Karaoke Forums

I was wondering if any of you use anything to sterilize your mics. When you think about all the spit and bad breath that goes into a mic...........YUCK!! Any suggestions? Can you spray them with Lysol??

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

You can just don't saturate them. I have had sanitizing wipes on hand off and on. Best thing is just to take the screens nightly & wash them in hot water, being careful of the foam lining inside.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

best sterilization technique i've found. get a 3rd wired mic & a short cord or a wireless, then put it in a table mic holder.
use that one for just you and you alone.

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It's all good!

I already have that. !!

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I already have that. !! "No, No you can't use my mic!!"

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

we use Roche Thomas Mi-T-Mist.
it is made for sanitizing instrument mouthpieces, especially at schools.
dries quick, leaves a nice minty scent......as opposed to beer and cigarettes.
and like Lon said, just gotta wash 'em.

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

Lysol contains alcohol which will dry your mics element out and make it brittle...IE: ruin them.

If you must spray your mics, remove the windscreens, spray them & let them dry before replacing.

I don't sterilize my mics, but if I were, I would use wipes instead of sprays.

really i use wind screens on the outside and take them off and was with just plain soap and water and let dry then use again then next night. that way i don't have to worry about cleaning the frame or the inner screen....

and i do take the inner screen out and clean at least once a month, same procedure, soap and water.

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It's all good!

I just use Clorox wipes and wipe them down each night. I do take the screen off and clean them when they start to look bad.

We take a few minutes to wipe down the mics and mic cables with Lysol disinfectant wipes at the beginning of each rotation. I'm not 100% sure that it really helps... but it gives me a certain amount of peace of mind.

or, as the old addage says "It's like chicken soup. It might not help, but it can't hurt."

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

I refuse to sing at shows that use these. Exactly why they are called "wind" screens, to reduce the sound of wind while outside. They do NOTHING for sanitization of a mic, as a matter of fact it's worse! They are foam, foam absorbs moisture, people spit while they sing (and some while they talk), spit is moisture. Go ahead and feel one of those 'protectors' after several songs - especially if you are a singer, you MIGHT agree with me after you actually feel one - especially after that singer, oh I have a cold cough cough!!!! If I cannot remove these when I am at a show, I won't sing. At the very least a metal screen can be wiped off before someone sings and is a barrier between you and the foam inside the screen, the foam spit absorbers (wind screens), you can't do anything about!

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

here is a posting on another website on mic sanitization.

Dynamic Microphones
The best way to clean a microphone is to remove the grille. Most vocal microphone grilles simply unscrew, e.g., SM58, BG3.1. If the grille doesn’t slide off easily, gently rock it back and forth while pulling it away from the cartridge. Do not pull sharply or with excessive force, since that could damage the cartridge or separate it from the microphone housing.

Once the grille is removed, it can be thoroughly cleaned without damaging the mic. Since most of the offensive material on the grille comes from the human body, plain water should be a sufficient cleanser. Adding a mild detergent (dishwashing liquid) to the water will act as a mild disinfectant and remove odors absorbed by the foam windscreen.

To remove lipstick and other material stuck in the grille, use a toothbrush with soft bristles. In some models, the foam windscreen can be removed from the grille, but this is usually not necessary since water will not damage the grille. Most Shure microphone grilles have a nickel finish that makes them resistant to rust, and replacing the foam windscreen can also be difficult and time-consuming.

The most important thing to remember is: let the grille dry completely before reattaching it to the microphone! Microphones don’t like water, and although dynamic mics can withstand small amounts of moisture, a soggy foam windscreen will introduce more than is acceptable.

Air drying is the best way to dry the grille, but a hair drier on a low-heat setting can be used. Care must be taken not to get too close to the grille as excessive heat can melt some windscreen material.

Cleaning must be done more carefully for microphones that do not have removable grilles, e.g., SM57, 545.

Using a damp toothbrush, hold the microphone upside down and very gently scrub the grille.

Holding the mic upside down will prevent excess moisture from leaking into the microphone cartridge.

This technique is also useful for cleaning the foam that covers the diaphragm inside an SM58.

Again, keep the mic upside down, and be very gentle.

In live situations with multiple acts, it may be desirable to clean the microphones between acts. Use a diluted solution of mouthwash (Listermint, Scope) with water. Using a toothbrush and holding the microphones upside down, scrub the grille of the microphone.

At the very least, this technique will make the microphones smell more pleasant to the performer. Also make certain the sound system is turned off before the cleaning begins!

Condenser Microphones
Due to the more delicate nature of condenser microphones, never use water or any other liquid for cleaning purposes. Even a small amount of moisture may damage a condenser element.

For microphones with removable grilles like the Beta 87 or BG5.1, the grille and foam windscreen may be washed as described above.

Again, the grille and windscreen must be completely dry before reattaching it to the microphone. To clean a microphone with a permanently attached grille like the SM81 or BG4.1, use a dry, soft bristle toothbrush and gently scrub the grille.

Keep the microphone upside down so that loosened particles fall away from it. Take care not to let stray bristles get caught in the grille. This technique also works well for lavaliers and miniature gooseneck mics.

For condenser microphones that will be subject to harsh conditions, such as vocals and theater applications, it is advisable to use a removable external foam windscreen.

This will protect the microphone from saliva and make-up, and can be removed and cleaned with soap and water after the performance. Remember, never get water near a condenser element!

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It's all good!

Some really good info here. Thanks.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I have 2 things that I use for cleaning the mic after EVERY singer.

1). I use a small hairspray bottle (2 oz) and fill it with 70% isopropal alcohol. I give the screen and the barrel 1 spray each and wipe it off with a microfiber cloth. The alcohol dries very quickly so there is very little fear of saturating the mic element.

2). I velcroed a handy wipe container to the side of my rig directly under the mic holder for the singer to wipe down their own mic.

Since I employed this I have had near "zero" people with colds. I also get applauded when I announce that I practice "safe microphone" as I spray it and wipe it down. It is extremely well received

OOOO, I like that idea. I may have to borrow that. Thanks.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Sorry, Lon, the windscreen stays. I don't want anyone slobbering directly into my expensive mics.


I use and ultraviolet sanitizer on resting mics, I use Lysol on the screens during a show, as well as wipes on the barrel.

The screens are changed out and washed after every show.
Internal screens are done every 2 weeks.

Sick singers means less singers....

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Sorry you will get more sick singers with the foam spit absorbers, no matter what you try to do during a show to sterilize them! I'm not even concerned with germs - but a foam full of other peoples spit from all night is a big concern that is disgusting, no matter what you think you can do about it. Again, at least the metal screen is SOME sort of barrier that can be wiped off.
Just get some SM58's and not worry about the expensive mics!

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I gotta go with Lon on this one. Putting a big absorbent spit sponge on your mic is going to invite more problems than it solves. Besides your ultraviolet sterilizer only works on the surface (it's light after all) and it needs several minutes to do it's job. Exactly what sterilizer are you using? I have never seen one made for mics so you must be using one designed for another purpose? What about the slobber inside the sponge?

I used to go to a show up in NY that used spit catchers. YUCK. By the end if the night they would be damp with spit. How gross. Imagine if someone puked before they sang, and now it's on your spit absorber. No thanks.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Disagree on the foam when using both Lysol and UV, and metal mics have internal screens that pick up germs and slobber. Best when protected with an extra layer.

I have wireless SM58's, as well as Senns and GTD Audio- ALL expensive. Not gonna happen.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."