what to know
- Wood Cabinets: Try Howard's Orange Oil Wood Polish, Murphy's Oil Soap, or similar products. Vinyl/Other: Warm water and mild detergent.
- Gently clean the outside with a clean soft cloth. Speaker grille: Gently remove and use a vacuum hose with a dust brush attachment.
- Speaker Cone: Use a can of compressed air and a small brush. Terminal: Unplug all cables; vacuum and use Q-Tips to remove debris.
This article discusses the proper materials and cleaners for safely cleaning stereo speakers, including cabinets, grilles, speaker cones, and terminals.
Use a clean, soft, lint-free cloth, such as cotton or a microfiber towel, on the speaker. An old cotton T-shirt works well too (cut into usable pieces). Avoid using paper towels as they can leave unwanted small fibers or particles on the surface. Also, use two cleaning cloths to clean the speakers (one damp, one dry). When wiping away dust, just a dry cloth is enough. But for dirtier things, use both.
This is an efficient and effective way to clean your speaker cabinets:
Dampen a damp cloth with the cleaning solution of your choice so it's slightly damp, then apply it to an inconspicuous area (such as the back of the speaker cabinet, toward the bottom) to test. If no adverse reactions occur on the surface of the speaker after a few minutes, it is safe to continue.
Start by pouring the cleaner onto a cloth, then wipe the surface with the cloth. This way, you can control how much detergent you use (a small amount is recommended) and where it goes. Add detergent to the cloth as needed.
Starting from one side of the speaker, use a damp cloth to gently clean the surface. Regardless of whether the exterior of the cabinet is solid wood or veneer, it must be wiped in the direction of the grain. This will maintain the appearance over time. If the speaker doesn't have any texture (for example, the surface is laminated or wrapped with vinyl), use long, smooth strokes.
Once you've finished one side, wipe off any remaining residue. If you are using your own soap mixture, wipe the surface again with clean water. Then, dry the sides completely with a dry cloth.
Do not allow any excess liquid to soak into the wood, veneer, plywood or MDF. This may cause the cabinet to deform and become damaged.
Continue working on each side of the speaker cabinet, including the top and bottom. Pay attention to seams or cracks as liquid and residue can accumulate in these areas.
Cotton swabs are often safe and useful for small spaces or hard-to-reach areas on equipment.
When you're done cleaning, apply a coat of protective oil or varnish. If so, use a separate clean cloth and follow product instructions.
Speaker grilles cover the drivers (the cone-shaped parts that move to produce sound) and prevent the accumulation of objects and dust. Grill material is usually a delicate fabric similar to stockings and pantyhose. Some speakers have metal grilles that may be perforated in a waffle, checkerboard, or dot design. Fabric grills attach to the frame and usually pop up with just a slight pull.
Be careful when handling and cleaning grills, especially if you are not sure how they are connected or if they are non-removable. Consult your product manual to find the best way to clean your grill.
Here's how to clean your speaker grilles:
Starting at the top corner, use your fingertips to loosen the prongs. Once the top is free, move down and do the same with the bottom corners. If the frame is secured with screws, remove the screws and pry the frame away from the speaker.
Do not damage any silicone or rubber gaskets (if present), and do not pull or twist the frame once it is free. Plastic grills can easily bend or deform.
Place the grill or frame on a flat surface and use a vacuum hose with a dust brush attachment to remove dust. This will ensure that the vacuum (especially a powerful vacuum) does not pull and stretch the fabric.
If you don't have a dust brush attachment, place a finger on the open end of the hose and vacuum evenly.
If the material has stubborn dirt or grime, dampen a cotton or microfiber cloth with a mixture of warm water and mild detergent. Then, scrub away the dirt in a circular motion and rub gently. Rinse the area with a cloth and clean water, then let dry.
If the speaker has a removable metal or plastic grille, clean it (front and back) with a soapy sponge in the sink or bathtub. Then, rinse with water and dry thoroughly with a soft cotton towel.
After thoroughly cleaning and drying the grill, place it back on the speaker. Don't forget to replace any screws.
Sometimes, grills are not designed to be removed safely and efficiently. If the speaker's fabric grille won't come off, use a roller or a can of compressed air to clean the material. If you're careful, you can use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment. For non-removable metal or plastic grills, vacuum and compressed air should remove loose dust and dirt. If you need to wipe the grill surface with a damp cloth, use the liquid sparingly and dry thoroughly.
Speaker cones (tweeters, midranges, and woofers) are very fragile and easily damaged. It doesn't take much force to punch a hole in the paper cone. Cones made of metal, wood, Kevlar, or polymer are sturdier, but a collision can injure the sensitive driver behind the cone.
Instead of using a vacuum cleaner or a cloth, use a can of compressed air (or a light bulb duster like those used to clean camera lenses) and a small brush with long, soft bristles. Good brushes include makeup brushes, fingerprint brushes, paint brushes and camera lens cleaning brushes.
Dusting wands (such as the Swiffer) can be used, but their effectiveness varies, and you may run the risk of poking the cone with the tip while sweeping.
Use a brush to carefully remove any dust or dirt that is adhered to any part of the speaker cone and connecting gasket. Hold the brush firmly but stroke gently with minimal pressure as you move.
As you work, use compressed air or a ball dust collector to blow the cone clean and remove particles. While spraying, hold the air can upright and a few inches from the side. Blow dust away from the cone, not into it.
Be extra gentle when brushing tweeters as they are very fragile (versus midrange or woofers). Sometimes it is safer to spray the tweeter with canned air instead of brushing it.
Do not use liquids when cleaning speaker cones, which may cause accidental absorption or damage. If the cone is heavily stained or contaminated, contact the manufacturer for cleaning instructions.
The terminals on the back of the speaker are fairly sturdy, but over time they can collect dust and dirt.
Here's how to keep your terminal clean:
Unplug all connected cables (such as RCA, speaker wire, and optical/TOSLINK) and turn off the power to the speakers.
Use a vacuum cleaner with a narrow hose attachment to clean joints and seams.
Do not use compressed air as it may force dust into the speaker hardware.
Use a clean, dry cotton swab to remove fine particles that have accumulated in and around spring clips, binding posts, small spaces, crevices and turf.
If you need to use cleaning fluid to clean speaker terminals and connections, use isopropyl alcohol (99%). While rubbing alcohol can work, it is known to leave some residue behind when it evaporates.
Never use water or any water-based cleaning solution on speaker terminals.
Dry the terminals completely and reconnect the cables.
Before you start cleaning, know what the cabinet is made of, regardless of speaker type or size. Speaker cabinets are made of different varieties of pine, maple, oak, birch, cherry, walnut, etc. Cabinets may be painted or stained wood, or they may be treated with varnish, varnish, polyurethane, or wax, which tend to give a glossy or glossy sheen.
Knowing the outside will help you narrow down the best types of cleaning and organizing solutions to use. The type of wood is important if the cleaner or oil is suitable for a specific material. Plywood and MDF react differently to liquids (more absorbent) than solid wood.
If you don't know what your speaker cabinet is made of, check the product manual or the manufacturer's website for information. The manufacturer may recommend solutions or sprays that will not negatively affect the material.
Some generally safe suggestions for wood are Howard's Orange Oil Wood Polish, Murphy's Oil Soap, or any product suitable for wood furniture. Otherwise, your best option for basic surface cleaning is to use warm water mixed with a mild detergent such as Dawn dish soap. If you need more power to scrub away stubborn dirt or sticky stains, add some baking soda to the mixture.
When finishing the exterior after cleaning, the type of material determines whether oil should be used to condition or varnish to protect. Oils are generally more suitable for use with solid wood (and sometimes wood veneer), and some oils are created for specific wood species. Varnish is great for plywood, MDF, vinyl or laminate as it acts as a top coat (also great for building up multi-layer coatings). There are also mixtures of oil and varnish that offer the best of both options.
FAQFirst, power off your iPhone. Use a cotton swab and a little water to gently wipe the speaker and remove any dirt. Let the phone dry completely before turning it back on.
Just like with an iPhone or any other device, you should completely power off your laptop before cleaning any part of it. Then, use a clean cloth and a small amount of water to gently clean the speaker. Wait a few minutes for the speakers to dry completely, and then turn on the computer.
