Car Speaker Cleaning: Equipment and Grill Removal

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re happy to serve as your comprehensive car audio experts. From basic car stereo installation to numerous advanced setup themes involving speakers, car subwoofers and numerous other accessories, we’ll help you achieve all your sound needs for an affordable price.

We’re also here to help with the long-term upkeep and maintenance of any of our car audio equipment, whether in our shop or by providing expertise to clients for basic care. One of the most common questions we get here: How should you properly clean your car’s speakers and speaker grills when this need arises, both to ensure dust and other debris aren’t a concern and to leave the entire setup as aesthetically pleasing as possible? This two-part blog series will go over several basic tips in this area.

car speaker cleaning equipment

Equipment On-Hand

Assuming your speakers come in standard speaker grills that hold and protect them, you’ll need the following pieces of equipment for cleaning these items:

  • Two flat-blade screwdrivers
  • A vacuum cleaner with attached upholstery
  • A dry-cleaning powder spray in a compressed air can
  • A face mask and dust brush
  • Mild detergent and warm waster
  • A microfiber cloth and lint roller

Power Down

The first step here is one most will remember, but you’d be surprised how often this is glossed over: Turn off the stereo completely. If there are visible cables connected to the stereo and speakers, be sure these are disconnected before any cleaning begins – and before you attempt to remove the speaker grills.

Removing Grills

In certain cases, speaker grills for your car audio system may come in a format where they can be removed by hand. If this is the case, you can remove the screwdrivers we listed above from your equipment needs.

In most cases, though, speaker grills require a screwdriver for removal. Using a flat-blade screwdriver, remove all the screws holding the grill in place – be as gentle as you can while doing this. From here, begin gently pulling at the ends of the grill to remove it, taking care to avoid any sudden movements or jerking that might cause damage. In some cases, if the grill is stuck due to dirt and any kind of sticky buildup that’s formed over a period of time, you may have to insert the screwdriver head into the gap to wedge it open; again, do this as carefully as you can and try to avoid any sudden jerking or pushing motions. Once one side protrudes enough to be gripped and pulled, you can switch to this format.

For more on how to clean and maintain car speakers and their grills, or to learn about any of our car audio, window tinting or other automotive upgrades, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.