In-ear headphones are great and there's no doubt the Apple AirPods are next level, However, there is one drawback and it's pretty yucky: the build-up of earwax.
The average pair of earbuds harbors 330 times more bacteria than the average kitchen worktop. Not only is this unhygienic, but it can also impact sound quality and looks gross (how many times have you tried to keep the inside of your earbuds case a secret?).
And if you want to sell them on, and get the best possible price, cleaning them up to look brand new is a must. Belkin has met this challenge by launching the AirPods Cleaning Kit (rrp £14.99).
It includes everything you need to remove 99 per cent of dirt and earwax from your earbuds, so they are spotless for whoever you pass them on to. The kit comes with wax softener, cleaning gel, cleaning brush and microfiber cloth - and each kit is good for one clean.
Now at £14.99 it's not something you're going to be doing every week - but if they're looking gross or they don't sound as good as they once did, and especially if it's time to get them on eBay, the investment is going to be worth it.
The kit comes with pretty detailed instructions but I opted to scan the QR code and watch the video how-to. And it really is very simple - apply the wax softener, use the brush and then finish off with the cleaning gel. And, yes, mine were pretty mucky but by the finish they were sparkling white. Clean enough that my partner was willing to wear them!
Even though it's a one-use kit I kept the cleaning brush as I expect it'll come in useful at some point. It's also worth noticing that the kit does not clean the replaceable buds if you have the Airpods Pro.
The AirPods Cleaning Kit is available from the Belkin website. They are currently offering free shipping with the code: FREESHIP23
