Speakers are probably one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, after all, they make listening to music and movies possible, and they get bigger, better, and sleeker every single year.

While audiophiles may regularly set aside time in their house cleaning schedules to tidy up their speakers, don’t feel bad if you rarely, if ever, lay a finger (or feather duster) on your own. Here’s a simple guide on how to keep your boom box or stereo bumping for years to come.

 

Clean Your Speakers Then Crank Up the Sound

 

Items Needed to Clean Your Speakers

  • Feather Duster
  • Microfiber Cloth
  • Canned Air
  • Twist Ties
  • Paper Towels
  • Dust Covers
  • Multi-Purpose Cleaning Solution

Dust Everything Off

Before you actually get into the nitty-gritty work of cleaning your speakers, it’s important to remove as much dust build-up as possible. Our stereo systems have a tendency to collect dirt, pollen, and skin particles in even the hardest-to-reach places. Depending on your set up, this may require using a flashlight to see behind or under your speakers. Don’t cut corners, as the more dust you’re able to remove, the better sound the speaker will provide.

 

Clean Your Speakers and dust them off

 

Carefully utilize a feather duster or microfiber cloth to remove any clumps or dust bunnies that have built up over time. Once that’s finished, wet a paper towel with water and carefully run it over each and every one of the cables and cords plugged into the back of your stereo system.

Remove Sticky Stains

Next, it’s time to carefully take a look at the casing of each and every one of your speakers. Depending on where they are located, they can get food, liquid, or dirt on them. If you notice this happening to your own set up, grab a microfiber cloth or clean wash cloth, and wet it in warm water mixed with dish soap. Ring the cloth out until it’s just slightly damp. Now, carefully wipe the exterior of your speakers removing any stains, dirt, or residue that have built up. If you don’t have much time, a simple multi-purpose cleaning solution like vinegar and water in combination with some light scrubbing will work, too.

Dust Cover Detail

Now it’s time to focus on your speaker system’s dust covers. These are the circles on your speaker that vibrate whenever the bass is booming loudly. First, use a microfiber cloth or feather duster to remove any particles that are visible. Once that’s finished, get out your canned air and slowly spray every divot, nick, and crack visible to your eyes. Make sure to point the can to the side, instead of directly at the speaker so that dust particles are blown off of it, instead of inside. If you aren’t careful, you can end up losing sound quality, and nobody wants that!

 

Clean Your Speakers and dust covers

 

Untangle and Tie the Cords

With the dusting and washing out of the way, it’s time to focus on all of the cords and cables attached to your speakers. Set a good half hour aside, and remember to stay patient. Untangling things can get frustrating quickly, so keep a level head. Once untangled and knotted, use twist ties to prevent the wires from tangling up again in the future.

Install Speaker Covers

Finally, if you really want to go the extra mile to ensure your speakers stay in good working condition, you may want to invest in speaker covers. These are available online and in brick-and-mortar stores, but you can also make your own using an old piece of clothing, or even left over fabric. If you only uncover your speakers when you are using them, they’ll stay in much better shape, and you won’t have to clean them as often either.

By following these simple house cleaning instructions, your speakers are sure to stay in great shape for years to come. Happy listening!