If you want to unplug and focus on the world, require a partner during your daily metro commut, or to see another episode late at night, a pair of earbuds always comes to work without disturbing anyone.

But next time before using them, take a look close. Head up: The vision will not be beautiful! You are likely to look at the created earwax from the dirt, stubborn stains, and your bags and ears, earbuds go with us everywhere, which collects an unpleasant mixture of dirt, sweat and wax on the way. If you have white earbuds, the scene is likely to be worse.

Anyway, the issue is, this buildup is not only unpleasant to the eyes, but can also affect sound quality and give rise to significant hygiene issues.

Earbuds have undoubtedly become an essential everyday gadget, which is available in all value limits, but the interaction around their cleaning and maintenance is yet to attract the mainstream attention. Doctors recommend focusing on this repeated work, as it may invite unwanted health problems by neglecting.

Excessive use of earphones is already an important factor behind many ear related issues, such as low hearing or tinnitus (ear ringing sensation).

“The use of earphones damages the cells of inner ear hair, resulting in irreversible nerve damage. The initial signal of hearing loss is usually a ringing sensation in the ear called tinnitus or is the inability to separate subtle sounds or words during conversation. Long -term use of earphones leads to permanent hearing loss, ”Dr. Satish Nair, Skull Base Surgeon and Ant – Head and Neck Surgeon, Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore says.

Not cleaning earbuds is another important cause of many problems.

“Using earbuds for long periods of time, combined with sweat, swelling and infection of the ear canal, resulting in severe pain, inflammation and pus discharge from the year that requires medical treatment,” Dr. Nair says.

“If the earbuds are not cleaned properly with hygiene, then again, they will be a source of infection, and that the infection can also travel to the tympanic membrane and lead to further damage,” Dr. Ajay Swaroop, Senior Advisor and Advisor, ENT, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi.

Dr. Kalpana Nagpal, ENT, head and neck surgery, Indraprastha Apollo hospitals, especially after workout sessions, suggest cleaning the earbuds regularly.

“Dirty earbuds introduce harmful bacteria in your ear canal. Over time, infection or irritation can cause temporary or permanent hearing damage, ”Dr. Nagpal says

Additionally, doctors strictly warned against sharing earbuds.

How to clean earbuds properly

Proper earbud cleaning kits are now available on the market. They typically include a set of devices such as mini brush, pens, cleaning equipment, and delicate cotton surfaces and a cotton swabs to reach the nook and crane of earbuds.

But it is not necessary to invest in the kit. You can also use disinfectant wipes as a quick improvement to clean gross buds. You can also use a lens cleaner with a microfiber fabric (UP, you use to clean your glasses).

Create a habit to check your equipment often for dirt. Clean them using a small brush, a mini vacuum for suction. After cleaning, clean them with a disinfectant wipe to remove earwaax, dirt and other particles.

You can only remove silicone tips from the earphone and soak them in hot, soap water for about 30 minutes. After cleaning, use a soft cloth or cotton swab to remove any remaining earwaax or debris, and then let the silicon tips to dry completely from the air.

Just be cautious not to allow any liquid to enter the opening. Avoid immersing your earbuds or earphones completely in water.

In addition, avoid using sharp objects such as safety pin, pen, or utensils to clean the speaker or microphone mesh.

Oh, and don’t forget to clean the matter from inside. Cleaning your earbuds is meaningless to put them back in a serious case. Just wipe any dirt with a dry cloth. You can rub the cloth a little or wine with water, but make sure no liquid is in charging.