Car Speaker Cleaning: Materials and Formats

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basics on cleaning your car stereo’s speakers and grill equipment. This task, which should be done regularly to prevent dust and other debris from impacting the speakers, is simple enough as long as you have the basic know-how.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re happy to help with all your car audio needs, from car stereo installation to basic upkeep and maintenance of any of our automotive upgrades. Much of part one in our series went over the basic materials you need on-hand and how you can go about removing the grill that holds your speakers and protects them – today’s part two of our series will dig into the different grill materials out there and how they are cleaned, plus how to deal with grills that can’t be removed during this process.

car speaker cleaning materials

Grill Materials and Cleaning

Speaker grills in vehicles may be made of a few different materials, including hard plastic, metal and even fabric in some cases. How you clean the grill will depend largely on the material it’s made from:

  • Plastic or metal: These options allow for the use of a sponge and water to scrub dirt or any debris from surfaces. You must be careful, however, to avoid bending any plastic parts during rinsing, plus to allow for enough time for the grill to dry completely before you put it back in its designated location.
  • Fabric: For these kinds of speaker grills, use a vacuum with an attached dust brush, plus a dry-cleaning powder spray. In cases where the grill has not been cleaned in some time, you may have to use a mild detergent to assist with this process.

As for the speaker itself, only the cloth will be necessary – do not spray any liquid cleaners or related items into the speaker, as this may ruin it. Simply use the cloth to remove any dust or debris, plus to wipe off any spills or buildups on the exterior of the speaker’s surface.

Grills That Won’t Remove

What if your grill is not removable, either by hand or by using a screwdriver? Don’t worry, you can still clean it, but just with a different method. You’ll need a lint roller for this, allowing you to clean up basic debris without risking damage or interference. Most other cases will require compressed air or a vacuum, which should be used just as gently as you would in a removable situation. We do not recommend any moisture coming into contact with a non-removable grill, as this risks it seeping into the speaker and damaging or ruining it.

For more on cleaning car stereo speakers, 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.