@Gabz I didn’t know what to expect when I clicked the link at the bottom of your blog post. Could have been worse, perhaps the buildup was in you ear instead .... (I may or may not be speaking for experience here)
@Gabz For next time(?), there is an alternative method of getting the wax out: Easy way to find out if your Airpods have wax buildup OPs second bullet gives the alternative method.
@joshsullivan @Gabz I was hoping ear wax was the problem with my original AirPods. Left was much quieter than the right. What worked was to rotate the left one 45 degrees forward and then it worked fine. I thought it was a problem with my ear, but the same thing happens with everyone else who's tried them. Still, blowing them out is worth a try, thanks.