Earbuds after sport: sweat, rain and water
Sweat, not rain, is the problem
An occasional shower of rain rarely ruins good sport earbuds. Everyday sweat is more dangerous: it contains salts that stay on the charging contacts and in the driver mesh after the water evaporates. Over time the salt builds up, corrodes the contacts and clogs the mesh.
That is why sport earbuds have resistance codes such as IPX4 and IPX5, but they also need a few simple habits after every workout.
Right after the workout
Take the buds out and wipe them with a dry or slightly damp cloth, especially the hook, the part that sits on the ear and the charging contacts. Leave them in the air for a few minutes to dry completely before putting them in the case. Put them in wet and the moisture is shut in with them.
On hook buds such as the GOG100 and GOJ05, wipe the inside of the hook too: that is where sweat from the skin behind the ear collects.
After rain
After a run in the rain, the routine is the same: wipe, air, then into the case. If it rained hard, hold the buds mesh down and shake them gently so the water in the mesh comes out. IPX5, as on the GOG100 and Ola 1, means resistance to water jets, so heavy rain will not ruin them.
The case needs protecting from water too: it is not as resistant as the buds. Keep it in a zipped pocket or a bag.
Weekly cleaning
Once a week, if you do sport often, clean more carefully. Wipe the charging contacts of the buds and the case with a dry cloth or a barely damp cotton bud. Clean the driver mesh with a soft, dry brush, holding the bud mesh down.
Do not use strong alcohol, detergents or scented wet wipes: they leave residue on the contacts and can damage the protective coating. Our guide to cleaning wireless earbuds has all the steps.
What not to do
Do not dry the buds with a hair dryer, on a radiator or in the sun: heat harms the battery and can soften the glue. Do not charge them wet. Do not rinse them under the tap, however good the IP code: water gets in differently than in tests.
Do not leave them in a damp gym bag next to a wet towel and sweaty clothes until the next day.
Signs sweat got where it should not
A bud that no longer charges every time, quieter or muffled sound on one side and contacts with greenish or white spots are signs that salt has built up. Clean the contacts carefully and see whether the problem goes.
If after cleaning the bud still does not charge or the sound crackles, write to us with the model and what happened.
Choosing if you sweat a lot
If you sweat a lot, choose earbuds with IPX5 or more and a simple shape that is easy to wipe. Open-ear buds, which do not go into the ear, collect less moisture than in-ear ones and dry faster. The GOG100 and Ola 1 are IPX5; the S7 are IP55 and the Open2 IP56, with dust protection too.
For long runs in hot weather, a headband that stops sweat running from your forehead helps the buds as well.
Winter and cold
In winter, sweat combines with cold. When you come in from the cold to a warm room, condensation can form on cold buds, as on glasses. Do not put them straight in the case or charge them: give them a few minutes to reach room temperature and dry.
Cold lowers battery life for a while, so on winter runs keep the case in an inside pocket where it stays warm. Open-ear hook buds such as the GOJ05 usually fit under a thin headband, which keeps your ears warm too. If you wear a thick hat over the buds, check now and then that they have not moved, especially if you run on the road.
Every model is in the shop, under open-ear sport earbuds.