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Funky is generally a good thing in music. But, when it comes to cleanliness of you microphone, funky can by bad…very bad! Vocal microphones can get particularly bad. When singing into a mic, vocalists end up spitting and sweating all over the microphone grille. Don’t even get me started about lip gloss, make-up, Cheetos and chips! But hey, that’s why microphones have a grille protecting the capsule from damage, whether it be shock from dropping it, plosives, moisture or debris.

Debris and condensation can turn your microphone grille into a teeming playground of bacteria and mold. The kind of stuff that can make you sick. And a sick vocalist does not perform well!

If you own your own vocal mic, there are no excuses. You need to clean it on a routine basis!

This guide will show you how to do it.

When talking about cleaning a microphone, I’m really just talking about cleaning the grille and foam windscreen. You never want to get the entire microphone wet. So, you’ll need to remove the grille from the casing.

Many microphone grilles simply screw off (lefty loosy, righty tighty). Some mics, like the Shure SM57 have spring clips hidden under the label that, when depressed, allow you to remove the grille. Check your owners manual or manufacturer’s website if you mic grille doesn’t just unscrew.

Below is my Shure Beta 58A. The grille simply unscrew.

Once the grille is completely unscrewed, remove it carefully so as not to damage the microphone cartridge. Place the body aside carefully.

Note: If the grille doesn’t easily slide off, wiggle it back and forth gently while pulling it away from the cartridge (but don’t pull hard or you might damage it).

Once the grille is free from the body, it’ll be easier to clean if you remove the foam windscreen. Check the foam for damage or degradation. If it’s starting to disintegrate, it may be time to order a new grille. The foam windscreen is very important in that it protects the microphone from excessive plosives and air gusts.

To clean the grille and foam, fill a small container with water and a couple of drops of dish soap. Place the grille and foam in the container and leave it to sit for 30 minutes or so. Then, use an old tooth brush and brush the mesh both inside and out. Take your foam and gently squeeze the soapy water through it.

Empty the container and fill it with clean water. Rinse both the grille and the foam windscreen thoroughly. Once you’ve rinsed them, place them on a towel to dry.

Allow both the grille and the foam to dry completely. Once they’re dry, gently replace the foam into the grill ensuring that the foam is seated in place and the edges of the foam don’t overlap the threads.

NOTE: Never assemble the grille or foam back onto the microphone capsule until they are completely dry.

Cleaning your grille is a pretty straight forward task. It just needs to be done with sufficient frequency to keep the bad kind of “funk” out of your music.

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