6]
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Dry the eartips completely with a paper towel. Wrap the eartips in a clean piece of paper towel and squeeze tightly to dry them. If the paper towel gets too wet, get another dry piece and continue patting them dry. If the ear tips still feel wet, leave them on the paper towel until they dry off entirely.
- Don’t use an external heat source, like a hairdryer, since you could damage or melt them.
6
Push the eartips back onto your Powerbeats. Look for the opening on the back of the eartip and align it with the plastic speaker tube on your earphone. Press the tip onto the tube until it snaps into place and sits firmly against your earphone. Push the other tip onto the second earphone in the same way.
- Avoid putting the eartips back onto your Powerbeats if they’re still wet since the moisture can ruin the internal electronics.
- It doesn’t matter which eartip you put in for each earphone since they’re universal.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cleaning Wax Buildup on the Speaker Mesh

1
Take the plastic eartips off from the Powerbeats. Grip the soft plastic tip and twist it in either direction to loosen it. Gently pull the tip off of the earphone and set it aside in a place where you won’t lose it. Then remove the second tip from your other earphone.
2
Scrape around the speaker’s edges with a toothpick or cleaning tool. Place the point of your toothpick or cleaning tool along the circular edge by the Powerbeats’ speaker. Lightly scrape around the plastic to remove the wax built up on the surface. Wipe the wax off of the toothpick or tool with a paper towel so you don’t wipe it back onto the speaker.^{[7]
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- Earphone cleaning tools usually have a pointed or looped end as well as a small bristle brush on the other. You can buy them from your local electronics store.
Tip: Be careful not to press too hard against the mesh since you could push wax deeper into the earphone and damage it.
3
Use a toothbrush on the mesh to remove stuck-on wax. Hold your Powerbeats so the speaker mesh points down. Lightly rub the mesh in circular motions with a soft-bristle toothbrush to break apart the dried wax. Avoid pressing too hard with your brush since you could damage the speaker or push the wax deeper into the mesh.^{[8]
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- You can also use the brush on an earphone cleaning tool if you have one.
- Try tapping the top of your Powerbeats with the back of the toothbrush to force small, dried pieces of wax to fall out.
4
Push a cleaning putty into the mesh to pull out residual wax pieces. Knead the cleaning putty in your hands to soften it and make it easier to work with. Press and shape the putty lightly against the mesh until it’s completely covered. Pull the putty straight out from the mesh to remove any small leftover bits of wax. Wipe the putty with a lint-free rag to help it stay clean so you’re able to use it again.^{[9]
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- You can buy cleaning putty from hardware or electronics stores.
- Avoid pushing the putty too deep into the mesh since it could get stuck.
5
Put the eartips back onto your earphones. Line up the hole on the bottom of the ear tip with the top of the speaker tube. Lightly press down on the eartip until it snaps against the earphone. Make sure the eartip doesn’t sit crooked since it could fall out. Then put the second eartip back in your other earphone.
6
Finished.

Warnings

Avoid using water or alcohol to clean the mesh part of your Powerbeats since you could damage the internal electronics.

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