We’ve covered plenty of great smart speakers, from the popular Amazon Echoes and Nest smart displays to the Siri-friendly HomePod Mini. But one thing that most have in common is the fabric that covers the speakers themselves. It wasn’t always fashionable — for example, the first Echos didn’t have one. Once companies started switching to this design aesthetic, no one could get enough.
This fabric has some advantages. It blends in with the decor more easily, especially when it is available in several different shades. But they can also get dusty over time (or attract pet hair, etc.), like everything else, which raises an important question: How to clean them? Would any cleaning technique damage the speaker? There are several different options, so let’s go through our preferred methods.
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How to clean fabric on a smart speaker
You don’t have to try them in any particular order, but we’ll start with our favorites that gave the best results.
Step 1: Always turn off your device before starting.
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Step 2: Take the lint roller, peel off the last strip and get to work. An anti-lint roller offers the best of all worlds: it pulls in residual dust, picks up small bits of debris that may have stuck to the top of the fabric, removes literal lint, and generally cleans the whole thing in just a few passes. Lint rollers are also quite affordable and have multiple uses around the home. They create a bit more waste than some other methods, but that’s really the only downside.
Step 3: Use a vacuum attachment for curtains or furniture. Most household vacuum cleaners have an attachment designed for careful handling of fabric. Even if they don’t, there’s usually a dusting brush attachment for certain types of hard surfaces. These attachments will work well for cleaning the fabric of the smart speaker.
Keep suction reduced if possible to reduce the risk of accidents. Usually the easiest way is to hold the smart speaker in one hand and hold the vacuum attachment in the other and work both together to cover the entire surface.
This method may be the best option if the speaker has a more serious dirt problem, such as crumbs that have gotten inside or layers of pet hair that repeatedly rub against the fabric.
Step 4: Grab a tried-and-tested dusting cloth. Do not use any cleaning agent, just wipe the speaker fabric thoroughly with a light touch. This movement will help remove the outer layers of dust on a speaker that only needs a little maintenance from time to time. Be sure to use a clean cloth, such as a microfiber dusting cloth.
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What if the fabric is stained?
Smudges also happen, especially if you have a smart speaker in the kitchen while you cook (a common use) or if a child gets too creative with markers or crayons. Here’s what to try.
Step 1: A simple stain caused by a kitchen spill can usually be cleaned up with a quick application of a damp duster or kitchen towel. Try this first. Do not use so much water that the speaker fabric may get wet during the process.
Step 2: If your stain is more dirty, take a toothbrush, soak it in some warm water and scrub the area for a minute.
Step 3: Markers, crayons, etc. are much harder to remove. While the colloquial wisdom is to try alcohol, smart speaker manufacturers are very clear that you should use only the smallest amount, or preferably none at all. Additionally, you may risk damaging the fabric or its color in the process. Also avoid detergents and other soaps.
Instead, we suggest you try a magic eraser like the Mr. Clean combined with some of our steps above for your best shot at getting rid of these serious scars.
Step 4: Let the device sit and dry thoroughly for an hour or two before turning it back on.
What if I want a smart speaker that doesn’t have fabric?
You have options! We recommend something like the incredibly versatile Sonos One speaker.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn