Don’t you just love having a blast singing in the shower? - Well, if you’re anything like me the answer is: YAAAS!
You will agree with me that a shower speaker is the first thing you will think of when it comes to bringing your tunes to the shower. However, there are some issues with using shower speakers in the bathroom; your surrounding might not like it and the sound can be deformed.
Today you’re in luck because we gathered all the small things to take into consideration before using waterproof wireless earbuds in the shower:
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- What Factors Should You Consider Before Using Earbuds In The Shower?
- 5 Simple Steps to Shower with Waterproof Earbuds
What Factors Should You Consider Before Using Earbuds In The Shower?
There are some few things you need to understand about waterproof earbuds, and there are some criteria you need to consider before you can be convinced that they will work in the shower.
1. IP rating
First of all, I want you to know that there is a difference between water-resistant and waterproof. Wireless earbuds that are water-resistant might not be waterproof, but waterproof wireless Bluetooth earbuds will surely be water-resistant. What does this tell you? It means water-resistant earbuds may not be able to survive the shower as the waterproof earbuds will. To select the earbuds that will survive the shower, you should consider the IP ratings.
The IP rating is known as Ingress Protocol, and it describes the level at which a device or an object is protected against liquid like water. Wireless earbuds that come with IP rating from IPX1 to IPX4 are only resistant to water drops, water sprays, and water splash. Such earbuds can survive swears, water spray, and drops of water but cannot survive water from the showerhead.
On the other hand, wireless earbuds having IP rating from IPX5 to IPX8 can survive water jets from all directions, temporary immersions, and continues immersion. It means you can make use of these waterproof earbuds in the shower.
What is the recommended IP rating for wireless earbuds that can survive the shower?
I will recommend the minimum of 1PX5 though there are some others with a higher IP rating. A perfect example is the xFyro wireless earbuds with IP67 waterproof rating. With the rating, you can immerse it in water, and it will also prevent dust from entering. So, the higher the IP rating from 5, the higher you stand the chance of your wireless waterproof earbuds surviving water during a shower.
2. Noise cancellation or Isolation
Noise is inevitable in the shower. If the showerhead does not make noise, the water coming from it will make noise when it gets to your body. The noise can prevent you from listening to your music in peace while having a shower. Having waterproof earbuds that can repel the noise in the shower comes in handy in the bathroom even though it is good to be aware of your environment anywhere you are.
The best way to enjoy your tunes with waterproof earbuds plugged in during the shower is to ensure the wireless earbuds comes with the noise cancelation or isolation technology.
3. Fit
A perfect fit is very important if you want to shower with waterproof earbuds. It means the wireless Bluetooth earbuds will not drop or fall when having a shower. If the earbuds do not fit securely in your ear canal, the water coming from the showerhead can remove them easily. So, go for waterproof wireless earbuds that will give a good seal in your ears. It is advisable that you buy earbuds with different size of ear tips. This will allow you to have a better opportunity of finding earbuds that fits you perfectly.
4. Connectivity
No doubt, most of the wireless waterproof earbuds in the market uses Bluetooth technology to connect with other devices. It means you need a stable and strong Bluetooth connection if you are going to use the earbuds in the bathroom. Weak Bluetooth connection can be a headache if your smartphone or music player is not waterproof, and you will need to put it far from the bathroom. A minimum of Bluetooth 4.2 version is recommended. There are some earbuds like the xFyro that offers Bluetooth 5.0 technology for a better, more stable, and stronger connection.
5. Control
Another factor/feature you need to consider is the control. Ensure you go for waterproof wireless earbuds with handy button functions that will allow you to control the music remotely and easily.
6. Time
This is one thing you need to take seriously when using your waterproof earbuds in the shower. There are recommended seconds and minutes for different wireless earbuds. The recommended time often depends on the IP rating of your headphone. As a general rule of thumb, IPX5 can survive water spray from shower between 5 minutes to 10 minutes. Waterproof earbuds such as xFyro earbuds with an IP67 rating will survive water from the showerhead for up to 30 minutes. It means, the higher the waterproof rating the number of minutes you can use them under the shower.
If all the factors and features above are met, then you are ready to use your wireless waterproof earbuds in the shower.
5 Simple Steps to Shower with Waterproof Earbuds
1. Connect your wireless earbuds with your smartphone or audio player
If your earbuds do not connect with your smartphone, there is no way you can successfully take your tunes to the shower. So the first thing is to ensure your wireless Bluetooth earbuds are compatible with your device. How do you ensure this? Put your waterproof earbuds in pairing mode, switch on the Bluetooth of your smartphone, search for your wireless earbuds, and pair with it.
Put the earbuds in your ears and play one of your favorite song tracks to test if the earbuds are working perfectly. If you are having a problem connecting your wireless earbuds with your cellphone, check here on how to do it perfectly. But if you think some other problems might be causing the connection issue, check out the solutions we provide for earbuds common problems. Once you can establish a connection between your waterproof wireless earbuds and cell phone, move to the next step.
2. Put your phone near the bathroom and where nothing will block or disturb the connection
Walls and other barriers can affect the Bluetooth connection between the two devices. So, it is very important that you ensure there is no obstacle between your waterproof earbuds and cell phone. Even though research has shown that taking your smartphone to the toilet can be risky as bacteria and germs can stay on them, I will still advise that you take your phone to the shower.
The best way to avoid the bacteria and germ is to get a waterproof phone bag that will protect your cell phone (waterproof or non-waterproof). This way, the risk can be reduced or prevented. Ensure you put the phone bag where it won’t drop to the ground to prevent damage of the screen and other parts of the cell phone.
3. Prevent the direct impact of water on the wireless earbuds
The noise cancelation and isolation your waterproof earbuds feature will ensure that you listen to your music in peace without worrying about the noisy shower, but there is something you need to pay attention to: The direct impact of water coming from the showerhead! It can remove the earbuds from your ears. There are ways you can prevent this. They are:
- Put your head in a position where water from the showerhead will not hit your ears and earbuds directly
- Reduce the speed of water coming from the showerhead. This will also reduce the force of the water so it won’t be strong enough to remove the well fitted, sealed, and secured waterproof earbuds
- If you don’t want to reduce the speed of the water, you can make use of a shower cap or swimming cap. When you use either of the caps ensure you pull it in a way that it covers your entire ears. Take note that this will not disrupt the Bluetooth connection, especially if your uses waterproof wireless earbuds with a stronger version of Bluetooth like V5.0.
Using the third way of preventing the direct impact of water means you will have to wash your hair separately under low-pressure water.
4. Take care when using a sponge or washcloth
Washing the area of your ears with washcloth or sponge when you have your waterproof earbuds on requires a careful process. When you are rubbing the washcloth on the area of your ear, you should do it gently. Using force can make the wireless earbuds shift their position and also lose their grip. When this happens, it means you will have to keep readjusting the earbuds, and they may fall off with time.
5. Be careful when drying off with a towel
Some people, when in a hurry, want to dry off the water on their body using a speed of light. When you do this, your waterproof earbuds can pop out of your ear and drop on the ground. So no matter how hurry you are, try to slow down when you want to dry the area of your head. Go easy on the ear part and you will able to keep your wireless earbuds plugged in to continue to enjoy your favorite jams.
Conclusively, showering with your waterproof earbuds is possible if you adhere to the rules and steps provided above. The rules are the factors and features you need to consider before venturing into the bathroom and having a shower. Remember, there are thousands of earbuds on the market, but there are a few best waterproof wireless earbuds that you can use in the shower.