smoke odor remediation on speakers

scottyboy76

obsessing over some infinity crescendos at a guys place we just bought some adcom gear.

Problem? cigar and pipe smoke smell........strong.

Have cleaned adcom stuff, smell is starting to die out, but worried about finish on wood of speakers and fabrics.

To make thiongs more complicated, wife is on oxygen and very sensitive to chemicals.

Saw on the web a foam spray that is being marketed as a ecofriendly odor killer for microphones.

Problem? only seems to sell them by the case.

Any real world advice from experience would be greatly appr., might mean the difference in us owning these wonderful speaks we fell in love with while auditioning adcom gear we bought.

That emit tweeter! wow

dorokusai

Scottyboy76 - PM F1Nut about removing the oils and tar from smoking on the loudspeaker, as a quick suggestion.

In regards to the grills, very light dish soap and water in a bathtub, air dry on the deck or patio. It may take a few runs and there's no need to scrub, just be gentle and let it ride.

nooshinjohn

dorokusai wrote: »

Scottyboy - PM F1Nut about removing the oils and tar from smoking on the loudspeaker, as a quick suggestion.

In regards to the grills, very light dish soap and water in a bathtub, air dry on the deck or patio. It may take a few runs and there's no need to scrub, just be gentle and let it ride.

Are the grill frames on those plastic or particle board? If they are particle board, too much water may warp them.

dorokusai

John - I would hope that someone wouldn't put a wood product to soak in water but I tend to believe the original poster is smart, based on post count and time here....instead of retarded. Do you understand that theory?

That being said, sure....it's a valid question....what's the frame material of the Infinity Crescendo Scottyboy76?

F1nut

but worried about finish on wood of speakers

What is the finish?

nooshinjohn

That's why I said too much water. A little bit won't harm anything, but as you so eloquently stated, soaking them would be a bad thing.

dorokusai

F1nut wrote: »

What is the finish?

I know Golden Oak is a traditional Infinity wood finish F1.....just guessing on the real wood part? I don't recall their black finish being a real wood laminate...unlike Polk for example. I'm not sure what changes the help on that but its sticking in my head.

Would a real wood clean-up be different from a laminate? I have no idea.

Tony M

I've found 409 cleaner to be magical for removing nicotine stain and odor from speakers and their grills. Nicotine disolves away from the products almost instantly..

I've done plenty of them !!!

Lemon/citrus scents are fine as long as it's in the 409 line. After the nicotine is removed, refer to F1's advice as to reconditioning the wood.


I found out about 409's nicotine disolving powers when I had metal miniblinds to clean for an apartment complex as I remoldeled each kitchen. I had 409 on hand and when I saw the nicotine dripping off them as soon as it hit the surface, I knew I had something special for cleaning smoke residue!

Speaker grills:
I spray 409 on them until wet. Let sit for a minute or three, rinse off with garden hose sprayer on fine spray setting. Shake off excess water as best as you can and let the sun dry them the rest. The glisten will return to the cloth. I've seen it a dozen times..

F1nut

Would a real wood clean-up be different from a laminate?

It's more to do with the finish than what's under it. Most laminate is not top coated, so if it is just a vinyl laminate, Windex will clean them right up.

If it is an oil finish, clean with mineral spirits followed by a new application of oil.

If it is lacquer, you can clean with mineral spirits, but the finish may look a little hazy after. Buffing briskly can restore the luster. If you are careful, spray Windex on a soft cotton cloth and wipe quickly. You do not want to spray it directly on the finish, nor do you want it to stay on the finish very long.

Polishes like Pledge, Old Engish, etc. are to be avoided at all costs.


As an option to Tony's 409 suggestion for cleaning grills, I'd suggest Resolve Fabric cleaner, which avoids hosing them down and works like a dream.

dorokusai

F1nut wrote: »

It's more to do with the finish than what's under it. Most laminate is not top coated, so if it is just a vinyl laminate, Windex will clean them right up.

If it is an oil finish, clean with mineral spirits followed by a new application of oil.

If it is lacquer, you can clean with mineral spirits, but the finish may look a little hazy after. Buffing briskly can restore the luster. If you are careful, spray Windex on a soft cotton cloth and wipe quickly. You do not want to spray it directly on the finish, nor do you want it to stay on the finish very long.

Polishes like Pledge, Old Engish, etc. are to be avoided at all costs.


As an option to Tony's 409 suggestion for cleaning grills, I'd suggest Resolve Fabric cleaner, which avoids hosing them down and works like a dream.

Well, there you go. You mention the vinyl laminate via Windex....what about a real wood veneer vs ??? I know you hit on oil based but as far as a Polk speaker, what would you suggest, as an example. What's the tell tale difference between an oil based and lacquer based finish? Thanks J.

I like Tony's 409 suggestion as well, just don't soak them like you're trying to drown an unwanted family member.

RuSsMaN

The grilles are plastic frames.

skrol

I have used a Bissel Little Green to clean speaker grills with good success. You can easily control how much water you apply and quickly remove it before it soaks into the particle board frame (if they are particle board).
http://www.bissell.com/little-green-proheat-pet-deep-cleaner/

For restoration, a little Murphy's Oil Soap in water works great for the cabinets. Again, I don't leave the water on very long. I stick to a damp cloth per the manufacturer recommendation and dry immediately for general cleaning.

Tony M

I remember my worst smoky smelling purchash well.

A yard sale in a retirement community and there was a pr. of Mach 1's and a Realistic monster receiver. I'm sure it was a one owner set-up and smoking was around them for 20 years I guess. I talked to the CHAIN SMOKING woman and bought them. Carrying them to the car I could smell the odor.Then within about 3 miles, my wife and I were about to puke. It smelled like a dead body was now in the car.I had 7 more miles to get home and kept the windows rolled down the rest of the way. It took almost a 1/2 bottle 0f 409 and a whole roll of paper towels to clean the cabinets and faces. The finish sure needed oil after that but a neighbor bought them before I olied them. The receiver was the same way. Alot of paper towels and 409. I even wiped what I could on the inside of the receiver.I kept it for years.

I know what your smelling. I'll never forget my worst case.:eek:

treitz3

One thing you can go purchase until the smell subsides is active charcoal. Lay it out in a flat container and place it at or as close to the speakers as possible. What it will do is absorb the smell until you get the smell out. Should be around a 10 dollar investment. Sorry to hear of your woes.

TNRabbit

A friend was able to quite effectively remove DEAD SQUID smell from the artificial turf carpet of his boat with an industrial version of Febreeze....I was surprised.

halo71

Yeah un related I know, this thread brought back memories though.....but I use to put coffee grounds in guitar cases that were smokey. Worked wonders.

Tony M

Coffee grounds, that's right.

Yankee Candle uses coffee beans in a jar to nutralize your nose so you can go smell other scents. I saw that years ago in a store here. They still have the jar at the counter for customers to sniff when needed.

Coffee.. amazing thing.

treitz3

OK, a wee bit off topic here....coffee has some other uses too. When I used to be an engineer, I had this blue mat on my workstation that was as old as the trolls on this forum. It was so discolored that I couldn't see springs that were less than two mm in width. Tried every cleaner known to man to no avail. One day, I spilled some hot coffee on the mat and when I went to go wipe it up?

Damned mat looked new again. Go figure......and to think, we drink this stuff. :eek:

OK, back to the subject at hand....

Timothy Smith

Try using an Ozone generator machine.

Rental car companies use these when someone "accidentally" leaves a dead body in the trunk of a car or in a hotel room. Creates O3 (ozone) which reacts with and oxidizes odors.

It really works like magic on smokey clothes, mildewed items etc.

If you have a small room like a powder room or closet, put the speakers in there with a running ozone generator and close the door overnight.

Ozone is an irritant so you don't want to be in there for long since it will irritate your eyes and throat. You don't want to leave it in for a very long time since ozone will eventually break down rubber surrounds etc.

You can rent ozone generators for hardware stores or rental stores, or buy small ones new for around $125.

It really works which is why I bought one.

scottyboy76

let me see if i can address everything.will def. use the 409, first on adcom gear, and after the encouraging advice from your experiences, im going to buy the infinitys.

I would use the febreeze, its great on other odors, then goes away, but we ended up at the emory hosp. emergency room after using febreeze once, debs lungs are really bad from congenital spine problems, in fact, we just got back from emergency room.

The charcoal sounds good, as does the coffee grounds.

Also, the cabs are solid oak, not too worried about having to refinish if thats what it takes, my wifes cousin has a woodworking shop at his house next door that niorm abrams would envy, and could refinish with water based poly.

The ozone generator is something i will check into also.
I guess the only thing left is the injected molded graphite the cones are made of, would anything other than warm water be recomended, will check on infinity site.

Again, thanks for all advice.

F1nut

Also, the cabs are solid oak

No, they are veneer over particleboard.

Oldfatdogs

Ozium works wonders,It might work on your grills.http://www.amazon.com/Medo-Freshners-Ozium-14-5oz-Original/dp/B000CSSEAS

scottyboy76

so i believe as long as cleaning and very light sanding, no power sanding, we should be okay, even if taking off old and refinishing.

And as far as ozium, I have used a lot of that when i rolled my own, but deb certainly could not take that in the air, but your right, for healthy people, it does the job.

Tony M

I like Ozone..

I clean my speaker cones with 409 also when needed. I spray the paper towel and with GENTAL pressure, and I repeat, gental pressure with arcing motions and let the paper towel and 409 do its cleaning. I barely put pressure on the speaker cones. I also clean the rubber surrounds the same way.

I avoid touching foam surrounds like the ones on older Infinitys..

indyhawg

Unfortunately, I have purchased a few pieces of gear that smelled so bad, I could hardly stand having them in my house. I think electronics are harder to get the smoke smell out than speakers. I agree with using 409, windex, and furniture polish on the speakers. I would recommend using a dish washing liquid on the grills and spray them off with a light spray-- a waterhose or the shower should work.

Put them outside for a few hours to air out will also help.

fishbones

If these are ported, don't forget to put something on the inside, cause once you start cranking them up and they start pushing air out of the portholes, that smell will be filling the room. Baking soda fridge packets should work well, or the coffee ground idea, and I've even heard non-scented kitty litter works well to eat odors. You could put the latter two into pantyhose or something and leave 'em in the cabinet. Just unscrew a woofer, and leave it there for as long as you want. Coffee smell might get to be a little much for this application after awhile?