You wipe your TV screen and dust your keyboard and other electronics, but I’m willing to bet that it’s been a minute since you cleaned your speakers. No one would fault you for that—whether they’re tiny desktop speakers, inconspicuous bookshelves, or gorgeous tower speakers that blend seamlessly into your home’s decor, we tend to pay more attention to how they sound rather than how they look.
But what if I told you that a buildup of dust, pet hair, or even kitchen grease can not only make your speakers look bad, but sound bad, too? Cleaning them isn’t just cosmetic, so here’s how to clean your speakers the right way to keep them looking and sounding great.
Why cleaning your speakers matters
Credit: Derek Malcolm/How-To Geek
You don’t have to be a neat freak to want to keep your speakers clean; it’s just good maintenance. And don’t get me wrong, while a little bit of dust isn’t going to do much to your speaker’s sound, a significant accumulation of things like dust, pet hair, or grime (say, if your speakers are in your workshop or kitchen) can accumulate on speaker grilles, cones, tweeters, and other parts, potentially causing a physical barrier that can potentially muffle high frequencies, reduce clarity, and even affect some low frequencies. Not to mention, buildup on binding posts and connections can cause crackling and unstable connectivity.
Take it from me, whenever I take my dusty speakers in for servicing, I get an earful from the technician about how I need to run a cloth over them from time to time. But there are some ways to do it and not to do it, so let’s go through them right now.
Credit: Derek Malcolm/How-To Geek
So, the first thing to realize is that you’re not cleaning your car—speakers are delicate and need a light touch, and that means using the right tools that aren’t going to damage them. Here’s a brief list:
You’re going to want to avoid any chemical cleaners containing alcohol or ammonia. Also, avoid using paper towels as they may be too harsh on delicate surfaces, especially drivers. And never spray any cleaners directly on driver surfaces.
How to clean your speaker cabinets
One of the easiest jobs, cleaning your speaker cabinets, will keep them looking their best. Just a note, this is a general cleaning for basic dust and debris. There are, of course, more detailed methods for cleaning and preserving wood on your speaker cabinets that are not covered here.
- You’ll need two microfiber cloths for this—one for the wet and one for the dry.
- Take the first cloth and either dampen it with water or a wood-safe cleaner, if need be.
- Going with the wood grain, clean around all sides of the cabinet.
- Dry immediately with the second, dry microfiber cloth.
This would also be a good time to give your speaker’s binding posts a clean and a spray with Deoxit or contact cleaner to improve connections.
How to clean your speaker drivers
Speaker drivers such as woofers, mid-range drivers, and tweeters come in all kinds of sizes and shapes, and are also made of a wide range of materials, from paper and cardboard to metals, polymers, wood, and even Kevlar. Some, like paper cones, are delicate, while others are more rugged, so use your best judgment when cleaning them.
Here’s a driver-type cleaning breakdown.
Cleaning woofers and mid-range drivers
Credit: Derek Malcolm/How-To Geek
- For delicate drivers, like those made of easily-damaged paper, I recommend not using any kind of damp or wet cloth. Instead, this is where a fine-bristled brush and compressed air are your best friends. Gently blow away any top debris and dust, then go around the driver with the brush. This should do the trick.
- If your woofers or mid-drivers are made of wood, plastic, or another firm, stronger material, you can use the same technique as for the cabinets—run a damp microfiber cloth around the surface and then dry with a second cloth.
- If there’s a center cone portion made of paper or a thinner material, go with the brush and/or compressed air instead, as they’re prone to caving in or even puncturing.
- If your driver has a foam or rubber ring around its edge, you can use your damp cloth for this as well, or use a rubber-safe solution.
Cleaning tweeters
Credit: Derek Malcolm/How-To Geek
The most delicate of the speaker drivers, it’s best not to physically touch your speaker’s tweeters. Again, tweeters are often made of sensitive membranes, coils, and domes that are easily damaged. The best way to care for them is with a few conservative shots of compressed air from a few inches away, and a light wipe with a fine-bristle brush.
Cleaning speaker grilles
Grilles are the unsung heroes of speaker longevity. They may not look as cool as having your precious drivers exposed for all to see, but they’re the best defence they have against dust, dirt, pet hair, and other messes. But because of that, they need cleaning from time to time, too. Here’s how.
Fabric grilles
Credit: Derek Malcolm/How-To Geek
- For fabric grilles, the best way to rid them of dust, pet hair, and other linty particles is with a cheap and cheerful sticky tape lint roller. With a fresh sheet, simply give the roller a couple of passes over the grille.
- If they’re soiled or require a bit more attention, I recommend removing the grille from the speaker, laying it down flat, and using a microfiber cloth with warm water and a light detergent, if necessary. With a second clean and slightly wet microfiber cloth, go over the treated area to absorb any detergent, and let the grille air dry.
Plastic or metal grilles
These are much easier to clean with a cloth, water, and detergent—avoid abrasive scrubbing, though. You can either let them air dry or use a dry microfiber cloth.
Common cleaning mistakes and tips
It’s easy to get carried away when giving your speakers a cleaning, so here’s a bulleted list of things to avoid and keep in mind to ensure they’re safe throughout the process.
- Don’t spray cleaners or water directly onto speaker cabinets or any driver surfaces—always dampen or spray onto the cloth instead. You never know if your speaker’s materials are going to absorb and possibly stain from the droplets.
- Never use vacuums on your drivers. The suction, if too strong, can damage delicate cones and tweeters.
- Never touch your tweeters. These small, delicate drivers can damage easily.
- Keep your speakers away from heating vents, humidifiers, or cooking appliances that might soil them with harmful oils or grease.
Regularly cleaning and maintaining your speakers will not only keep them looking great, but keeping those beautiful drivers free of caked-on dust and debris will ensure they sound as they’re intended to.
