Electrical components need a meaningfully more cautious cleaning approach than the mechanical tools and accessories covered in most of this site’s other cleaning notes.
Always unplug before any cleaning attempt
As a basic safety step, fully disconnect the adapter from both the outlet and the appliance before doing any cleaning at all — never clean a plugged-in electrical component.
Dry or barely damp cloth only, exterior surfaces only
A dry cloth, or one that’s barely damp, wiped only over the exterior casing is the appropriate scope — this isn’t a component to wash the way a jigger or decanter would be cleaned.
Never use liquid cleaners or submerge any part
Liquid cleaning products, and certainly submerging any part of the adapter, risk moisture reaching internal electronics — a genuine safety hazard distinct from any cleaning concern for a purely mechanical accessory.
What to do in practice
Unplug fully, wipe the exterior casing only with a dry or barely damp cloth, and never use liquid cleaners or attempt to open or submerge the adapter.
What we would not do
Suggest cleaning a power adapter with the same liquid-based methods used for mechanical accessories — moisture near electrical components is a genuine safety concern this doesn’t apply to a jigger or decanter.
Last reviewed 25 August 2026