How to Clean iPhone Speakers

Make your device sound like new

By
Sam Costello
Sam Costello
Sam Costello
Writer
  • Ithaca College
Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others.
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Updated on March 5, 2021
iPhone & iOS

What to Know

  • Soft brush: Dip the brush tip into rubbing alcohol. Run the brush lightly across the speakers to remove dirt and debris.
  • Tape: Roll a piece of painter's tape into a loop. Roll the sticky side back and forth over the speakers to remove the dirt.
  • Compressed air: Hold the nozzle a foot away from the speaker and spray a few short bursts of air.

It's a good idea to clean your iPhone speakers every once in a while. Lean how to clean both the stereo and earpiece speakers on your device without risk of damaging them.

How to Clean iPhone Speakers with a Soft Brush

Perhaps the simplest way to clean iPhone speakers is to use a soft brush. This could be a small paint brush or even a toothbrush. Whatever you pick, make sure it's a super-soft option. Stiff bristles could accidentally damage your iPhone.

Once you've got the right brush, dip the tip of the brush in a little bit of rubbing alcohol. It's important not to soak the entire brush. You just want enough to do the job, not so much that you drip moisture into the phone.

Run the damp brush lightly back and forth across the speakers to remove the dirt and debris.

Don't use water instead of rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol evaporates quickly. So if you use the right amount, it won't leak inside the iPhone and potentially cause damage. Water lingers and could cause problems. Worried that you might have damaged your iPhone with water? Check out Apple's article on the iPhone's built-in water-damage indicator.

A woman cleaning an iPhone with a cloth
Prykhodov/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus

How to Clean iPhone Speakers with Painter's Tape

If you've ever painted a wall, you probably used low-stick, blue painter's tape to cover edges and other things you wanted to keep paint off of. This tape can be used to clean iPhone speakers, too. Because it's not too sticky, it's great for picking up dirt without leaving sticky residue behind.

To clean this way, get some painter's tape and tear off a small strip. Reverse the strip so that the sticky side faces out and then roll the tape so it's in a small loop (it can be easier to roll the tape around a finger).

Then, roll the sticky side of the tape back and forth over the iPhone speaker to pull up dirt and grime.

You may be tempted to use a toothpick to clean your iPhone speakers, but we don't recommend it. Because the tip of a toothpick is sharp and small, you might accidentally push the toothpick too far into the iPhone and damage the speaker. If you absolutely want to use a tooth-cleaning tool on your iPhone, get an inter-tooth cleaner with a soft, plastic tip.

How to Clean iPhone Speakers with Compressed Air

Another fairly reliable way to clean iPhone speakers is to use compressed air. These bottles of air are often used to clean keyboards and other computer equipment by using a powerful burst of air to blow away debris.

Compressed air can be a good first cleaning step or for finishing after using other options.

If you're going to use compressed air, it's crucial that you hold the nozzle a good distance away from the iPhone speaker. Try for 9-12 inches of distance between the compressed air and the speaker. Anything closer and the powerful air could damage your iPhone.

Your speakers aren't the only interior part of the iPhone that might need cleaning. Headphone jacks can get the same sort of build up. We've got some tips on cleaning out the iPhone headphone jack and fixing related problems.

Why You Should Clean Your iPhone Speakers

If you've had your iPhone for a while, maybe even just a few months, cleaning out the speakers is a good idea. That's because a lot of gunk can build up in the speakers. That includes lint from keeping your iPhone in your pockets, dirt, dust, and even dead skin cells (gross!). The more that builds up in the speakers, the more you can have problems with your iPhone speakers. Cleaning the speakers will keep your iPhone in tip-top shape.

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