Your wireless headphones probably need a good clean: Here's how to do it

EarPods, AirPods or wireless earphones are one of life's little pleasures.

We get access to portable, personal music without the messiness and headaches that come from tangled cords and large speakers.

But did you know that EarPods can actually be one of the dirtiest things in your house? And it makes it worse knowing you're shoving them in your ears.

A recent study by SeniorLiving.org discovered that earbuds can harbour 119,186 bacteria-forming units. That's a lot of bacteria, which can lead to things like ear infections.

In fact, that's more than 2,700 times the bacteria that can be found the average kitchen cutting board.

But thankfully, there's an easy way to clean your nasty earphones and you've probably got what you need at home already.

Before we run through how to clean your earphones, a word of warning: Do not let any water go into the pods or the case. We suggest using dry or lightly damp equipment to minimise the risk of any water getting in.

What do you need to clean your headphones?

• Blu Tack
• Cotton buds
• Toothpick
• A small magic eraser

How to clean your AirPods

Start with the individual pods first. Gently use a toothpick to dig out any gunk inside the speaker of the pod.

Next, lightly press Blu Tack on the speaker and peel it back off. This will help to lift up any smaller residue which is stuck inside.

Moving onto the case, using another toothpick, clean out all of the small nooks and creases in the case. You'll be able to see where the dirt has built up over time.

Lastly, slightly wet your magic eraser and wring it out so it's slightly damp and not wet. Wipe that over the outside of the case to get rid of any grubby marks.

Watch the video above to get a step-by-step tutorial.