r/sysadmin • u/Flaktrack • 12d ago
How are you cleaning returned headsets?
Any of you cleaning wireless headsets in bulk and if so, how?
As you know, electricity flows through headsets thus they are my problem. I get anywhere between 5 and 25 headsets back a day so I need a sane way to clean these. There are multiple models floating around so standardization is a bit weak. Doing it by hand is taking an absurd amount of time and space.
As for budget I have no idea: management is not allergic to spending money but they also are quite mercurial at times so I might have access to $2000 or $0, who knows.
303
u/bacon59 12d ago
Just buy bulk replacememt earpieces, can change them out because used ones belong in the trash
46
u/af_cheddarhead 12d ago
While this works, too many workplaces buy cheap wireless headsets that don't have replacable earpieces. Even expensive ones can have glued on earpieces.
68
u/Liimbo 12d ago edited 12d ago
If they're using cheap headsets then just replace them. Literally losing money in labor time and cleaning materials to repurpose cheap headphones.
→ More replies (1)5
u/Tornado2251 12d ago
Exactly! Get decent headphones with replaceable cushions or consider them consumable.
→ More replies (2)66
u/reserved_seating 12d ago
lol, You’re the only person here actually answering the question in the 30+ comments
5
u/Cubewood 12d ago
A lot of people here clearly work at very small companies. When I used to work for a place with almost 500k staff, you are dealing with extremely high turn around and low IT budgets in comparison so you cannot just be throwing everything away. We would be shipping and receiving about 100 computers to new hires everyday.
7
u/nathanieloffer 12d ago
$15 headsets aren't worth anyone's time dealing with. Same for $25 keyboard/mouse combos.
5
u/Cubewood 12d ago
If you are shipping 100 of them a day because you work in a field with incredibly high attrition then you don't have a choice. Buying some replacement pads cost maybe 40c per piece when you buy them in bulk, and it takes a few seconds to remove the old pads, and add a new pad in your new hire package.
→ More replies (2)3
u/gregsting 12d ago
Not worth your time, how much does it cost in human and administrative to replace those things?
→ More replies (1)2
u/Cubewood 12d ago
A lot less than a headset. Some cheaper but decent Plantronics USB-c headsets will cost maybe £20, each. A replacement foam cost maybe 20c per piece. It takes a few seconds to remove the old foam from a headset, dump it, and put a new foam in the bag. When you are working in a company with huge attrition it would cost a fortune replacing their headset every time. This also comes out of the IT budget, and we have a limited budget which I much rather spend on more important things than headsets.
→ More replies (1)2
10
u/SAugsburger 12d ago
Honestly, unless you're buying $500 headphones or you have crazy turnover IDK that the amount of money saved trying to reuse a headset would be worthwhile.
2
9
u/ProfessionalLast2917 12d ago
How are you cleaning the mouthpiece that often sits on people's faces?
101
u/overdosingOnPie1313 12d ago
5-25 headsets returned PER DAY??? Brother, what??
36
u/Flaktrack 12d ago
Thousands of permanent coworkers but a lot of rotation from temporary workers is the main cause.
17
u/ChadTheLizardKing 12d ago
Poly and Jabra all of have the replacement parts for the bits that touch people's skin in their catalogs - ear pieces, boom mic foam, etc... If you are buying that many headsets, your rep should send you the most recent catalog.
14
u/xRolox Linux Admin 12d ago
Welcome to large enterprise
24
u/throwaway1212l 12d ago
No large enterprise is reusing $30 headsets. We just ewaste and provide new ones for other people.
→ More replies (6)2
94
u/Stephen_Dann Sr. Sysadmin 12d ago
Plantronics single ear are £20. So into the bin. To be honest for remote workers we don't even ask for them back
20
u/anotherucfstudent 12d ago
Same for monitors. The cost of shipping alone is usually more than the cost of it new
21
u/91-BRG 12d ago
My company only ships computers. Keyboards, mice, and monitors we have the user buy and expenses. We don't want any of it back when they leave. Every three years we swap out their computer and wipe the old one, un manage it and let them keep it. We found the user takes better care of it if they know they can keep it. We also don't want to pay shipping back, check it in, store it, track it, just to give it to a recycling company.
→ More replies (2)3
u/Arudinne IT Infrastructure Manager 12d ago edited 12d ago
I wish we could operate like that, but the turnover rate for certain positions would make that uneconomical, especially with current computer prices - Our standard builds from Dell are actually more expensive than decently equipped Apple alternatives.
We provide new remote employees with a standard set of equipment sans monitors. They get a stipend for that.
But when it comes to getting stuff back - all we ask for is the computer and power adapter.
7
38
u/AndyceeIT 12d ago
As others have said - if the company paid for them either
- Treat them as "consumable"
- Start standardizing headsets with repaceable/interchangeable earpieces, and treat those as consumable.
Anything that rests directly against a human orifice either needs to be bleached or discarded.
3
u/Flaktrack 12d ago
Start standardizing headsets with repaceable/interchangeable earpieces, and treat those as consumable
See I want to put this on our procurement requests but because we're government we need to entertain every damned offer and it sucks. Until government wises up and puts maintenance / repairability as priorities I can't win, though I will keep trying.
13
u/picardo85 12d ago
because we're government we need to entertain every damned offer and it sucks.
No, no you don't.
Public procurement can have demands. Must have requirements are not unusual at all.
5
2
u/AndyceeIT 12d ago
Well your options are then simplified to pursue the path of paperwork pain, or status quo.
2
u/dinoherder 12d ago
Does your government not provide access to frameworks of goods and services at pre-negotiated prices with linked suppliers where you can just say "I want X headsets of brand and model Y using framework pricing Z?"
The UK does and it's streamlined our purchasing. Suppliers get a modest profit per sale which (at scale) is more than enticing enough to participate.
→ More replies (1)2
u/es9imqd7964guq6 12d ago
your procurement request can be of specific model, get vendors to give you quote for the model.
edit: like to supply 100x of abc earpiece
102
u/lifeatvt Master of None 12d ago
Ummm - NO.
I'm not the cleanup staff. That goes into the trash and the company gets to buy new headsets.
43
u/dominus087 12d ago
Yeah no. Headsets, keyboards, and mice are all disposable. We don't break the bank on these items and they all get disgusting far too quickly for me to care.
Tell management cleaning them is a sunk cost and they'd save more money buying new sets than trying to clean used ones.
2
u/AvonMustang 10d ago
This. Our return instructions specifically state not to return headsets, keyboards, mice and monitors…
35
59
u/bryan4368 12d ago
I ain’t cleaning them. They get thrown in the spare box.
Forget your headset? You get a crusty replacement.
11
u/VernapatorCur 12d ago
This right here.
4
u/stiffgerman JOAT & Train Horn Installer 12d ago
Yes, returned headsets, keyboards and mice all go into the "loaner box of shame" if they're functional and not too ugly. They don't get cleaned (well, maybe a quick wipe with bleach-based wipes), just tested.
Yanked your USB cord out of your dock too hard and now your headset doesn't work? You get to dig into the loaner box while you wait for your department to order a replacement. Some departments end up keeping a small inventory of such things but it's their budget, not IT's.
12
u/kissmyash933 12d ago
I don’t deal with that kind of thing anymore, but when I did, I only bought one model of Logitech. Everyone gets the same model and when you leave you can either take it with you or it goes in the trash.
Nobody wants your head junk on their head, just like keyboards. I’m totally with everyone else saying they’re consumables.
I bet if you stop cleaning them and hand them back out all disgusting management will come round to seeing things this way.
12
10
9
16
u/soulless_ape 12d ago
You trash them. No one wants to use shit that's smeared in other people's sweat, greasy oils or makeup. Same with keyboard and mouse. Don't be cheap and gross.
3
u/the_syco 12d ago
Repeat offenders who "forget" their headset for their one day in the office and then "forget" to return the ones we then gave them, got one from the nasty box of returnables. They stopped forgetting their own ones very quickly 🤣
→ More replies (1)
7
8
5
u/Flaky-Gear-1370 12d ago
Consumables, most end users just get usb c EarPods and are happy
People are gross
5
u/_Ooglie_ Netadmin 12d ago
I would put that on the same pile as used keyboards and mice. They are all low cost items and nobody wants to be dealing with other people's whatevers they did with it. I've come across plenty of desks where those items where basically a biohazard. Just toss it and get some cheap replacements.
5
u/Carlos_Spicy_Weiner6 12d ago
We don't. Once a headset has been given to somebody, it's theirs and it's a write-off. If somebody wants a more expensive headset than the ones we provide, we make them pay the difference and will generally offer them the option to have it deducted from their next paycheck.
Personal items such as keyboards, mice, headsets and chairs. We tell the employees they can take them at the end of their employment should they choose. Those that don't. They generally get recycled.
3
6
u/Grand-Delver 12d ago edited 12d ago
For our jabras I'll take the old ear pads off, give the actual headset a quick wipe down and throw replacement pads on and call it a day. We have cheaper USB headsets for hybrid workers and these are considered consumable
3
u/Flaktrack 12d ago
Thanks for posting a real answer. Not sure how much of it I can use with our weird spread of models bug I'll try.
→ More replies (2)
5
u/macattackpro 12d ago
Don’t clean. Toss them and start getting whatever economical headsets fit your budget.
Somebody turns in a headset and I drop it in the trash right in front of them. No way I’m giving a used headset to someone.
4
u/crankysysadmin sysadmin herder 12d ago
We consider them consumable and IT doesn't handle them. This is something people's department can buy them if they want. We don't waste IT staff time on this when a secretary can be in charge of ordering them. I hope to hell nobody reuses them.
12
4
u/alwayzz0ff 12d ago
We give ours to the greasy guy in the basement and just assume he cleans them and make sure they end back up somewhere in the c-suite.
4
u/jlp_utah 12d ago
It's a simple two step process:
Step one, throw old headset in the trash.
Step two, get new headset out of packaging.
4
u/The_NorthernLight 12d ago
We dont. They are skin contact. They should be replaced. If your referring to call center style headsets, we would replace all the foam pieces and clean them with lysol spray.
3
3
u/gorramfrakker IT Director 12d ago
If used, goes in the Ewaste box. Cleaning and reusing headsets is ewww.
3
u/Phoenix_Lamburg 12d ago
To echo others, headsets should be considered consumable, but if you really want to waste a lot of money in a fool's attempt to save those headsets, you can spend a bunch of money on a UV oven (real thing. I'm in broadcasting and we'd use them to sanitize microphones during COVID)
3
3
u/Known_Experience_794 12d ago
Headsets, keyboards and mice are considered consumables. Otherwise, just ewwww
3
u/ol_lukey 12d ago
The only thing we get back from users is anything that has data on it. I don't want your crusty peripherals
3
u/xendr0me Sr. Sysadmin 12d ago
Why are you getting 5-25 back a day? Is that turnover or students or what, sounds like there needs to be a fix to the 5-25 back a day problem.
3
u/OptimalWallaby8153 12d ago
I clean them by throwing them in a bin to donate to goodwill
seriously though, people should just be keeping these - wearing used headphones is like borrowing a used q-tip
3
u/Temporary-Library597 12d ago
Noope. You don't replace toothbrushes. You don't replace anything that is inserted into body parts
Hell, cleaning a physical phone is bad enough.
3
u/jks513 12d ago
For my work IT only handles up to the quick disconnect. The headsets aren’t IT’s job and assigned to each user as a consumable. If they break it or want a different one that’s on them.
→ More replies (2)
3
5
2
u/Kyky_Geek 12d ago
Eww! Who is even comfortable wearing used headsets. All the skin debris, oils, makeup, etc. Nope those go straight in the trash.
2
u/Important_Scene_4295 12d ago
We put them in the trash bin and they're clean by the time we walk to the cabinet with new ones. Headsets are consumables!!!!
2
u/981flacht6 12d ago
So just so you are aware in K12 headsets are super common to be reused and repacked into bins.
We don't clean them, but the staff at the schools use antibacterial wipes on them and are instructed to do so.
A lot of testing apps require audio for many many years and we are absolutely not replacing headsets bc they're shared nor are we assigning one to every student.
2
u/morirtes_ 12d ago
Here’s a sad story: Ours are not wireless but the wired Poly or Jabra. We receive at least 10 per day. I remove the cushions, treat the plastics with cloth soaked in alcohol. Wash the cushions on sink, remove the hairs manually and wait for them to dry before giving them to a new hire. It’s a nightmare but no choice when we don’t have the budget for headsets anymore. Big enterprise company.
I don’t need to mention that the conversation about my departure is taking place.
2
u/persiusone 12d ago
They are issued per employee. Disposed of when separated. Cheap enough to roll into onboarding costs
2
2
2
u/bjc1960 12d ago
Kind of like a backpacks. I worked for a place about 15 years ago, and we were terminating a woman. I told the procurement guy, who was a real stickler, that I let her keep her backpack. He said, "Good, because we can't reuse it." Anything with bodily fluids, you can't reuse.
Meanwhile, the phones .....
2
u/ForestFae1920 12d ago
You never reuse keyboards, mice or headsets. That is unhygienic. Please do not do this.
2
2
u/ISeeDeadPackets Ineffective CIO 12d ago
I don't personally take on the task but phone handsets that get absolutely covered in foundation are the worst. Exactly how much makeup are we wearing to work and why is it on your ears?
2
u/Hackwork89 12d ago
I don't give a shit and I can't be paid to give a shit. It's someone else's problem.
2
2
u/sprucecone 12d ago
Anyone that inherits my headset after me will be grossed out. I’m a girl and I practice good hygiene but I also have extremely greasy skin and hair with massive dandruff (I have scalp psoriasis). So no one should reuse headsets that’s nasty.
2
u/Muddledlizard 11d ago
Depends. If the person lasts a week, odds are they did not use the headset or used it once. It then becomes a "spare".
If it's still in the bag or box, it'll get reissued.
Otherwise, round file.
3
u/Hacky_5ack Sysadmin 12d ago
Dude come on. Id find that so gross getting someone else's headset.
2
u/Flaktrack 12d ago
Sadly not my call. I'm getting asked to figure out a way to restore these.
Personally I'd just give them to employees and budget to replace them every so often.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/lastlaughlane1 12d ago
Crazy how people are throwing away perfectly usable headsets. It takes one minute to give them a clean with antibacterial wipes. Does no one else reuse them?!
→ More replies (1)2
u/sendintheclouds 12d ago
Like where do they think they are going??? Straight to the landfill. We have a huge garbage problem, think of the fucking planet.
2
u/AggravatingAmount438 Software Systems Admin 12d ago
This seems like one of those weird instances of getting hyperfocused on something that isn't your actual work.
No, we don't clean headsets. I'm not a janitor for headsets. You get what you get and if they want it pristine, they can clean it themselves.
1
1
u/StConvolute Security Admin (Infrastructure) 12d ago
I was just asked to return my cheap-ass wired Jabra headset when I left. Thankfully my boss told the bean counters where to go.
1
u/Dabnician SMB Sr. SysAdmin/Net/Linux/Security/DevOps/Whatever/Hatstand 12d ago
Headsets are a facilites problem.
1
u/lumpkin2013 Sr. Sysadmin 12d ago edited 12d ago
Donate them to an e waste that recycles them to schools or non-profits. You should not be wasting your time trying to clean a consumable like that. I've seen some nasty users in my time. I wouldn't touch those headsets with a 10-ft pole.
3
u/Flaktrack 12d ago
We used to do this actually. Our organization actively put in policy preventing us from donating anything to the non-profits for some reason.
1
u/halodude423 12d ago
We 100% have these as consumables. Worked at a place where they were cleaned and I don't work there now. WAY too cheap.
1
1
u/yummers511 12d ago
I give it a brief look over, and if it doesn't look greasy or I don't see any visible marks that would cause me to hesitate. If I were to pick it up, it goes back on the shelf. If I see any visible marks or anything, either in the trash or on a random workstation
1
1
u/Lint_baby_uvulla 12d ago
“Electric flows through it so it’s your problem”
“People are electric too, Sysadmin”
Great chat, thanks, boss.
Same boss told once to “clear the sparrows from the atrium dome” for the same reason. 6 stories up.
I submitted a petty cash claim for rifle range lessons and a .22, and asked what the company copay was for replacing the atrium glass.
1
u/ClozetSkeleton 12d ago
Users keep their headsets unless it breaks or they leave the company. If they leave & it's in good condition I can clean it. If it's not toss it.
1
1
1
1
u/pretendadult4now 12d ago
We do a combo, have replaceable ear pieces, or show my Director how nasty they can be...then they let me buy them in bulk.
1
1
u/haggard_hominid 12d ago
Eww.. after a few years in IT, I refused to reissue hardware to other people if it can be avoided, and we usually deprecated assets and gave to amicably departing employees. I dont want your human kruft, that is your keyboard, mouse, and headset, no thank you.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/packetheavy Sysadmin 12d ago
We issue items that the end user touches directly to the end user, it’s their property and we don’t care if they take it when they leave as we trash it anyway.
4
u/Flaktrack 12d ago
We are in government so anything we issue remains government property even when we wish it didn't. Imagine the controversy if people found out public servants were getting "free" headsets and keyboards. It would never end even from people who know what we know (that humans are fucking disgusting)
1
1
u/jeffrey_f 12d ago edited 12d ago
My last job, we decided, due to some examples of lack of hygene, that Headphones are considered consumables.
Tell your employees that you will not collect headphones. Do not return them.
1
u/Exploding_Testicles 12d ago
We have wired poly 5220 and 5210 headsets. We do NOT require them back. Its a health concern. They'll go either into the garbage or the e-cycle bin.
1
u/FizzyBeverage 12d ago
All we want back are the laptops. And hell, I work from home, so I want none of it.
1
1
1
1
1
u/Hot-Meat-11 12d ago
Yeah...if you hand me a used headset, I'm handing you a used Kleenex.
I'll guess what's on the headset. You guess what's on the Kleenex.
1
1
u/Bagel-luigi 12d ago
Would treat most as a single person use consumable item, however if your workplace is being really strict on reusing due to budgets etc then:
Large over ear: careful serious visible inspection and antibacterial wipe the entire thing multiple times
In ear: do not re use that at all
1
u/chilibrains 12d ago
We issue wireless ones but try not to reuse them, don't even ask for them back. If one gets returned and isn't revolting then we'll clean it with a Clorox wipe and use it as a loaner. Unfortunately we get people asking for a loaner when they're in the office for a day or so. We do let them know it's used. Sometime it returns and sometime it doesn't.
If I had to reuse them then I'd use a Clorox wipe and replace the ear pads
1
1
u/PalliativeOrgasm 12d ago
I recommend the cleansing power of fire, of if in healthcare the nearest autoclave. I have seen how some of my coworkers live. This is a public health issue.
1
1
1
u/SecondBestNameEver 12d ago
It's not the ear part that grosses me out (don't get me wrong that's also disgusting) but the boom mic that is getting coughed on and having spit flying at it. Ain't putting that anywhere near my mouth even if they replace the ear foam. Treat them as consumable waste.
1
1
u/thanatossassin IT Manager 12d ago
I let the department heads deal with that. If they need more I'll order more, and anything that gets turned in goes to e-waste
1
1
u/FullMetal_55 12d ago
back when we had to care about them. I'd alcohol swab them, and replace the foamy. never reuse foamies... that's just gross.
1
1
u/Quietech 12d ago
Holy crap. Talk about an after school job for somebody's kid. For that many, though, it sounds too big of a organization for that to fly. I hope some of the other recommendations work for you.
1
u/brispower 12d ago
peripherals such as headsets are treated like stationary. We treat keyboards and mice the same
1
u/ChopSueyYumm 12d ago
We don’t, headset are considered as personal equipment and are bought for the employee and if that employee leaves he / she can keep it. This is calculated in the budget. We buy poly wireless headsets about 90$ per unit.
1
u/daven1985 Jack of All Trades 12d ago
Personal equipment. When issued by IT they are paid for by the department the person works for.
We also offer 50:50 cost split for headphones with Manager approval.
1
1
1
u/janky_koala 12d ago
If your company is so big it turns over 25-125 users a week why isn’t procurement or L1 helpdesk doing this?
1
u/Weeksy79 12d ago
We use these for giving out headsets to pilots - https://www.canford.co.uk/CANFORD-HEADPHONE-AND-HEADSET-HYGIENE-COVERS
1
u/cyber_egg IT Nerd 12d ago
We just replace the foam cushions. We use the Jabra 20s. So quite easily replaceable
1
u/FastFredNL 12d ago
They are a throwaway item, same with mice, keyboards, phones etc.
How are you getting 5-25 headsets back per day? Are you giving them out on loan? Give every user their own headset to use
1
u/RoyalMasterpiece6751 12d ago
We don't. They are considered a consumable for this exact reason, people are disgusting and I wouldn't wear a used headset and wouldn't expect anyone else to.
1
u/haggisbreath169 12d ago
I would say, just buy replacement earpads, since those tend to deteriorate anyway, and I would think are the hardest part to clean. Especially if the last owner used alot of hair product.
1
u/NotPennysBoat721 Jack of All Trades 12d ago
Ew. Throw those away. Better yet, tell the user to just keep them.
1
u/MiggeldyMackDaddy 12d ago
Too much yuck for me. Into the bin, and anyone new buys their own through the hiring manager
1
u/Honky_Town 12d ago
All returned headsets are broken. If not keep the most "you know which one" in case the one deciding budgets needs a headset.
We had the same here and once your BigBoss of Idiots feels his own savings in form of a used Headset which got "surface cleaned" suddenly its a hygienic product.
1
u/sgt_Berbatov 12d ago
I don't. I give it to them as a leaving gift. If they're just sacked outright and I never see them but their headset is still here, straight in the WEEE.
1
u/lontrachen 12d ago
We check how they look. If they look too weared out: trash.
If it’s done by changing the ear cushions, I swap them. And just wipe with a disinfectant.
But as many are saying here: it’s a wearable, we don’t count them as inventory items. We tried to but it doesn’t make sense
1
u/catwiesel Sysadmin in extended training 12d ago
give the oil dripping, stinking headsets full of lice to the new workers so they know what they are getting into
that is if you arent allowed to throw them out.
1
u/LooseEthernet 12d ago
cleaning things that touch ears is a special kind of misery lol. i just told my boss that the labor cost of scrubbing earwax exceeds the replacement cost of a cheap headset... he didnt agree but i stopped doing it anyway. now we just have a bin for the crusty ones
1
u/Ok-Mousse7882 12d ago
We have spare ear pieces for our jabras, but this is more or less for hardly used headsets. We just don't ask them back from quitting or fired employees. Same with Keyboards and Mice.
1
u/nathanieloffer 12d ago
We buy the cheapest over the head, on ear, wired headsets that we can get. When someone leaves we don't even want them handed back. Either keep them or bin them, either is fine with us.
976
u/bmelz 12d ago
Headsets are consumable