How to clean the fabric on your soundbar speakers

More often than not, our home appliances are an integral part of our decor. But keeping your electronics clean is not as easy as swatting the dust off your brand-new couch. While appliances such as televisions are relatively simpler to tackle, speakers may seem rather tricky. And we don’t blame you. 

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A soundbar, for one, is a minimalistic gadget that blends in almost effortlessly with the interior of your space. But dusty soundbar speakers certainly stand out like a sore thumb. Of course, if you’re wondering how to get started at cleaning it, we have a solution that you can resort to when in doubt. Check it out: 

Cleaning a dusty soundbar: What's there to know?

Your soundbar or speaker will often have a fabric or mesh cover that can turn into a dust-magnet over time. Even if you’re a stickler for neatness, it can get impossible to deep clean your audio products every now and then. And, of course, if you reside in an arid region, you probably are no stranger to dust accumulation. However, there are various ways to tackle a soiled speaker grill, and here’s what you need to know.

Three ways to clean your soundbar speakers

Before you begin, it is important to get acquainted with the components of your soundbar. While it depends largely on your soundbar channel, you will typically have a minimum of two to a maximum of nine speakers with the appliance. These could consist of subwoofers and speakers that are used for an all-around home theatre experience. Make sure you unplug your soundbar and detach the speakers before you begin deep cleaning the appliance. Here are a few ways to go about this: 

1) Using a microfibre cloth

If your speaker has a fabric covering, chances are it has already attracted loads of dust and pet hair from your space. A microfibre cloth will pick up loose debris from the surface of your soundbar and speakers with ease. Alternatively, you can also use a low-powered vacuum or a car vacuum cleaner to gently pull out anything stuck within the fabric or mesh grill.

2) Damp kitchen towel or toothbrush

Stains on a speaker can be due to various causes. Whether you’ve been cooking too close or have an overactive toddler around, a stubborn stain will usually not come off with a microfibre cloth alone.

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Use a damp kitchen towel or tissues for lighter spots. In the case of crayons or a gunky layer, a wet toothbrush could do the trick. Make sure you don’t use a lot of water, as it could run into the speaker and hamper its functioning.

3) Lint roller or feather brush

A lint roller can efficiently pick up dust that’s not visible to the naked eye. However, for hygiene purposes, make sure you regularly use a feather brush to dust the speaker from time to time. If your speaker has a removable grill or mesh, you can even use a cotton swab dipped in detergent to lightly scrub off any grime before you put it back on your speaker.

No matter how careful you are, you might still find that your appliance will tend to look tired and worn out over the years. It is best to revisit them from time to time and to keep them covered when not in use.