Dirt in Speaker and Microphone - iPhone 3G

VIPERxGTx2000 · 10-02-2007, 06:35 PM

So I have dirt build-up in both my speaker and microphone, A lot of the holes are clogged. How many of you also have this problem and how are you guys cleaning this out?

Tinman · 10-02-2007, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VIPERxGTx2000

So I have dirt build-up in both my speaker and microphone, A lot of the holes are clogged. How many of you also have this problem and how are you guys cleaning this out?

Mine are clean, though I have my iPhone in an Incase sleeve, which kinda recesses the mic/speaker.

That said I wondered how I would clean it if they did become clogged. Seems like the best method would be to have a strong, yet tiny, vacuum--or vacuum attachment--sucking really strong as you carefully clear out the holes (without poking through them enough to damage the mic/speaker). The point would be to avoid pushing the blockage inside.

--
Mike

iamtko · 10-02-2007, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinman

Mine are clean, though I have my iPhone in an Incase sleeve, which kinda recesses the mic/speaker.

That said I wondered how I would clean it if they did become clogged. Seems like the best method would be to have a strong, yet tiny, vacuum--or vacuum attachment--sucking really strong as you carefully clear out the holes (without poking through them enough to damage the mic/speaker). The point would be to avoid pushing the blockage inside.

--
Mike

that made me giggle XP
a REALLY tiny vacuum.. heheh

i'm not sure if this would work but it seems like it would: you could take off the antenna cover and just take a needle and push out the blockage? i've never taken off the antenna but i know it's possible, i'm just not sure exactly what the inside of the antenna cover looks like

shnoogan · 10-02-2007, 08:49 PM

i usually use a combo of dust-off and a toothpick/ other sharp object to get all the grimy dirty stuff out of the tiny speaker/mic. holes and the docking slot. it works, but i have to constantly do it...

VIPERxGTx2000 · 10-02-2007, 09:56 PM

I was thinking about taking the black antenna cover off but I have a BodyGaurdz full body shield on it. I'm gonna try a vacuum and needle.

x999x · 10-02-2007, 10:10 PM

I use some very fine tweezers to clean that part of my phone. I use the sharp tip to scratch at whats clogging the speaker holes, I don't actually push/prod.

With enough scratching, you'll turn that dirt into a fine dust which can be tapped out pretty easily. I actually had a salt crystal stuck in one of the holes, I have no clue how it even got there, but thats what prompted me to figure out how to get this stuff outta there without ruining my speaker/mic.

iPaul · 10-02-2007, 10:35 PM

Hmm, I'm more concerned wtih dust and lint traveling through the headphone and dock openings and ending up under my screen!

I could barely see the screen on my 1.5 year old Razr by the end of it's life....

I wish someone would offer a non-conductive dummy plug for both of these holes, like just a plastic bit you could stick in there to keep out the grime, or a case that has removeable covers...

ataq · 10-02-2007, 10:45 PM

i have this one little piece of something that looks like sand in just one of the holes in the speaker. whenever i wanna get it out i get lazy looking for soething to tkqe it out so, outta sight, outta mind

Nikos · 10-02-2007, 11:54 PM

Both my speaker and microphone are clean. I don't use a case, but I'm always cleaning the phone and take care of it.

dresden24 · 04-15-2008, 12:34 AM

I not only had grime in my speaker holes, but also in my mic holes.

I had cleaned the holes, but it had gotten past the holes into the phone.

i took the black part of the cover off the same way this guy did:

http://www.hackthatphone.com/73/ipho...nlock_mac.html

then i saw why people couldn't hear me speak very loud. the black clothlike material covering the mic and the speaker, had dried caked on gunk covering it.

so...i simply removed both little black cloth coverings and cleaned the holes even better now that i had the phone apart and put it all back together.

I made a test call to the one who complained about my voice volume and she said it was crystal clear. Taking the cloth off of the speaker part accomplished the same thing as poking the needle through the holes like some have done.

By the way, there is no speaker to poke through unless you poke really deep because only a few of the holes actually are above the speaker and it's way down deep in a tunnel like fixture.

this was very easy to do...took only 5 minutes from start to finish and the ipod and videos play really loud now and my voice is loud and clear!

i took a very thin sharp pocket knife blade to wedge between the silver part of the back cover and the black part.

it all went back together just like new...just take your time.

Also...the black material covering the mic is actually stuck to the mic, while the black material covering the speaker will be attached to the inside of the holes on the black cover once you remove it.