Taking good care of any headphones will keep them working better and longer. And if you’re on a budget, this can mean big savings in the long term. In our blog post on how to clean earbuds and headphones, we recommend wiping down headphones’ earpads and tips regularly with a mixture of soap and warm water on a lightly damp cloth. If your headphones are powered, make sure they’re off and disconnected before doing this.

Before borrowing or lending a pair of headphones, always make sure to give them a quick wipe-down. The same goes for right after a workout or on a particularly humid or rainy day, because even water- and sweat-resistant headphones shouldn’t be exposed to moisture for too long. And wireless headphones should always be completely dry before charging.

In addition to keeping the outer surfaces clean and dry, remember that the insides of earbuds collect earwax, skin cells, sebum, and other oils, which can affect sound quality. We recommend getting a small, soft brush and cleaning tool to make sure your earbuds are always free of debris.

Keep your headphones away from very cold or very hot — and especially humid — environments. Store them in the bag or case that they came in to protect them from getting dirty or damaged in your bag.

Always unplug your wired headphones by grasping the plug on the end and gently but firmly pulling it out, rather than yanking on the cable. If you have sealed earbuds, twist to remove them from your ears rather than pulling them out by the wires. Doing so protects both your earbuds and you, as creating a vacuum between the two can be damaging to your ears.

Avoid kinking or bunching your headphone cables by using a Velcro fastener or a plain-old twist tie to keep them wrapped up in a loop. Wrapping the cable around your device while your earbuds are plugged in, or storing them in a messy tangle, is a surefire way to shorten their life expectancy.

Lastly, if you have powered headphones, make sure the rubber door on the charge port and/or battery compartment is sealed during storage. If you’re unable to keep the ports covered, we recommend cleaning them out regularly with a cotton swab to keep them free of dust and moisture.

This article was edited by Adrienne Maxwell and Grant Clauser.