How to Clean iPhone Speaker (Without Causing Any Damage)

We constantly touch and use our phones with dirty hands while eating, working, and even in the bathroom. Having dust or dirt in your iPhone’s speaker can cause low, muffled, or distorted sound output. This tutorial will show you how to clean your iPhone speaker for improved sound output.

There are proper ways to clean your gadgets, and there are wrong ways to do it. Maybe you have already cleaned your iPhone with a lint-free cloth and isopropyl alcohol, as Apple suggests. But do you clean the iPhone’s speaker?

iPhones have two speakers: the receiver/top speaker for your ear and the other on the bottom of the device. You need to clean them regularly. Otherwise, they’ll not only be filled with gunk and muffle the iPhone’s sound over time.

How to Clean iPhone Speaker—5 Easy Tips

1. Use an Air Blower to Clean iPhone Speakers

Instead of compressed air in a can, you can use an air blower to blow dust from your iPhone’s speakers. This is much safer because air blowers are gentle, yet their force is just enough to dislodge and remove dust.

Here are some tips to follow when using the air blower:

• Hold the air blower close to your iPhone and pump a few short bursts directly into the speaker. Although it’s not as strong as compressed air, it’ll easily dislodge dust and debris without pushing it inside the speaker.
• For more effect, bring the air blower closer to the speaker, almost touching it.
• Use a flashlight to see if you removed all the dirt. If not, repeat the process.

2. Use a Soft-Bristled Brush

Apple recommends gently brushing your iPhone speakers with a soft-bristled brush. It’s less invasive and doesn’t damage your iPhone. Remove any protective casing or screen protector before using the brush. Ensure the brush you’re using is clean and dry. We recommend a soft makeup brush, a smaller painting brush, or a toothbrush with soft bristles.

Brush gently over the speaker, moving the brush from side to side. Repeat on the phone speaker holes. Ensure your iPhone is angled so that the brushed dust falls outside. Otherwise, you could push it deeper inside.

3. Use Cleaning Gel or Putty

Putties and gels are excellent materials for cleaning Apple products—iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, AirPods, etc. They’re versatile cleaning products designed specifically for sensitive electronics. The gel or putty must be extra sticky to remove dirt and not push it further into the speaker. As you remove the putty, it will pull all the dust particles, dirt, and grime out of the speaker grilles.

You’ll find several cleaning gel product options on Amazon. It might be an even better idea to invest in a putty designed specifically for cleaning iPhones. These come as small squares, and you should use one for each cleaning session. You can use this putty to clean every part of your iPhone and accessories.

4. Use Painter’s Tape

A masking or painter’s tape is another sticky product you could use to clean dirt off your iPhone speakers. Masking tape isn’t as strong as other types of sticky tape, but it’s just as effective. Plus, it doesn’t leave glue residue on your iPhone.

Wrap a small piece of painter’s tape around itself or your finger, sticky side out. Place the tape over your iPhone’s speaker and roll it from side to side. It’ll collect dust without you applying lots of pressure. Roll the tape several times and use a flashlight to check the progress.

5. Using a Toothpick

Sharp objects are not ideal for cleaning speakers and we don’t recommend using one as they can easily cause permanent damage. But if you have no other options, you can use a wooden or plastic toothpick to prick the gunk out of the lower speaker. Better yet, use a brush with very soft bristles to gently clear any debris. You should be cautious when trying this method and don’t use a toothpick on the receiver/top speaker.

Gently insert the toothpick’s sharp end into your iPhone’s speaker grilles without pushing the dirt further inside. Tilt the toothpick sideways and up and pull out. The debris should flick right out. Avoid tilting the toothpick down, as it can cause damage. You can also use this method to clean the charging port.

Alternatively, you can use paper clips or a needle Instead of a toothpick. However, keep a steady hand and don’t rush so you don’t damage your iPhone’s speakers.

What Not to Use to Clean iPhone Speakers?

Don’t use just anything and everything to clean your iPhone’s speakers. They are sensitive and you could easily break them. Here’s a list of what not to do and things you shouldn’t use to clean your iPhone’s speakers.

1. Never use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, water, or any cleaner solution on your speakers. You probably already know mixing liquids and electronics is a bad idea. Keep liquid away from the speakers so it doesn’t get into your iPhone.
2. Don’t use canned/compressed air or aerosol duster. Some websites suggest using them, but they were made for robust electronics. The pressure in those cans is too high for sensitive parts such as speakers. Instead of cleaning the dirt out of the speaker, you could end up pushing it further inside. An air blower is a safer alternative.
3. Avoid abrasive cloth and brushes as you might damage the phone’s casing.
4. Finally, never clean your iPhone (or the speaker) while it’s charging and in use. Always unplug and shut down your iPhone before cleaning it.

Conclusion

Cleaning your iPhone’s speakers should improve their sound quality. Afterward, you can quickly test the sound quality from the Settings app.

Head to Settings > Sound & Haptics and drag the “Ringer and Alerts” slider back and forth.

Your phone should play the ringtone on different volume levels. If it doesn’t sound right, your iPhone might need further repairs. If the sound issue persists after cleaning both speakers, have your iPhone examined or serviced by a professional at the nearest Apple store.