It’s time for a refresher on how to clean in-ears. We’ve done a few of these over the years, and while the information may not have changed much, our customer service and service/repair teams remind us of a few ways to keep your IEMs from needing to be sent back to us.
If reading’s not your thing we also made a video:
Background
In-ear devices, such as in-ear monitors, earphones, hearing aids and earplugs are made to be worn inside of the ear canal. Since wax and debris will come into contact with these devices you must carefully and regularly clean them to ensure long-term functionality. We recommend cleaning your custom in-ear monitors after each use.
Whether for personal devices or multiple sets, in the case of touring bands and churches who use in-ear monitors, follow these recommended steps to safely and effectively keep them in clean and working condition.
Getting Started
First start by prepping your cleaning station with things like gloves, paper towels, alcohol wipes, q-tips, cleaning pick/brush, and a micro-vacuum cleaner like our VAC Pro. You can also have a microfiber cloth on hand to wipe and polish after cleaning.
Disinfect the entire shell of the earpiece with alcohol and wipe away any dried wax.
Using the pick/brush tool carefully remove wax and debris from the nozzle opening of the earpiece. Take extra precaution not to push wax deeper into the bores or damage any protective screens. Try to rely more heavily on the brush rather than dig too hard with the pick.
After a final wipedown with alcohol, these first two steps should be enough for regular maintenance if you’re cleaning your devices after every use.
Next Level Clean
For a more thorough cleaning use our VAC Pro along with the various included tips to remove tougher material on the screens or in the bores of the canal.
A high-quality UV light can assist you in seeing any remaining wax. When illuminating the IEM you should see straight through the mesh screen. If there is still wax buildup you will see it reflect bright white when exposed to the UV light.
Finish by cleaning everything with alcohol before repacking. Because our 3D printed shells are made of a high-quality hypoallergenic acrylic, you can safely use alcohol to clean them; especially since it dries so quickly. A quick buff with a micro-fiber cloth should bring back their natural shine.
Don’t Forget
Keep an eye on the included desiccant to make sure it is still able to wick moisture. Prolonged moisture exposure can cause corrosion and damage wiring, drivers, and filters. Each 64 Audio CIEM comes with a desiccant in the lid of the aluminum case. The vibrant orange color indicates that it is still able to wick moisture, if the color has faded you’ll need to replace it.
If there’s significant moisture, after a particularly sweaty performance for example, you can utilize a larger desiccant jar to keep the in-ear monitors as dry as possible.
It’s That Easy
Since most service and repairs stem from improper maintenance, following these recommendations can save you a lot of time and money throughout the lifetime of your in-ear devices.
You can also download this simple guide to always keep it handy: HERE