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How to clean AirPods Max cushions, headband, and ear cups
Remove the cushions, keep liquid out of openings, clean the fabric with Apple’s diluted-detergent method, and dry for at least a day.
IN THIS GUIDE
AirPods Max combine metal, knit mesh, removable cushions, batteries, microphones, and speaker openings. The fabric-cleaning method is different from AirPods earbuds and must keep liquid away from the ear cups and attachment points.
SHORT ANSWER
Remove the AirPods Max cushions. Apple’s current method uses one teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent in one cup of water, applied with a wrung lint-free cloth to the cushions and headband. Wipe with a separate slightly damp cloth, dry everything, and leave the headphones flat for at least a day before reassembly.
KEY POINTS
- Do not run AirPods Max under water or submerge any part of the headphones.
- Remove the cushions and hold the headband upside down while cleaning to keep liquid away from the attachment point.
- Let the cushions and headband dry flat for at least one day before reattaching and listening.
Clean the cushions and headband
Mix the diluted detergent solution specified by Apple. Remove the cushions, wring the lint-free cloth so it is not dripping, and clean each cushion and the headband gently. Hold the headband upside down to reduce the chance of liquid entering the attachment point.
- Remove both magnetic ear cushions.
- Prepare Apple’s diluted-detergent solution.
- Wipe the cushions and headband gently for about one minute each.
- Wipe again with a separate cloth slightly dampened with fresh water.
Protect the ear cups and openings
Use a soft dry lint-free cloth on the ear cups and keep moisture out of every opening. Do not use sharp objects, abrasives, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or disinfectant on the knit mesh canopy or cushions.
Dry fully before the sound test
Lay AirPods Max flat and wait at least a day before reattaching the cushions. Once fully dry, test normal audio at moderate volume. Use a channel comparison only to check left-right output, not as a substitute for drying or service.
People also ask
Can AirPods Max cushions be washed under a tap?
No. Apple provides a wipe-clean method and says not to run AirPods Max under water.
How long do AirPods Max need to dry after cleaning?
Apple says to lay them flat to dry for at least a day before reattaching the cushions and using them.
Sources and further reading
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