Dust. It seems to spread everywhere. And let’s not even begin to discuss pet hair. You probably struggle with accumulating these annoyances on your priceless speakers if you possess any form of hi-fi audio system or home theatre setup. The sound of your speakers may be impacted if debris becomes lodged inside the tweeters and woofers as well as the cabinets and grilles of your speakers over time.
Giving your speakers a once-over now and then is a great way to make sure they look and sound great for years to come, and it’s relatively simple with a few common tools you may already have. This is true whether your speakers are a set of tower speakers, bookshelves (like in the photos below), or even some Bluetooth speakers. How to clean your speakers is shown here.
Wash the speaker cabinets
While all the audio magic occurs inside the speaker cabinets, a great pair of speakers looks fantastic in your setup because of their outward attractiveness.
You shouldn’t need anything more than a moist microfiber cloth, or perhaps some clean cotton rags, to dust off the speaker cabinets if you maintain your speakers regularly. This is your best option, whether they are constructed of wood or an MDF blend. Here are some tips for safely making them look their best.
You’ll need two lint-free microfiber towels for the first step. Take the first one, and give it a light watering. Be sure to ring it out, so it is only marginally damp and not drenched. If you have a safe wood cleaner or pre-wetted cleaning wipes for wood cabinets, you can add it to the cloth (but first, verify the manufacturer’s recommendations for what is safe).
Step 2: Wipe the speaker in the same direction as the grain of the wood, if it is made of wood, as you move around it.
Step 3: Next, take a second dry microfiber cloth and thoroughly wipe the speaker cabinet to remove any last traces of moisture. Any loose lint will be drawn to the microfiber cloth as well.
Wash the speaker grilles
Some audiophiles believe it to be blasphemy to maintain speaker grilles—that soft fabric or hard-shell covers that mount on the front of speaker cabinets—covering up the adorable drivers underneath. Although they lend a touch of refinement to a pair of speakers and shield the woofers and tweeters below, they can sometimes look monotonous. Speaker grilles should be kept clean to collect dirt, debris, and pet hair. Here’s a guide on how to do it without hurting them.
Step 1: Gently rub a sticky lint brush over your speaker grilles once or twice if they are made of fabric and only have a light layer of dust or pet hair. Make sure to do this before rolling your sweater, with a clean layer on the roller.
Step 2: We advise first removing the cabinet grilles for a more thorough cleaning. If you’re unsure how to remove a grille because it is attached in various ways, go to your speaker’s handbook. However, they will typically be secured by inserting rubber prongs into holes on the corners of the cabinet face. Lightly remove the grilles from the cabinet’s top and bottom fasteners. Get the grilles off if screws are holding them in place.
Step 3: Lay the grilles flat on a clean surface after removing them. Gently run a vacuum over the surface of the grill cover using a soft, clean brush attachment, being careful not to pull the fabric too tightly with the suction.
Step 4: You can alternatively rub a damp microfiber cloth over them. But to get rid of more difficult dirt or stains, take a cloth and gently rub the grille in a circular motion while using warm water and a light detergent. Rinse the treated area with a different clean cloth dampened with clean water, then allow it to air dry.
Step 5: It is easier to wash metal or plastic grilles with water and detergent before letting them air dry or wiping them down with a clean cloth.
Wash the woofers in your Speakers
The larger drivers in a speaker cabinet, known as speaker woofers or cones, produce the speaker’s stunning low-end and mid-frequency sound and volume. They can be constructed from a variety of materials, including paper, silicone, silicone rubber, polymer, kevlar, and wood. Many materials are stronger than you expect, but some are more fragile than others and can be quickly punctured if you’re not careful.
Step 1: Try using a soft-bristled brush (like a paintbrush or cosmetics brush) to dust off any dust or debris on more fragile woofers/cones, such as paper ones, as opposed to using anything wet or damp. For electronics, you can also use a can of pressurized air to blow away any debris.
Step 2: First, brush off or let some air out of cones made of more robust materials, such as wood or plastics. But if you want to wipe them gently, feel free to take out your dependable damp microfiber cloth. However, don’t touch the dome’s core because it could collapse.
Step 3: Use the dry microfiber towel to clean the cone.
Step 4: Lastly, you can use a secure rubber care product to clean the soft rubber or foam ring surrounding the woofer.
Clean your tweeters
The challenging aspect is this. Woofers and mid-drivers are often rather durable, but tweeters—the tiny driver that typically sits at the top of the cabinet and handles all the treble and high frequencies—are different. You normally don’t want to touch or wipe them because they are made of delicate membranes, coils, sensitive cones and domes, and other delicate sections. Your best ally is air, not water.
Take out that pressurized air can for electronics once more, holding it at least a few inches from the tweeter, and give it a couple of fast blows. If you’re careful, you can also lightly wipe them using a brush with soft bristles, perhaps one of those blower brushes for photographers from a camera cleaning kit.
Remember that most speakers can be cleaned simply using the tips in this guide. Of course, if there’s a very dirty or obstinate stain or accumulation, use caution and seek professional advice. The last thing you need to do is harm a pricey set of speakers. Even though it may seem difficult, maintaining your priceless speakers clean and clear of dust will guarantee that they sound their best, and you only need to do it a few times a year.
