best way to clean speakers?

northernwind

Hey,I'm wondering what is some good ways to clean speakers?I was recommended furniture polish to take off scratches,but figure I would check with you guys first to see if that is a good idea.Also is there a good safe way to take off light scratches?

Mikey081057

Depends on what the finish is. You would then use a cleaner/ polish that is safe for that finish.

leftwinger57

Ask (F-1Nut)Jesse if one should use Pledge on your cabinets, motor boards, bezels or baffles.For my 2Bs I was instructed to use Original Windex for the poly rubber surrounds and the stickey doped speaker itself. After getting the haze out I just cleaned w/ warm water and a tightly wrung out sponge.My tops were refinished to a poly satin dark walnut stain so nothing more than a wipe is needed for that.As for the fabric sides I use the brush attachment from my vacuum

msg

timely question NW!
I just picked up a set of Monitor 10's with sticky cones.

Really on original Windex? doesn't that have ammonia in it?

What will Jesse say if we ask him that question? It sounds like you already know the answer

F1nut

I was recommended furniture polish to take off scratches

Scratches are scratches and there isn't a furniture polish made that will remove them.

That said, what are the speakers? What is the finish? What is the sheen?

if one should use Pledge on your cabinets, motor boards, bezels or baffles.

Never use Pledge on anything, period.

Really on original Windex?

Yes, Windex for the SDA, Monitor drivers. It's tried, tested and proven.

northernwind

I'm currently using the LSIM 703,but when I use water and clothe,it leaves a little film of water afterwards.I've seen guys at the store use some sort of cleaner but am not sure if that is safe.

leftwinger57

Go into research about cleaning SDA speakers.Use Original Windex ONLY again for the poly rubber surrounds and the speaker cone itself. As for the Pledge I was hammered for using it learning that it leaves a silcone haze that looks terrible and can be perminent, thankfully mine did clean up and they came out great.

northernwind

F1nut wrote: »

Scratches are scratches and there isn't a furniture polish made that will remove them.

That said, what are the speakers? What is the finish? What is the sheen?

The scratches are on my lsim 706c,which I bought used so it had quite a bit of light scratches.My lsim 703 is in good condition so I only need a good cleaner for that.

pitdogg2

northernwind wrote: »

I'm currently using the LSIM 703,but when I use water and clothe,it leaves a little film of water afterwards.

That could be minerals in the water itself. Have you tried just plain distilled water?

Mikey081057

Look up products from polyshield they will not harm lacquer or other sealed finishes

http://www.amazon.com/Polyshield-Products-Inc-Furniture-Polish/dp/B00E7YE8MG

msg

F1nut wrote: »

Never use Pledge on anything, period.
Yes, Windex for the SDA, Monitor drivers. It's tried, tested and proven.

why is Pledge bad? bc of situations like what Leftwinger mentions below?

leftwinger57 wrote: »

Go into research about cleaning SDA speakers.Use Original Windex ONLY again for the poly rubber surrounds and the speaker cone itself. As for the Pledge I was hammered for using it learning that it leaves a silcone haze that looks terrible and can be perminent, thankfully mine did clean up and they came out great.

good stuff on the Windex. learned something new today.
I've steered clear of Windex for years, but that started years ago with damage to LCDs that I've seen in work environments.

F1nut

northernwind wrote: »

I'm currently using the LSIM 703,but when I use water and clothe,it leaves a little film of water afterwards.I've seen guys at the store use some sort of cleaner but am not sure if that is safe.

Water and a slightly damp cloth is perfect. If you're getting a film, wipe dry with a soft cotton or microfiber cloth.

pitdogg2

Well the softest cloth I have found that will not mark is a oldskool Baby Diaper. I have one for CDs and 1 for my aquariums glass. I find that the microfiber clothes tend to hold onto or pick up grit when washed.

just my .02

F1nut

northernwind wrote: »

The scratches are on my lsim 706c,which I bought used so it had quite a bit of light scratches.My lsim 703 is in good condition so I only need a good cleaner for that.

The only thing a furniture polish can do with scratches is to help hide them a bit until the polish dries out. It's not an answer. The answer is not an easy one as the sheen is basically flat, so any attempts at rubbing/buffing out the scratches will raise the sheen. There are clear touch up sprays available that you spray over the exsiting finish that will cover the scratches. If you want to get into that I can tell you more.

As for a cleaner, water and a slightly damp cloth is all you need.

F1nut

why is Pledge bad? bc of situations like what Leftwinger mentions below?

Yes.

Well the softest cloth I have found that will not mark is a oldskool Baby Diaper.

Best cleaning/dusting cloth in the world.

mytime

pitdogg2 wrote: »

Well the softest cloth I have found that will not mark is a oldskool Baby Diaper. I have one for CDs and 1 for my aquariums glass. I find that the microfiber clothes tend to hold onto or pick up grit when washed.

just my .02

Are you using fabric softener when washing? That will make a mircofiber cloth very "sticky".

I refinish hardwood floors and will tack the floor with MF pads, They get washed and do fine .

pitdogg2

mytime wrote: »

Are you using fabric softener when washing? That will make a mircofiber cloth very "sticky".

I refinish hardwood floors and will tack the floor with MF pads, They get washed and do fine .

Nope I use no fabric softener on any of my rags or towels. It also makes them not absorb water.

I can understand on floors as for one you are not as close to them to see fine scratches unless on hands and knees. Your finish on floors is most likely much harder than say the finish of speakers. On some piano gloss finishes just wiping a cloth across dust can have a negative effect.

mytime

pitdogg2 wrote: »

Nope I use no fabric softener on any of my rags or towels. It also makes them not absorb water.

I can understand on floors as for one you are not as close to them to see fine scratches unless on hands and knees. Your finish on floors is most likely much harder than say the finish of speakers. On some piano gloss finishes just wiping a cloth across dust can have a negative effect.

I can see that happening.

B Run

Not to hijack but any advice on how to clean the drivers on my ZU's? Full range paper composite, not smooth to wipe off easily and they're papery (is that a word?) and kind of rough. Just a little dusty but I don't want to hurt anything, I usually just do the cabinets with a microfiber towel.

F1nut

I think I'd have to vacuum those with a brush attachment or hit them with a can of compressed air.

B Run

F1nut i'll give that a shot, thanks for the advice. Dskip I didn't forget about ya I really do want to bring em up there sometime, I want to hear them on your setup as bad as you do haha. Baby on the way has put a damper on my weekends, as my to do list is about 5 months long now. One of these days it will happen for sure, my door is always open if anyone wants to make the trip down to Austin too!

RamZet

a good dry microfiber cloth works great.

Windex cleans everything. spray it on the cloth not the cabinet.