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Mildewy speaker stuffing

rustycat

rustycat

70s gear freak
I picked up a pair of speakers that were probably kept in a basement or garage for a long period of time judging by the strong mildew smell that emanates from them.

I plan to put some odor absorbant in the cabinets to clear that out, but am wondering about how to deodorize the stuffing. It's some type of dense fabric, almost like carpet padding. Would it be safe to soak it in hot water with vinegar and borax, or should I just sprinkle it with baking soda? I don't want the stuffing to shrink before I put it back in.

Thanks!
 
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Me - I'd replace the stuffing materials after cleaning up the cabs.

Where I used to live, we had a bathroom between the garage and laundry room. Back side of the home where is didn't get heat and away from the sun. Kept having problems with the mold and we had to keep cleaning it to stay on top of it.
Then the wife sprayed it down with a bottle spray "Mold Control" product. It did well to kill it and provides a barrier to really inhibit its growth from reappearing. Saved a lot of work afterward. She got it I think at Home Depot. Don't recall who made it - it came in a pump spray bottle. Didn't have any strong order and wasn't caustic to skin.
 
Condensation will form on speaker drivers when in a environment which gets hot and cold cycles. Even if you replace the stuffing, you may still continue to get the same problem because of where the speakers are.
 
i would wipe down the inside of the cabs with bleach.
then let them air out till the smell is gone.

and replace the stuffing with something else...throw the old stinky stuff out.
 
BillyTheKid said:
i would wipe down the inside of the cabs with bleach.
then let them air out till the smell is gone.

and replace the stuffing with something else...throw the old stinky stuff out.
Click to expand...

+1! Yes, that's really the only proper solution. You could leave the insulation out in the bright sunlight for a few days to kill the mildew but it's far easier and better just to replace it.

John
 
What do you recommend for replacement stuffing? It's not foam or fiberglass, it's a thick cloth material kind of like carpet padding or felt.

One more thing: the drivers also smell mildewy. Can I gently wipe them with a damp cloth with bleach?
 
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i'm not sure about what to replace it with. and i'm not sure it would make that much of a difference....as long as you come close to replicating what was there.

wiping the cones down with bleach would certainly kill the mold, but getting the paper wet may cause some damage.
We'll have to wait till somebody with more experience chimes in on that one...
 
Yeah, I know the material you're talking about but I have no idea where to tell you to look for it or even what it's called. I was thinking "acoustic matting" but that appears to be soundproofing material.

You could use fiberglass, I suppose. It would likely take some trial & error to get the quantity and loft right.

John
 
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