Is it possible to clean the headphones with hydrogen peroxide - all the pros and cons

If the sound quality in the "earbuds" has deteriorated sharply, regulars in computer forums recommend cleaning the headphones with hydrogen peroxide. On the one hand, this method has many rave reviews from those who ventured to use it, but on the other hand, it is alarming, because the contact of the electronics with the liquid is extremely undesirable.

Is it possible or not?

The short answer is yes. Since in the open air and at a sufficiently high temperature (such as indoor), hydrogen peroxide is actively decomposed with the release of a huge amount of oxygen, it easily corrodes most contaminants that are of a biological nature. These include blood, earwax and fat, which migrated to the headphones from the fingers and hair.

By the way, it is the hit of earwax on the in-ear headphone grid that in most cases prevents them from delivering the sound of the frequency and pitch that the owner expects.

However, if you study the issue in detail, circumstances appear that make cleaning the headphones with peroxide undesirable:

• Firstly, this substance is an active oxidizing agent. With prolonged exposure to metal parts, it accelerates the appearance of corrosion and, accordingly, reduces the product's service life.
• Secondly, hydrogen peroxide is a liquid comparable in some properties to water, so it can wet paper membranes. And since it is the membranes that are responsible for the sound quality, their deformation during drying and possible tears will easily turn an expensive accessory from an iPhone, Samsung or other gadget into rubbish that nobody needs.

Thus, it turns out that you can risk and subject the headphones to such cleaning if they have already served enough, the warranty or replacement period has ended, and their loss will not be a blow to the budget and will not greatly upset the owner.

How to help headphones survive?

To minimize risks when cleaning the headset, you need to be able to disassemble and assemble this device. The net and plastic parts of the body can be soaked in peroxide with virtually no consequences (with the exception of metal parts coated on top with plastic or paint: H₂O₂ easily penetrates through such coatings, causing them to peel off). But to dip the “stuffing” of the headphones into the container with peroxide - a dynamic converter (even if its membranes are not made of paper), a connector and metal wires - it means hopelessly ruining the headset.

Non-separable models will require more attention and ingenuity for safe cleaning.

Some craftsmen are building from systems of threads, matches, bottle caps and other things that have come to hand, entire systems that can hold the headphones in position. However, one awkward movement of the cat, passing by the tank, where the headphones get their second life, - and all efforts will go down the drain. The most reliable way is to hold the headset in your hands and personally control the degree of immersion in the solution during the entire cleaning time.

Step-by-step instruction

There are two ways to clean your headphones with hydrogen peroxide. In addition to the already mentioned - soaking some parts by lowering into a liquid, there is less risky. It is recommended for working with original Apple accessories: the high cost does not allow everyone to buy new EarPods instead of damaged ones.

It is important to note that hereinafter, the words "hydrogen peroxide" refers exclusively to a 3% solution prepared and purified industrially, which is sold in pharmacies.

Method 1 (immersion)

To implement the plan you will need:

• a bowl or cup made of plastic or glass (metal utensils are not suitable);
• a sufficient amount of peroxide;
• headphone disassembly tools;
• paper or fabric napkins.

If you disassemble the headphones it turned out, the mesh and other parts stained with earwax or fat are lowered into a container with a solution. Cleaning takes about 30 minutes, after which the parts need to be removed and dried with napkins. When there is no moisture left, you can return the headset to its original appearance.

If the headphones cannot be disassembled, proceed as follows:

1. A very thin layer of peroxide, literally 1 mm high, is poured onto the bottom of the bowl and placed on a flat, hard surface (table, chair, window sill).
2. Headphones turn the net down and so lower it into the solution, constantly holding it. You need to make sure that the liquid does not accidentally fall into the earpiece.
3. After the designated time, the accessory is removed without turning the net up. Wipe wet places with napkins and lay on a dry hygroscopic surface (for example, a terry towel) so that residual moisture comes out. You can bury the headset in rice slightly without changing its position.

Method 2 (wipe)

To clean in the best possible way, you need to prepare:

• cotton buds;
• peroxide;
• paper or fabric napkins;
• thin toothpicks.

Then everything is simple - a bottle of hydrogen peroxide is uncorked and a cotton swab is dipped there. When removing it, slightly squeeze it on the edge of the neck so that it remains moist enough, but not wet. With this stick, wipe the net on one of the headphones, trying to do this so that the solution does not leak inside, and then put the net down on a napkin. Do the same with the second earphone. After half an hour with a new stick moistened with peroxide, the remnants of soaked dirt and earwax are removed, then the headphones are wiped with a dry cloth and left to dry. If necessary, clean the cells with a toothpick.

So, it is possible and necessary to clean the headphones with hydrogen peroxide, if the probable benefit from such an event exceeds the possible losses if the outcome is unsuccessful. Moreover, this work requires neither expensive materials, nor specific skills.