Although not as expensive as our mp3 players, earbuds are still pricey electronics accessories. Care for them is often overlooked and leads to them getting scratched, damaged, or broken prematurely.  Replacing earbuds over time can be costly. So much so that for some people, buying replacement earbuds can exceed the total cost of their media devices.

Since earbuds dont have the benefit of the over-the-head band that traditional headphones have, they must be small and lightweight. This is to both prevent ear strain when hanging in your ears, as well as to be small enough to fit within the ear canal of all people who buy them. Having small earbuds makes them nice and portable, but it is also the reason for their poor durability. 


Here are some ways to increase earbud durability and get a longer life out of them:

Make sure to always clean out your pockets before doing the laundry. It is very easy to leave your earbuds in your pockets and wash them. Obviously, water damage is very bad for electronics. Even though there is a chance the they will still work, it is likely that you broke them or at the very least reduced their longevity.

Consider buying a soft carrying case. When transporting your earbuds they are frequently the smallest item in your bag. A small case can prevent them from being hit full force by the other objects moving around in your backpack.  The added bonus is that a carry case restricts the movement of the earbud cords and can reduce the amount of tangles you get.

Don't blast your earbuds at full volume. The speakers are not made to be used at this level and it will cause them to quickly degrade and burn out.  Aside from earbud care it is also important not to do this to preserve your hearing.

Check the plug for any residue or dirt and clean it off if you find any. The contacts require a nice fit for information to travel from your media player to your earbuds.  It will also prevent any residue from getting into your media player's audio jack which is much more difficult to clean out.

Don't wrap you earbud cords too tightly when storing them. Wrapping the cords too tightly can stretch them out and weaken them. This is often the reason why the sound will become lower in one earbud or the sound doesn't come out at all.

When not listening to your mp3 player, remove the plug from it. If you leave it plugged in when in your pocket it can cause it to get bent as well as loosen the connection on your media player jack. This is a common cause for when you only get sound coming out of a single earbud.

Hopefully this short post has given some helpful tips preventing the most common ways earbuds break.  If you have any of your own methods for earbud care, please feel free to mail them to contact@noisereducingearbuds.com