Audioaural – The Home of Audio

Speaker grills work to protect your drivers from dust and other objects from interfering and damaging your speakers. As your speakers age, they can become dusty and deteriorate. Maintaining your speakers and keeping it clean from dust is important to ensure that everything is running smoothly and as it should. In this article, I will provide you with some key information on speaker grills, and a step-by-step guide on how to clean a speaker grill. Keep reading to find out more. What is the purpose of a speaker grill? Speaker grills cover the drivers (the parts that move to produce sound) and protect them against damage from foreign objects and the accumulation of dust. As speaker grills sit directly in front of the driver, the grill can also interact with the sound that they produce. However, most grill fabrics are acoustically transparent and generally don’t affect the sound in an audible manner. Establish the cleaning products you need Before you begin cleaning your speaker with any cleaning product you can find in your home, you need to do some research. Establish what kind of material your speaker is made out of and go from there. It’s important that you choose an effective, but gentle cleaning product. You don’t want to choose a product that is too harsh and might ruin or stirp off the finish of your speaker. While this might not damage the structure of your product, it could affect the appearance of your speaker. Speakers can be an expensive investment. Bearing this in mind, you always want to ensure that whatever you’re cleaning your speaker with, that it is improving your speaker and not ruining it! If you’re unsure about a product, it’s better to be safe than sorry. How to clean speaker grill Step one - Loosen the speaker grill To begin, you will need to loosen the prongs of the top corners of the speaker grill. Once you’ve released the top, carry out the same process with the bottom corners. If the grill or frame is secured by screws, use a screwdriver to remove the screws and then take the frame off of the speaker. Step two - Remove the speaker grill Next, you will need to remove the grill or frame from the speaker and lie it flat on a surface gently. Use a vacuum cleaner with a dust brush attachment to remove any dust from the speaker grill. Note: Make sure that you are using a dust brush attachment is important in this circumstance, as this will ensure that you are gently cleaning the grill and will make sure that the vacuum doesn’t damage and stretch the fabric. However, if you don’t have this type of attachment, you can hold one finger over the end of the vacuum to ensure it’s not too powerful. Step three - Apply a damp cloth to remove tough stains If your speaker grill is covered in tough dirt or grime that is stuck on and is more difficult to clean with your vacuum cleaner, then you will need to dampen a cotton cloth with a mixture of warm water and mild detergent. It’s important that you don’t over saturate the cloth with too much water, as this could end up damaging the speaker if you get your speaker grill super wet. You want a damp cloth, not a soaking wet cloth. Carefully scrub the dirt off using circular motions and work gently as you go. Rinse the area with a cloth and plain water, then you will need to thoroughly dry the area. If the speaker has a removable metal or plastic grill, clean it (front and back) with a soapy sponge in the sink or tub. Then, rinse it off with water and dry it thoroughly with a soft cotton towel to ensure that there isn’t any leftover moisture. Step four - Dry your grill thoroughly It’s important to make sure that you dry your speaker grill thoroughly before you reinstall it. While you can dry it thoroughly with a towel, to be safe you should also wait a little while longer for the grill to dry before you think about reinstalling it. This is especially important when you’re dealing with the fabric of the speaker grill. Step five - Reinstall the speaker grill Once the grill has been thoroughly cleaned and dried, place it back on the speaker. Don’t forget to replace any screws. Notes on cleaning a speaker grill If your speaker’s fabric grills don't come off, then you will need to clean the material with a lint roller or a can of compressed air. If you’re careful, you can also try cleaning them with 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. Always make sure that you check the speaker manual for helpful cleaning tips. It can save you a lot of time and will provide you with answers to your questions in terms of cleaning that are specific to your exact model of speaker. Make sure that you take your time when cleaning speakers. Rushing or moving too quickly can lead to accidents. As I mentioned above, if you need to wipe grill surfaces with a wet cloth, use liquid sparingly and dry your speaker grill thoroughly. Make sure that you don’t soak the exterior or leave any lingering residue to be absorbed by the material. Excess moisture can damage electronics and you don’t want to be in a position whereby you’ve ruined your expensive speakers trying to clean them with a soaking wet cloth. Make sure that you read the labels and instructions on any cleaning products. Always establish whether they are safe to use to clean your speaker grill with the information that you have obtained from the manufacturer’s manual. When cleaning your speaker grill, never use harsh soaps or chemicals to clean them, as these products can cause damage to the cabinet or electronics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIHCJ-mHdVw

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