Cleaning & polishing speakers & gear


While i know that i've posted "reminders" about cleaning / polishing / oiling speaker cabinets on a somewhat regular basis, my girlfriend just showed me something that she bought last week. Olde English now has "furniture wipes". These are similar to baby wipes but are treated with Olde English furniture polish. As such, they are very convenient to use and minimize the amount of spraying, rubbing in and wiping off that one has to do with other polishes / oils. While i would not recommend relying on these if the speakers have been "abused" i.e. not cleaned and oiled in a long period of time, they sure do come in handy for those times when a quick touch up is all you need. Not only is it very quick and easy to give the cabinets a once over with these, i'll probably do it more often since they are so convenient and hassle free. You don't have to worry about applying too much chemical to the rag or cabinet or getting overspray onto the drivers, which could cause deterioration or end up eating the foam surrounds, etc... Just remember that, just because they look like a baby wipe, they really aren't suitable for that purpose : )

With that in mind, has anyone come up with "quick & dirty" methods for cleaning their gear or specific chemicals / cleansers to use / NOT use ? What do you folks use to remove fingerprints, etc... without removing printing, discolouring faceplates, etc... ????? Sean
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sean
I use the Pledge Anti-Static mitts on all my stuff; like the wipes you describe above but can be used on anything without leaving any residue. I keep a box nearby and when I notice dust accumulating on my gear, it only takes a minute or two and everything is perfect again. Once in a while I use a bit of aerosol Pledge on my turntable's dust cover, covers up all the fine dusting scratches. Oh yeah, I vaccum my electrostatics monthly as well.
I use NAPHTHA on my gloss black piano finish speakers and subs, turntable etc. with a automotive finshing cloth. It evaporates very fast. Saw this in my guitar repair books.
Hello,

I use the 3M static cloth. With this, no need for other solvents since I am a "paranoid" in conserving the appearance of my Martin Logans. The cloth works using the priciple of statics. It cleans dust without scratching even a very delicate surface. It was designed by 3M for this very application. It can bought at any office supplies store that carries 3M or you can go to the Martin Logan website and they have it there also which, incidentally, looks better and just the right size compared to those you'll find in office supplies store.

...to inform, not to convince(TINTC).....

regards
Thiel recommends "Endust". They claim that other products leave a residue that causes something called "fisheye" to the finish. KIWI BRANDS also markets an item called "Endust for Electronics".
Being a woodworker, I typically cringe at hearing everything that people put on their woodwork. If the correct finish is applied, there should be no need for a polish, and in fact, that can break down the finish. A good way (for me) to get rid of fingerprints is not put them on in the first place. Not always logical for everyone, but it works for me. Second, for the most part, a dry cloth with nothing on it should be sufficient to clean most speaker cabinets. I'm all for cleaners for electronics..at connections, or cleaning screens of cdp's that sort of thing. If you really desire putting something on your speakers cabinets, why not try some paste wax? just my 2 cents..