How do you clean speakers/cones?

[jmattbassplaya]

Just curious. One of my older cabs has collected some dust/dirt on its cones from being left in the garage for over a year. I was wondering if there was a safe and proper way to remove it without damaging the speakers.

Thanks!

 

[jeff62]

No need to really. But if you feel in the mood, you lightly dust them with a dry wash cloth, or use a light blow of compressed air (and by light I mean from a foot away with one of those cans you use to blow stuff out of your computer keyboard). Just good old common sense applies here.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Nah!! Go whole hog and pressure wash them cones. They’ll never get dirty again.

 

[1bassplayinfool]

Pressure washer? Nah, get a swiffer duster.

 

[Lowactnsatsfctn]

Soft bristle paint brush works good for getting the line of dirt that can accumulate around the dust cap and works pretty well for getting in the grooves on the surround. You'd have to work at it do any damage that way.

 

[basscooker]

Wire brush the worst, then steel wool.

 

[bobyoung53]

Nah!! Go whole hog and pressure wash them cones. They’ll never get dirty again.

I always wash mine with a good old fashioned garden hose, then i throw them in the dryer on low heat of course, you wouldn't want to damage them.

 

[hondo4life]

You could just spray them with Febreeze. I know that's how lots of bass players wash their clothes.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Shaving brush works well.

 

[seamonkey]

Cones are just paper, look for a can of spray on "Newspaper Cleaner". It what I use when my tabloids and magazines get dirty.

Maybe get opaque grill cloth and it will hide the dirt. And, BTW, it will keep the cones from getting more dirty in the future.

 

[Sparky Mark]

No, there is no proper or necessary way to get dust off speakers. Try playing through it.

 

[BadExample]

Vacuum with a brush tip, being very light on the pressure of the brush. On some nice stereo speakers I had $#it growing on the uncoated paper cones from sitting out in our humid weather and used a damp micro-fiber cloth wrung out until almost dry. Got enough of it off to get them looking good behind the translucent cloth grills. No damage from either method.

 

[bassliner50]

Use your garden hose. Seriously, use a soft unused 1" paint brush to loosen crud, then vacuum if you like.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Another vote for soft-bristle paint brush, or similar.

 

[dbase]

I would use a 40 grit sandpaper... clean them puppies right up

 

[Paul M]

Or just play really loud.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

I'm with Paul here.
About two hours seriously cranked up ought to knock of the worst of it.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I managed to get most off with a dry cloth

 

[Zooberwerx]

A soft-bristled paint brush works beautifully. Just pretend you're on an archeological dig.

Riis

 

[hondo4life]

Seems to me that an angle grinder with a wire cup brush attachment would be perfect for really getting deep into the cones. I recommend the brass wire brush, because brass is the most acoustic.