5 simple steps to wash your dpa microphone

Our miniature microphones are built to last - and to sound their absolute best from day one and onwards. However, cleaning your mic once in a while is a good idea. Just make certain that you do it gently and follow the below steps carefully. You'll find that this particular 'cocktail' actually involves both stirring and shaking!

We have created short instructions on how to clean DPA Miniature, Subminiature, Headset and 4099 Instrument Microphones. These instructions work for both our omnidirectional and directional mics. Cleaning of mics should be done without grids, caps or foam screens for a proper rinse and to allow the water to evaporate fully when drying out. No cleaning fluids should be used - you will only need demineralized water.

OK, let's get started...

STEP 1 - Demineralized water only

Pour a bit of demineralized water into a small container. 20-30 ml should be sufficient. Again, please make sure not to add any kind of cleaning fluid.

STEP 2 - Remove the grid from the microphone

Remove the grid gently by pulling it off the mic element. 

STEP 3 - Wash and stir the mic

Next, simply dip the microphone into the demineralized water and stir gently. You may want to shake off the water of the mic and repeat this step a few times.

STEP 4 - Shake the microphone dry

Once you have carried out step 3 until the condenser mic is clean, give it a final shaking to get as dry as possible using this method. 

STEP 5 - Leave Out to Dry

The last step is simply to leave the microphone out to dry overnight - without attaching the grid. After a day, it should be completely dry and you can mount the grid again and bring the mic back to your production whether this might be theater, live music, broadcast, mobile journalism, location recording or something completely different that requires capturing pristine-sounding sound.