Best method to clean your speakers

thsmith
thsmith Posts: 6,082
edited March 2009 in Vintage Speakers
What technics are people using to clean their speakers and the face that holds the speakers? Not that mine need it but I am curious.

The 6 1/2s look like they have a sticky surface, if they were dusty how would you clean them.

What is safe to use on the MW and woofer surrounds ?

I have seen some of the vintage posters before and after pics and they look amazing.

Thanks for your feedback.
Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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Comments

  • Mike Kozak
    Mike Kozak Posts: 931
    edited November 2008
    I have seen posts there that say to use windix I think...for the drivers anyway
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  • BigMac
    BigMac Posts: 849
    edited November 2008
    Lasareath wrote: »
    Windex, spray 8 or 9 squirts on a piece of paper towel per each 6.5"

    you can see I did the same on my web album below.

    http://38.161.195.8/Polk-SRS-2's/html/IMG_0019.htm

    I second that, windex works great for my woofers on my 10b speakers. I also read in a few threads on other forums that some people were applying Armour All to make their speakers look better, that is a BIG NO-NO.
    DON'T CLICK THIS!!
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited November 2008
    I've never used anything besides a damp towel/washcloth. Repeated use of Windex or other harsh chemicals can lead to discoloration. Just ask the guy on eBay who sold a Sunfire amplifier that had turned *PINK* from repeated use of Windex....
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
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    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2008
    I would just do the damp towel unless the windex is needed. No harm can come from a little damp towel treatment.
    Jake
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited November 2008
    Great ideas and feedback, THANK YOU ALL !

    I assume it would also be good to use something like a new paintbrush to remove any dust and dirt before putting a damp towel to them.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • michaeljhsda2
    michaeljhsda2 Posts: 2,186
    edited November 2008
    "The 6 1/2s look like they have a sticky surface, if they were dusty how would you clean them."

    Should one avoid touching the paper towel to the sticky surface? It seems to me that the paper towel would stick to the surface and not come off.
    SDA SRS 2.3TL's
    Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
    Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
    SDA 2B TL's
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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited November 2008
    The sticky surface is normal on vintage polk. It's a coating that they used to deaden the cone. clean the surrounds, but I wouldn't go after the cones themselves. I know just how annoying it is for them to be sticky, what with 3 cats in the house... That's why I leave the grills on all the time.
    Ludicrous gibs!
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  • michaeljhsda2
    michaeljhsda2 Posts: 2,186
    edited November 2008
    "I wouldn't go after the cones themselves"

    Thanks for the confirmation!
    Mike
    SDA SRS 2.3TL's
    Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
    Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
    SDA 2B TL's
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,746
    edited November 2008
    What is safe to use on the MW and woofer surrounds ?

    It's perfectly safe to clean the Polk MWxxx cones/surrounds with Windex. In fact, I highly recommend it, just don't do it every week. Do NOT use paper towels, rather use a soft cotton cloth. Never spray the Windex on the cones, spray it on the cloth and wipe in a circular motion.

    Never clean/dust any finished wood item with Windex as the ammonia will soften the finish and if left wet long enough, will eat thru the finish. A damp, soft cotton cloth is best.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • HB27
    HB27 Posts: 1,518
    edited November 2008
    Windex works fine. I've been using it for years. Don't spray the woofer just the paper towel. I use Bounty paper towels dampened. The Bounty doesn't leave fibers when dampened. Careful of some of the generic "Windex" products. Lots of ammonia and it WILL soften the adhesive holding the rubber surrounds to the frame.
    I bought some M-10s from a bar that were covered with smoke and used too much cleaner and the surrounds did peel up on the edges. They glued back down in place but left the surround "edgy".
    Harry
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  • michaeljhsda2
    michaeljhsda2 Posts: 2,186
    edited November 2008
    Thanks for the info Las, F1, HB. I'll be cleaning the cones for the first time in 22 years.
    Mike
    SDA SRS 2.3TL's
    Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
    Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
    SDA 2B TL's
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  • tx_polkhead
    tx_polkhead Posts: 248
    edited November 2008
    Each of the sets of speakers (3) that I've found on CL needed a little TLC. One set I 'rescued' from a college kid was so dirty and covered with cat hair that I think I could hear a difference after the clean up! I used windex that I further diluted with a little water and Q-tips, lots and lots of Q-Tips!
    Polk Audio RTA 12c's, Monitor 7c, Monitor 5JR+, SDA CRS+
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited March 2009
    +1 on the Windex.

    I'd read advice for using it several times and ended up using it to clean the drivers on my 7A's about a month ago. I used some Bounty paper towels and didn't have any issues with them...just sprayed about 6-7 squirts of Windex onto a folded paper towel for each driver. I was amazed at how much gunk and grime got pulled off of the cones. I bought the speakers used a few months ago and from the looks of them, I don't think they'd ever really been cleaned before. It made them look a million times better.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
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    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • BIZILL
    BIZILL Posts: 5,432
    edited March 2009
    okay, what are you all using for the wood???

    POLK SDA-SRS 1.2TL -- ADCOM GFA-5802
    PANASONIC PT-AE4000U -- DIY WILSONART DW 135" 2.35:1 SCREEN
     ONKYO TX-SR805
    CENTER: CSI5
    MAINS: RTI8'S
    SURROUNDS: RTI8'S
    7.1 SURROUNDS: RTI6'S
    SUB: SVS PB12-PLUS/2 (12.3 series)
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    http://polkarmy.com/forums/index.php
    bobman1235 wrote:
    I have no facts to back that up, but I never let facts get in the way of my arguments.
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited March 2009
    BIZILL wrote: »
    okay, what are you all using for the wood???

    Which finish ?? Paste wax for polyurethaned panels and tung oil for walnut veneer. Safety tip: If you use tung oil...do not....leave rags around because they will spontaneously combust and burn your house to the ground !!:eek:
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  • Mike Kozak
    Mike Kozak Posts: 931
    edited March 2009
    I cleaned mine with Murphys Oil soap and water (wood)
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited March 2009
    Armour-All Baby!!!!

    What's it been now, 4 years? Trey is never going to live that one down :D
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