Microphone foam covers or windscreens are the first in line protection for your microphone’s capsule. That means they absorb everything thrown at the microphone and can get incredibly dirty and germ-filled. Here’s how to make clean and fresh again.
The best and most recommended way to clean your microphone’s form cover is to wash it in warm water with regular mild soap. You can leave it soaked in the soapy water for a couple of hours, then gently rub it off. Squeeze out the water gently and then leave it to dry for 1 to 3 days. If you’re able to put this outside under the sun, in front of a fan or blow dryer, that could speed up the overall drying time.
If you really must get germs and bacteria off it, then you can use mild anti-bacterial liquid hand soap. Just a few drops in water, soak for a while then rise with water.
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How to clean headset microphone windscreen?
Cleaning your headset microphones form covers follow similar steps as above. Gently pull out the microphone foam cover from the headset boom making sure not to damage it, especially if it is somehow locked onto the tip of the boom.
Then soak it in warm soapy water and gently squeeze out all of the dirt onto the water is clean. Next let it dry for 1 to 3 days preferably in front of constant airflow like a fan or out in the sun.
How to get rid of lint and dust from your foam cover?
The constant use of your microphone will cause it to pick up lots of dust and lint. Saliva and other humid factors will keep the dust and lint attached to the phone cover and this can build up over time.
Washing the windscreen will greatly reduce or even eliminate the dust on it. The lint and other pieces of material will entwine themselves in the tiny holes of the foam and can become difficult to get rid of.
The best way to get rid of lint in the foam covers is to use tiny-tip tweezers to pull all the strands and stuck dirt. Do this before washing the foam cover to pull out the larger pieces, and after washing and drying, to pull out the remaining stuck strands.
As you will be physically pulling on these stuck materials, you may also pull on some foam. It is very important to do this slowly, in good lighting and only tugging on the lint and dirt itself. Chipping away at the foam will permanently damage it, please do this with great care.
Once you have removed all the lint and your foam cover is freshly washed, consider using a microphone/headset case to keep your equipment protected when not in use.
What to avoid when cleaning foam covers.
- Avoid using hard chemicals like Lysol or clorox on your mic’s foam covers and windscreens . They damage the delicate porous foam material and could also discolour it.
- Don’t spray any product containing bleach or sodium hypochlorite on the foam cover.
- Avoid popular tricks involving the use of mouth-wash liquids.
- Don’t over stretch the foam covers when you are washing them. A good soak and then squeeze out of the water while rinsing will do the trick.
- Do not reinstall a foam cover that is still wet or humid. Using a humid foam cover is not good for your mic and will only lead to more bacteria and germs build up on your mic.
What safe products to clean microphone windscreen covers?
The safest and most readily available product to clean your mic’s foam covers is warm water and dish or regular washing soap. It does not have to be more complicated than that. Soap is very effective at breaking down dirt and once well rinsed, your foam cover will be fresh again and in great condition.
Is your mic’s foam cover too worn out to save?
With regular use, there’ll come a time when the windscreen cover is way too perished to keep using. You’ll have to search for replacement covers for your mic. Luckily, there are many possibilities these days and if you own a popular brand of microphones, you’ll be able to find an original replacement.
If you struggle to find an original replacement for your mic, you can go with a compatible aftermarket version. They are cheaper and usually fit various types of mics. A benefit to buying these cheaper variants is that you can buy multiple covers. This way you can keep spares and even have separate covers for different users of the mic.
In summary
Cleaning your mic’s foam covers should not be rocket science. With the guide and tips, we shared in this article, some mild soap and warm water, you should be able to get that clean and ready to roll in not too long. So jump right into it and best of luck with your endeavours.