From the Hive: Recommendations and Advice from our Community Through Social Media Discussions.
Topic: Cleaning Microphones
It was recently asked what is the best way to clean microphones (now that it’s cold season)? Of course, it’s great to clean your mics if someone who’s sick has used them, but it’s also good to clean them frequently no matter what.
Here’s how our community responded with some additional resources in regard to cleaning microphones.
The Quick Clean:
Many folks recommended disinfecting wipes to quickly wipe down the grill of the microphone after use. Also, consider using a non-flavored Listerine.
You could also use Purell or another kind of hand sanitizer. I recommend avoiding any with added fragrances just to make sure that it doesn’t impede someone’s use of the mic. Many people have fragrance sensitivities.
Microfoam was also suggested, this is also known as a foaming sanitizer or deodorizer a lot like the gel sanitizers we see all the time.
There are also industry-specific cleaners such as Thomann microphone cleaner or the Microphome Cleaning Kit. Hosa also sells a whole line of cleaner sprays for items we encounter in our industry. For mics, they sell Goby Lab’s microphone sanitizer.
The Deep Clean:
Remove the grills and foam. Wash the foam with isopropyl, antibacterial hand soap, or dawn detergent. The grills can be washed with the same items using a toothbrush to get a good scrub or thrown in a dishwasher for a deep clean; just make sure both are completely dry before use.
Others suggested an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. Around $40, these cleaners can be used to wash more than microphone parts. Small in size and only needing limited amounts of cleaner and soap this tool could be useful especially if you’re on tour.
When things get really bad you can also replace the grill and foam on a majority of microphones, but hopefully, none of us have to deal with something that bad! Keep in mind antibacterial soaps and isopropyl won’t kill some viruses. Bleach solutions, hydrogen peroxide or replacement is your best option to stop the spread of tough viruses.
Bonus response!
For windscreens or pop, filters soak them in a 10% bleach solution and rinse in cold water. This eliminates germs, viruses, and order.
Thank you to Jennalyn Alonzo for posing the question and thank you to all of our community members for their great responses!