I've had my AirPods Pro for almost two years and a lot of earwax and dust have built up inside. I've seen people use toothpicks but I'm scared of scratching them. What's the safest method?
Stay away from toothpicks - that's the right call, you risk doing serious damage. For dry earwax that's stuck inside the mesh, you should try compressed air first, like the kind you use to clean your keyboard - it blows away a lot of stuff without touching anything. Hold them at like 15-20 cm away and don't go overboard with the pressure.
If there's still dirt inside after that, a slightly damp microfiber cloth actually works really well, but the trick here is drying them right after with another dry cloth. Moisture inside the earbuds = problem. For the outside parts you can also use a bit of isopropyl alcohol (the kind I found at the pharmacy) on a cotton swab, swipe it quick and it dries on its own, but avoid letting it drip inside.
If the earwax is really crusted on and the compressed air isn't enough, you could try a plastic toothpick or an old really soft toothbrush, but move carefully and gently. Anyway, two years of buildup is normal - it's not like you did something wrong. It happens to everyone.
The most important thing is to use a microfiber cloth slightly dampened with distilled water, gently wiping the speaker grille and the outer part, because moisture helps loosen earwax without damaging anything. For the more stubborn bits like the ventilation holes, grab a wooden toothpick (not a metal one!) and scratch it very gently from different angles without going straight at the grille, or even better, use an empty ballpoint pen tube you have around the house - it scratches even more gently. Avoid alcohol, chemical cleaners and especially cotton swabs because they leave fibers inside, and remember that AirPods go into the charging case damp so you can even spray a bit of water without worry, then dry thoroughly with the cloth before putting them away.
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