Technology is getting more advanced with each passing day. Though this advancement makes our lives comfortable, it also seriously affects our health. One such technology that is affecting the health is the earbuds.
From making phone calls to attending virtual meetings, earbuds have increased tremendously, but the risk of ear infections has also been raised. Yes, you heard it right. Earbuds, especially grimy earbuds, can be the cause of ear infections.
Though these are small gadgets you use to attend phone calls or listen to music during a workout, they can cause serious hearing issues later on. If you are using grimy earbuds, get into this article and find how risky it can be for the health of your ears!
How Can Grimy Earbuds Make You Sick?
Despite being tiny devices, earphones have many negative effects that get longer daily. Earphones have an impact on the environment in addition to the user. Although it’s difficult to accept, this is real.
Read further to know how it makes you sick.
Cause Of Ear Infection
Ear infections result from wearing earphones at an excessively high level. Our ears are quite wet, and earwax is beneficial to the health of our ears. Earbuds force earwax further into our ear canals, resulting in an obstruction that increases the risk of infection.
Earbuds Worsen The Ear Wax
Earbuds can also enhance wax accumulation in the ears. Our ears keep themselves clean, but earbuds interfere with their natural functioning and worsen the situation. Therefore, earbuds should be sanitized and also keep them private. Make sure to clean your earbuds once a week or more.
Causes Hearing Complications Or Hearing Loss
Hearing loss and complications are potential drawbacks of unclean earphones. Sound enters the ears straight when using earbuds. An extreme volume of sound can quickly harm the ears. It is recommended that earphones not be used for longer than fifteen minutes at a time because doing so may cause hearing loss, and if they are, the dirt situation can worsen.
Why Should You Clean The Earbuds?
The best thing you can do to protect your hearing is to avoid ear infections. You can prevent ear infections by cleaning your earphones. Earbuds can be used anywhere and thrown into purses, luggage, gym cases, the ground, and even worse situations.
Nowadays, EarPods come with a charging case, which makes it simpler to keep bacteria and dirt away from them. But they are extracted from the ears by hand.
Only some have clean hands. Now imagine all the bacteria on the earbuds from your hands-Healthline claims 2,708 times more bacteria can be found in headphones than on a typical chopping board. Compared to a kitchen sink, they have six times as many germs.
Above all, rashes, sickness, and allergic responses can all be brought on by unclean headphones and earbuds.
When Should You Clean The Earbuds?
Clean your earbuds or headphones regularly. If you don’t frequently sanitize them, your earbuds have most likely gathered a lot of dust and germs. Perhaps you should wipe the tips of your headphones or earbuds with a towel that has been slightly moistened once a week, and don’t use the chemical cleaner as it first affects your earbuds and later your ear.
Give them a good cleaning once a month or more frequently if you wear them to the gym and sweat out a lot. Verify that the headphones are turned off. Use a gentle cloth to dry them completely.
How Can You Clean The Earbuds?
The earphones should never be placed under flowing water or another substance. Before cleaning, always unplug them from any electronic devices. Then take these actions:
Mix a Cleaning Solution
Combine half a cup of fresh or warm water and dish soap (1/4 teaspoon) in a tiny container. The amount of detergent in the solution should be limited to what you need to thoroughly clean your earbuds because excessive soap can leave a slippery coating behind.
Remove and Soak the Tips
To carefully extract the silicone or foam tips from the earphones, twist and rotate them. After inserting them into the cleaning detergent, give them at least half an hour for soaking.
Clean and Dry the Tips
Get the tips out of the cleaning liquid. To remove any leftover wax or dirt particles, use a sponge made of cotton. After thoroughly rinse them in warm water, let them dry on a cloth without lint. Putting them on the earbuds requires that they are completely dry.
Disinfect the Mesh Cover
Wet a cotton swab and wipe the bud mesh to disinfect and remove leftovers. Hold the earbud with the mesh cover leading downward to prevent dirt from getting deeper into the outer dwellings. To remove any apparent wax, carefully brush it with a gentle, dry toothbrush.
Precautions to Be Taken While Using Earbuds
Here are some suggestions for anyone addicted to earbuds to continue to enjoy their headphones without endangering their health.
- Give up wearing fashionable little earbuds since they go straight into your ear lobe. Put larger headphones on.
- Always carry your headphones. Do not share them with friends and family members.
- Try replacing the rubber or sponge covers on your earbuds at least once a month.
- Keep the sound as low as possible.
- Rest your ears after every 15 minutes.
Tips to Keep Your Earbuds Clean Longer
- When not in use, place your earbuds in an organizer.
- Wipe the case after cleaning the earbuds; this is crucial for devices that support wireless charging.
- Even if you have water-resistant earbuds, you don’t need to dip them in water for long. If they get very wet, let them air dry far from the heat source.
- Keep your earbuds out of the sweaty area of your workout shorts. Put them in a waterproof case instead.
Conclusion:
The use of earbuds has been increased over the last few years. Many people use them all day long for attending calls, meetings, or listening to music. But do you know their constant use can cause pain? Also, if the earbuds are grimy, they can cause infections, cause hearing loss, or other serious health issues.
