The Best Materials for Cleaning Speakers
Before you start cleaning, find out what the cabinets are made of, no matter the speaker’s type or size. Speaker cabinets are made from different varieties of pine, maple, oak, birch, cherry, walnut, and more. The cabinet might be painted or stained wood, allowing it to exhibit its natural look. Or, it could be treated with varnish, lacquer, polyurethane, or wax, which tends to show off a glossy or satiny sheen. Knowing the exterior will help you narrow down the best type of cleaning and finishing solutions to use. The type of wood matters if a cleaner or oil is for a particular material. Plywood and MDF react to liquids differently (more absorbent) than real wood. Don’t choose something too harsh that might strip off any existing wax or finish. While the speaker may not be damaged, the result could be that it doesn’t look as good as it did before. Also, don’t use a cleaner meant for wood if the speaker has a vinyl-wrapped (vinyl can look like real wood) or lacquer-coated exterior. Don’t use glass, kitchen, bath, or all-purpose cleaners. Choose ones that are ideal for the cabinet and won’t harm it. Some generally safe suggestions for wood are Howard Orange Oil Wood Polish, Murphy’s Oil Soap, or anything meant for wood furniture. Otherwise, the best bet for basic surface cleaning is to use warm water mixed with a mild detergent (like Dawn dish soap). If you need a little more power to scrub out stubborn dirt or sticky stains, add some baking soda to the mixture. When it comes to finishing the exterior after cleaning, the material type determines if you should use oil to condition or varnish to protect. Oils are typically better to use with real wood (and sometimes wood veneer), and some oils are created with particular wood varieties in mind. A varnish can be ideal for plywood, MDF, vinyl, or laminate since it acts as a coating on top (also great for building up multiple coats). There are also oil and varnish blends that offer the best of both worlds.
Clean the Speaker’s Exterior Cabinets
Use clean, lint-free, and soft cloths on the speakers, like a cotton or microfiber towel. An old cotton t-shirt also works well (cut it into usable pieces). Avoid paper towels, since these leave small unwanted fibers or particles on surfaces. Also, use two cleaning cloths to clean the speakers (one for wet and the other for dry). When wiping away dust, the dry cloth alone should suffice. But for anything grimier, use both. Here’s an efficient and effective way to clean your speaker cabinets:
Clean the Speaker Grills
Speaker grills cover the drivers (the cone-shaped parts that move to produce sound) and protect against objects and the accumulation of dust. Grill material is often a delicate fabric, similar to stockings and pantyhose. Some speakers have metal grills that may be perforated in a waffle, checkerboard, or dot design. Fabric grills can be attached to frames, which typically pop off with a gentle tug. Here’s how to clean the speaker grills: Sometimes grills aren’t designed to be safely and efficiently removed. If your speaker’s fabric grills don’t come off, clean the material with a lint roller or a can of compressed air. If you’re careful, you can use a vacuum with a hose attachment. For non-removable metal or plastic grills, the vacuum and compressed air should take care of loose dust and dirt. If you need to wipe grill surfaces with a wet cloth, use liquid sparingly, and dry thoroughly.
Clean the Speaker Cones
Speaker cones (the tweeters, mid-range, and woofers) are delicate and easy to damage. It doesn’t take much force to punch a hole through a paper cone. Cones made of metal, wood, kevlar, or polymer are stronger, but a bump can harm the sensitive drivers that rest behind the cones. Instead of a vacuum or cloth, use a can of compressed air (or an air bulb duster like the ones used to clean camera lenses) and a small brush that has long soft bristles. Good brushes include makeup brushes, fingerprint brushes, paintbrushes, and camera lens cleaning brushes. Use the brush to carefully dislodge any dust or dirt that is clinging to any part of the speaker cone and attached gasket. Maintain a firm hold on the brush but use gentle strokes with the least amount of pressure necessary as you move. Use the compressed air or bulb duster to blow the cone clean and free of particles as you work your way around. Hold the can of air upright and several inches away from the side as you spray. Blow dust away from the cone, not into it. Be twice as tender when brushing the tweeters, as these are exceptionally delicate (versus the mid-range or woofers). Sometimes it’s safer to skip brushing the tweeters and instead spray the tweeters with canned air.
Clean the Speaker Terminals
The terminals on the back of speakers are reasonably robust, but the terminals accumulate dust and dirt over time. Here’s how to keep the terminals clean:
Do’s and Don’ts of Cleaning Your Speaker
Follow these tips to avoid damage while you keep your speakers clean:
Do check the speaker manual for helpful cleaning tips. It can save you a lot of time. Don’t use harsh soaps or chemicals to clean the speakers, as these can cause damage to the cabinet or electronics. Do test any new cleaning solution or oil on an inconspicuous part of a speaker cabinet first. If the finish on the test area looks good, then it’s safe to continue with the rest of the speaker. Don’t use too much liquid at a time when cleaning; a little goes a long way. Don’t soak the exterior or leave any lingering residue to be absorbed by the material. Do carefully read the labels of any products before you buy them. Make sure what you plan to use will be safe for the speaker’s materials. Don’t use anything that contains solvent on wood veneer. Over time, the solution can dissolve the glue that holds the veneer to the base. Do take your time when cleaning speakers. Rushing or moving too quickly can lead to accidents. Don’t cut corners. Taking proper care of your audio equipment will help ensure good-looking and long-lasting performance.
