Best method to clean your speakers

[thsmith]

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.

[Mike Kozak]

I have seen posts there that say to use windix I think...for the drivers anyway

[Lasareath]

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.





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

[BigMac]

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.

[TNRabbit]

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....

[zingo]

I would just do the damp towel unless the windex is needed. No harm can come from a little damp towel treatment.

[Lasareath]

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....


Butyl rubber oxides over time. The Windex removes this oxidation.

My Dad bought a Butyl rubber roof for one of his apartment buildings over 12 years ago, no hail, no rain, no ice, no snow has ever got through. The roof has a 50 year guarantee.

If Butyl rubber lasts 50 years on a roof, imagine how long it will last on your drivers!

This is one of the reasons why Polk used Butyl rubber,

The other reason is because Matthew Polk is a Genius!

Lasareath

[thsmith]

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.

[michaeljhsda2]

"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.

[nadams]

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.

[michaeljhsda2]

"I wouldn't go after the cones themselves"

Thanks for the confirmation!
Mike

[F1nut]

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.

[Lasareath]

just don't do it every week.



I have done mine twice in the past year and a half. Once when I bought them and once the day of a small polk gathering that I had at my house.




Do NOT use paper towels, rather use a soft cotton cloth.



I tried using a cloth but I didn't like the way it felt on the tacky cones. So I used paper towels from that point on. I do use Bounty Paper Towels so maybe that why it works so well. If you buy no frills Paper Towels then maybe you should use a soft cotton cloth.



Lasareath

[HB27]

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

[michaeljhsda2]

Thanks for the info Las, F1, HB. I'll be cleaning the cones for the first time in 22 years.
Mike

[tx_polkhead]

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!

[Lasareath]

Thanks for the info Las, F1, HB. I'll be cleaning the cones for the first time in 22 years.
Mike

Sweet!!!

Here's the new link to the Windex shots just incase anybody else wants to see them. My old server died and I changed ISP's, so all my posts with 38.161.195.8 are dead url's now :(

http://www.thesweetpain.com/polksrs2/index.htm

Sal

[comfortablycurt]

+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.

[BIZILL]

okay, what are you all using for the wood???

[gdb]

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:

[Mike Kozak]

I cleaned mine with Murphys Oil soap and water (wood)

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

Armour-All Baby!!!!

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