You’ve finally managed to buy that pair of headphones that have been on your wish list for ages, only to find that they stopped working after a couple of months. Needless to say, this comes as a huge disappointment, and you may find yourself rushing to issue a complaint and arguing with the customer care agent to get an immediate refund. However, did you ever stop and question whether you took good care of your headphones or not?

If you have no idea how to take care of your headphones, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we’ll be breaking down 5 top tips that will extend the life of your headphones:

1. Store your headphones or earphones in a case

Earphones are a bit more fragile than headphones; however, you should definitely store both types of gadgets in a suitable hard case. Store your earphones or headphones when you’re not using them, or when you’re transporting them from one place to another. Don’t forget to roll your earphones in a loose coil before putting them in their case. 

2. Mind the Cable

Cable damage is of the key reasons why headphones and earphones stop working in the first place. Avoid any internal damage by looping the cable loosely around your fingers to make sure that it coils naturally – avoiding kinks and internal breakages that can eventually lead to a dysfunctional gadget.

3. Clean your headphones properly

A microfibre cloth and specialised headphone cleaning spray is usually the way to go when it comes to cleaning headphones. If you’re using water, tread carefully, as electronics and water usually don’t go well together. Use a toothpick, dry toothbrush or a cotton swab to remove dust or grime from particularly dirt-prone and hard-to-reach areas.

4. Avoid liquids and high humidity

You should never expose your headphones to liquids or store them in highly humid locations. This will disintegrate internal wirings in the span of a few months, leaving you with a pretty device that’s just taking up space as an expensive decoration. Additionally, avoid storing your headphones or earphones in direct sunlight, or extremely hot/cold spots. 

5. Never pull on the cable

Disconnect your headphones or earphones by applying pressure on the end of the plug and not on the cable itself. If you’re used to yanking the cable, stop this immediately, as this will dramatically shorten your gear’s lifespan. One thing is for sure – wire tugs are deadly.