A little care and attention today go a long way toward keeping the quality and operation of your beloved speakers, and it’s easier (and less expensive) to clean them up rather than replace them. Here’s how to clean speakers, as well as other cleaning chemicals that are safe to use on your audio system.
How to clean speakers
Cleanup of your speakers, much like washing your automobile, helps guarantee that they continue to sound sharp and precise. Dust and dirt may often become trapped in your components, influencing how they perform and, as a result, resulting in mediocre music. Cleaning the speakers maintains them in good shape and ensures that your music sounds wonderful. Here’s all you need to know about how to clean speakers.
Cleaning the membrane and rubber that surrounds the woofer is simpler than you may think: Wipe it down with a moderately damp microfiber towel, then gently wipe it off with a dry cloth. A rubber care approach works well for the surrounding rubber since it is designed particularly for soft rubber, although the substance is typically rather robust. While the materials used in the woofer are typically strong and can withstand harsher handling, the treble and dome are a different story. These are far more delicate and easily harmed, so avoid touching or wiping them to remove dust (and the underlying membrane) – instead, use air.
A few puffs of air, either via a can or just by breathing, should remove a significant quantity of trash. While it may not appear as spotless as the managed to wipe woofer, the audio quality will be unaffected. If your dome has been mistakenly pulled in, the opposite can be done: instead of blowing, a rapid inhalation with the dome on your lips can pop it back out. It may appear and feel strange, but it works. A dome that is properly positioned, rising above the outer medium, disperses sound better than a pushed-in dome.
Exterior: A moist synthetic material may be all you need to remove dust from the exterior of your speaker’s housing. Stick with water unless you’re extremely certain that a polish or which was before wipe will be safe, or you’re willing to risk discoloration or damaging the finish. We also do not advocate fully opening your speakers. A comprehensive deep clean may appear to be a good idea, but you’re more likely to damage the parts and perhaps void the warranty.
Not only will regular cleaning polish and dazzle your loudspeakers and their sound, but it will also extend their life and keep them performing your favorite music over the years, if not decades, in the future.
Cordless Air Duster Koonie
Konnie’s duster cannon produces air at 3300RPM and has rechargeable 6000mAH batteries that can last for more than 30 minutes. This is far superior to purchasing individual compressed air cans, not to say more cost-effective: one of them is equivalent to around 5000 cans.
Plus, because it contains no refrigerants, accelerants, or gases, you won’t be inhaling the vapors emitted by other aerosol dusters. It is not only for speakers. This is perfect for automobiles, media installations, and hard-to-reach areas around the house.
169 Piece Cleaning Set N+A
This set includes a tiny army of cleaning tools for loudspeakers and pretty much anywhere: AirPods, cell phones, PCs, and even cameras. The blower removes dust from difficult-to-reach areas, and the assortment of brushes cleans softly without leaving stains. Wipes, swabs, tweezers, and a microfiber towel are also included to complete the task.
ColorCoral Cleaning Solution
This goopy mass easily picks up dust in tight spaces without the need for spray cleaners, baby wipes, or air. Instead, simply apply this gel to the surface of your speaker, peel it back up, and you’re done. It gathers dust, dirt, crumbs, and other tiny objects due to its mushy surface. While it is excellent at spiting to dust, it does not stick to your fingers (as long as they are clean) and has a pleasant citrus aroma. Because the gel is constructed of biodegradable components, after it is entirely covered in detritus and has lost its natural stickiness, simply discards it.
Best Electronics Cleaning Wipes
Without a spray bottle, these lightly moistened wipes easily clean speaker surfaces. These are safe to use with just about any equipment in your media setup, including LED and LCD TVs, computers, touchscreens, phones, earphones, cameras, and keyboards, to mention a few. We recommend washing off your speakers with a microfiber towel afterward, but letting them air-dry is also OK.
How to clean speakers Terminals
- Unplug all linked cables (including RCA, speaker wire, & Optical/TOSLINK) and turn off the speakers.
- To clean the interconnections and seams, use a vacuum with a thin hose attachment.
- Finer particles that form in and around bouncing back, binding posts, narrow gaps, cracks, and divots can be removed using a clean, dry Q-tip.
- Isopropyl alcohol can be used to clean the loudspeaker terminals and connectors (99 percent ). While rubbing alcohol can be effective, it is expected to leave considerable residue as it burns.
- Dry the terminals completely before reconnecting the wires.
Cleaning Your Speaker: Dos and Don’ts
- Check the speaker handbook for cleaning instructions. It can save you a significant amount of time.
- To maintain the speakers, avoid using strong soaps or chemicals since these might harm the cabinet or circuitry.
- Any new solution or oil should be tested on an inconspicuous portion of a speaker cabinet first. If the finishing on the test area appears okay, you may proceed with the remainder of the speaker
- When cleaning, don’t use too much liquid at once; a little goes a very long way. Don’t wet the outside or allow any remaining residue for the material to absorb.
- Before purchasing any product, carefully read the label. Make certain that everything you intend to use is safe for the speaker’s materials.
- On wood veneer, avoid using any solvent-containing products. The solution can disintegrate the adhesive that binds the veneer to the substrate over time.
- When cleaning speakers, take your time. Moving too hastily or rushing might result in an accident.
- Don’t scrimp on quality. Taking excellent care of your sound devices can assist guarantee that it looks beautiful and performs well for a long time.
Cleaning the outer cabinets of the speakers
To clean your speakers, use a clean, lint-free, soft cloth, such as cotton or a microfibre towel. An old cotton t-shirt also works perfectly (cut it into usable pieces). Paper towels should be avoided since they usually leave little undesired fibers or granules on surfaces. You should also have two towels on hand while cleaning your speakers, one for wet and one for dry.
To test it, dampen the wet cloth with the cleaning solvent of choice and apply it to an unobtrusive place (such as the back of the speaker cabinet, near the bottom). After a few minutes, if there is no unfavorable response to the speaker’s surface, it is okay to proceed. Make careful to first apply the cleanser to the cloth before wiping off the surface. In this manner, you keep control over how much cleaning is used (use sparingly) and where it is administered. As required, you may simply add a bit of extra cleanser to the cloth.
Begin by carefully cleaning one edge of the speaker with a moist cloth. Whether the cabinet’s exterior is actual wood or wood veneer, always wipe in the direction of the grain. When you’re through cleaning one side, use the dry towel to wipe away any residual residue.
Work your way around the speaker box, including the top and bottom. Keep seams and cracks in mind, since they might accidentally accumulate fluids or residue. Cotton swabs with Q-tips are typically safe and handy for cleaning small places or difficult-to-reach locations on equipment. When you’re through cleaning, consider putting a protective layer of oil or varnish.
Watch: How To Clean Speakers (source: Dynaudio Youtube channel)
