Cleaning & Hygiene
How to safely clean and disinfect the EarEqual Plug between uses — for individual reuse and for institutional or research settings where a small set of units is shared across participants.
Purpose and scope
This protocol describes how to safely clean and disinfect the EarEqual Plug between uses. It applies to single-user reuse and to institutional or research settings where a small set of units is shared across participants within a measurement pipeline.
The Plug is a deep-insertion silicone earpiece. The body is a platinum-cure silicone (Shore A20) that tolerates isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and ordinary pharmacy alcohol. Embedded within it is an electret measurement microphone. The microphone and the fabric membrane covering its front face must never be allowed to contact any liquid.
No liquid — alcohol, water, or cleaning agent — may reach the fabric membrane on the front face of the microphone. Liquid on this membrane can permanently damage the microphone.
All cleaning agents are applied to a cloth or wipe, never directly to the Plug, and never to the mic face. When handled normally, earwax does not penetrate this membrane; keep it that way by following the steps below.
What you need
- A clean, soft, lint-free cloth (one per cleaning cycle, or a fresh section of cloth per unit).
- Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or ordinary pharmacy alcohol. Do not use acetone, ketone-based solvents, or abrasive cleaners.
- A clean dry area to set down cleaned units so they do not re-contaminate.
Note on agents: IPA is one option; standard pharmacy alcohol is also suitable. The choice does not change the procedure — the agent goes on the cloth, never on the mic face.
Cleaning procedure
The normal routine is a single wipe-and-disinfect. If the unit has visible earwax, remove that first as a pre-step. Every stage keeps liquid away from the microphone face.
Pre-step — Mechanical wax removal (only if wax is present)
- Inspect the Plug in good light. Locate the microphone face so you can consciously avoid it throughout.
- If there is visible earwax or debris, wipe it away using the cloth with a small amount of alcohol. Work the wax off the silicone body mechanically — the alcohol assists, but it is the wiping action that removes the wax.
- Wipe away from and around the microphone face, never across or into it. Do not press the cloth onto the mic membrane and do not let alcohol pool near it.
Disinfection (every time)
- Take a clean part of the cloth (or a fresh wipe) with a small amount of alcohol.
- Wipe the full silicone body to disinfect, again keeping clear of the microphone face.
- Allow the Plug to air-dry fully before use or storage. Do not blow into or insert anything into the microphone port to speed drying.
Do not apply any liquid to it and do not wipe or dig at it while it is soft. Set the unit aside and let the wax dry completely — allow several hours, or simply leave it overnight, so it becomes brittle.
Once dry, lift it away carefully with a soft point such as a wooden toothpick, working from the edge of the flake and lifting it off rather than pressing into the membrane. Take your time; it is safer to pause a unit than to risk damaging the mic face. If in doubt, contact EarEqual before returning the unit to service.
Institutional and research use
For studies measuring multiple participants, EarEqual recommends acquiring a small batch of units (typically five to ten) rather than sharing a single Plug across everyone. This supports a practical measurement pipeline and reduces hygiene risk.
Recommended pipeline
- Assign units across participants so that a used unit is cleaned while other units are in use — cleaning happens between sessions, not while a participant waits.
- Clean each unit per Section 3 immediately after use, then set it aside to air-dry before it re-enters the rotation.
- A batch of five to ten units is generally enough to keep a session moving without cleaning becoming a bottleneck. A single unit per participant across a large cohort (for example, fifty participants) is neither necessary nor intended.
Why a per-session rotation rather than a shared single unit: a deep-insertion earpiece accumulates cerumen, and thorough cleaning takes a little time and care. A small rotating batch lets each unit be cleaned properly between uses instead of hurriedly between back-to-back participants, which is both more hygienic and better for measurement consistency.
Storage
- Store cleaned, fully dry units in a clean, dry container away from dust and direct contamination.
- Do not store units damp. Confirm they are dry after alcohol cleaning before putting them away.
- Keep the cable free of sharp bends at the point where it exits the silicone body.
Do not
- Do not immerse the Plug in any liquid.
- Do not apply alcohol, water, or any cleaning agent directly to the Plug or to the microphone face.
- Do not use acetone, ketone-based solvents, or abrasive cleaners.
- Do not insert tools, swabs, or air into the microphone port.
- Do not use ultrasonic cleaners, autoclaves, dishwashers, or any heat- or immersion-based sterilisation.
This protocol reflects the materials and construction of the EarEqual Plug. For institutional or ethics-review questions, or if a unit may have been exposed to liquid, contact EarEqual via hello@earequal.com.