When you get brand new AirPods, it’s hard not to be enamored by the flawless finish and the beautiful casing. However, over time the surface of your AirPods can get a lot of scratches and lose its beautiful clean finish. If you’re like me, you’ve probably been wondering if there is anything out there you can use to clean up your AirPods again.
If you’ve got a few nasty scratches on your AirPods or the AirPods case, here are the five ways that you can try and fix them:
- Sandpaper
- Bristle brush
- Microfibre Cloth
- 70% Isopropyl alcohol
- Toothpaste
While you can avoid getting scratches on your AirPods by using the case, you can still expose them to damage over time. So if you’re trying to understand how you can use each of the items above, read through this article to get a step-by-step guide to making that happen!
How To Fix Scratches On The Surface Of Your AirPods
It must come as no surprise to you that there is a good chance your AirPods can gain scratches over time. After all, they have a smooth finish and are constantly in use. You can drop them or throw them in your bag or your pockets after you are done using them. However, if there are scratches visible, you might be able to take them away with some of the methods we will describe below.
Sandpaper
Sandpaper is a rough material that you can use to carefully scratch away at a surface to reveal an inside layer. If there are scratches on your AirPods, but they are not too deep, a little bit of sandpapering can go a long way. Although, one thing you have to consider is that using sandpaper will automatically mattify the surface of your AirPods. However, you can address even that aspect of this with a little bit of polish.
To sandpaper your AirPods, you need to use P2000 grit sandpaper. Make sure to rub this against the scratch makers with very gentle force. Do not be too harsh with the paper, as you can scratch through the entire upper layer. Once you are happy with the scratch cover-up, you can dab a little bit of Alcohol on the spot to make it all look shiny again.
Related: Why Do Your Airpods and Airpods Pro Keep Flashing White?
Bristle Brush
Just like with sandpapering, you can also use a similar technique with a bristle brush. This brush will gently scratch away at the surface and can even help to dislodge any debris or dist from the AirPods. After this, you can polish the spot again to get rid of the mattifying that happens. Using this method, you can get rid of surface-level scratches and quickly restore your AirPods to their former glory!
Microfibre Cloth
Sometimes what you think are scratches on your AirPods are actually just smears of dirt. In that case, you need to keep the AirPods clean. It would be best if you cleaned your AirPods every now and then to maintain the same level of sound quality. To this end, you can use a simple microfibre cloth.
These microfibre cloths are perfect for cleaning because they are soft and gentle on the surface and still practical without making the surface too wet. Remember, you should use a damp microfibre cloth, and never one that is wet in any capacity. In fact, when you squeeze the cloth, no water should come out. Once that is done, let the AirPods air dry, and then you can see they will be very clean again.
70% Isopropyl Alcohol
In most cases, people worry that using Alcohol near their AirPods can cause severe damage. The fact of the matter is that in most cases, the surface of the AirPods cannot sustain any damage from isopropyl alcohol. In fact, it is the material that Apple recommends you use when you are cleaning your AirPods and AirPods case.
However, once again, if you have minor scratches, you can make them look nonexistent by cleaning around them using isopropyl alcohol. You can also use a microfibre cloth to disperse it around and then let it air dry for a few minutes so all of the Alcohol evaporates before you start using the AirPods again.
Toothpaste
You may have come across hacks online that show you that you can use toothpaste to cover up scratches. While this can help to cover up some scratches, it is not always as effective as a lot of people think. If the scratches are in the clear polish or cover coat, or they are not past the paint level, this can still be an effective solution.
However, once the scratches are peeling off the paint from the AirPod, you can’t use this method effectively. Also, to use this, you need a white toothpaste that has a lot of grit. Rub it onto the surface and then wipe off the excess.
How Can I Prevent Damage To My AirPods?
One of the best ways of taking scratches away, if you ask us, is to do your best to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Scratches come about because of damage to your AirPods. And luckily, there are a few ways you can prevent this from happening:
- Avoid placing your AirPods in your bags or pocket.
- Always keep your AirPods in their case for safekeeping.
- Never leave your AirPods out on a table outside of their case.
- Routinely clean your AirPods and their case to avoid scratching when you place them inside.
Also, as a general rule, keep your AirPods away from water. Your AirPods can sustain severe damage that you may not be able to come back from. In the case of water damage, sometimes the only solution is to replace the AirPods.
Related: Is the Apple Watch Series 4 Waterproof?
Conclusion
If you have AirPods with scratches, you now have five ways that you can try and fix the situation. We hope this article was helpful in showing you how to use everyday items to clean scratches off your AirPods.