Cleaning Tips: Things to Avoid

Cleaning Bodypacks

1. Remove the lavalier mic, headset, or earphones and clean separately. Antennas should be left in place.
2. Be sure to power down the transmitter and remove the battery before cleaning.
3. Re-close the battery door. This will help minimize ingress of cleaning agents into the bodypack.
4. We have tested the following cleaning agents:
   • Mild soapy water (such as liquid dish soap), which is then removed with a clean, damp cloth.
   • Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes
   • Isopropyl Alcohol
5. Do not use abrasive cleaning tools as they can scratch the product. Instead, use a clean cloth or soft-bristled toothbrush. Use a minimal amount of cleaner - do not saturate the product.
6. Once the cleaning of the external surface is complete, pat dry with a soft cloth.
7. Open the battery door to inspect the battery area for any damp spots, and pat dry. Set aside, with the battery door open, and allow to dry fully.
8. We do not recommend cleaning the inside of the battery compartment. To help ensure a clean external surface, be sure to follow the guidance of appropriate health authorities regarding handwashing and/or personal protective equipment such as sterile gloves.

Cleaning Lavaliers & Headsets

1. Leave any grilles or caps on the lavalier microphone. Remove any external windscreens that may be present.
2. We have tested the following cleaning agents: 
   • Mild soapy water (such as liquid dish soap), which is then removed with a clean, damp cloth
   • Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes
   • Isopropyl Alcohol
   • Hydrogen Peroxide
   • Lysol® Disinfectant Spray
3. Use a minimal amount of cleaner - do not saturate the product. Apply cleaners with a clean cloth. When cleaning, avoid getting any moisture on the microphone element itself. Do not apply cleaning agents to the microphone capsule directly. For this reason, we highly recommend using a windscreen on the microphone that can easily be cleaned or, better yet, replaced. 
4. For standard lavaliers: Hold the microphone upward toward the ceiling with the cable hanging down so that any excess liquid will flow away from the microphone element. Start just below the microphone element and move down the length of the cable as you apply the cleaning agent.
5. For headset microphones: To control the flow of liquid cleaners, clean headsets in sections. First, wipe on the cleaner in the area between the microphone element and the headband. Wipe this section dry. Next move to the headband section, apply the cleaner and dry in the same manner. Finally, wipe the length of the cable.
6. Rinse the removable external windscreen with warm water or hydrogen peroxide only. Since they tend to act like a sponge, avoid soap or liquid detergents as they will be impossible to rinse fully. Isopropyl alcohol and Lysol disinfectant spray will cause color to leech from the windscreen. Clean replacements are the best solution!
7. Remove excess water from the windscreen.
8. Allow both the windscreen and lavalier to dry separately and completely before using.

Cleaning the Shure ADX1M Micro Bodypack Transmitter and TwinPlex Microphones

Note: The following information only applies to the Shure ADXM1 Micro Bodypack Transmitters.  For cleaning information for other Shure bodypacks, please see above.

1. Remove the lavalier mic or headset by unplugging it from the bodypack, and clean separately.
2. Be sure to power down the bodypack and remove the battery before cleaning.
3. Note that, unlike most bodypacks, there is no battery door. As such, there are some important differences for cleaning the battery compartment since it is exposed upon removal of the battery pack:
   • Use extra care when cleaning the battery compartment, using as little liquid solution as possible. To avoid potential damage to the battery contacts, we recommend air-drying as opposed to hand-drying. Therefore, some amount of additional drying time may be necessary.
   • Be extremely cautious when cleaning near the four spring-loaded battery contacts. It is best to avoid touching them entirely to prevent damage.
   • Water-based cleaning solutions may remove the “ink” on the label inside the battery compartment; and abrasive tools will exacerbate the problem. The cleaners recommended below have been found to have the least impact on the label ink. We highly recommend recording any critical information on the label before cleaning.
4. The following cleaning agents have been tested by Shure:
   • Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes
   • Isopropyl Alcohol
5. Do not use abrasive cleaning tools as they can scratch the product. Instead use a clean cloth with a minimal amount of cleaner - do not saturate the product.
6. After applying the cleaning agent to the external surfaces, pat dry with a soft cloth. Again, take care and avoid touching the battery contacts when drying the battery compartment as described above.  Set the cleaned product aside and allow to dry fully before reinstalling a clean battery pack.
7. Separately clean the battery pack using the minimal amount of cleaner possible, and dry immediately, using caution around the battery contact area. Set the clean battery pack aside and allow to dry fully before reinstalling it into the bodypack. If possible, consider using a spare battery, or different batteries for different users, instead of repeated cleaning.

Note: The following information only applies to Shure TwinPlex Microphones.  For cleaning information for other Shure microphones, please see the recommendations above.

TwinPlex is designed for maximum sweat resistance, which not only provides superb durability during normal use, but helps with consideration to cleaning as well. Not only is TwinPlex resistant to most liquids but also stands up well to many common chemical cleaners. In the lab setting, we found it very difficult to damage this product. While we cannot evaluate all cleaners available on the market, the following common cleaners were tested with TwinPlex and showed no indication of adverse effects. Choose one that is convenient for you: 

• Mild soapy water (such as liquid dish soap) 
• Clorox Disinfecting Wipes 
• Lysol Disinfectant Spray  
• Isopropyl alcohol  
• Hydrogen peroxide  

Steps for cleaning TwinPlex: 

1. Detach the microphone from the bodypack transmitter (or preamp if using it in a wired configuration). 
2. Remove any clips or accessories and clean them separately. 
3. Remove any external widescreens, if present. While TwinPlex itself is resistant to chemicals, dye in the windscreen can be leached or discolored in the presence of alcohols such as Isopropyl alcohol or ethanol. Instead, rinse the windscreen with hydrogen peroxide and set aside to dry separately. 
4. While TwinPlex is very durable, you can help preserve the superhydrophobic coating by taking care when cleaning the microphone element. Unlike most microphones, you can clean the microphone element directly, but please leave one of the frequency caps that covers the mic ON while cleaning.  Also, avoid the use of abrasive cleaning tools. Application using a soft cloth works best. 
5. The easiest way to apply cleaning solution is to either:  
   • Spray the cleaner onto the product with the cable wrapped into a coil, or 
   • Apply the cleaner along the length of the microphone using a cloth, wipe, or sponge. 
   • We do not recommend submerging the product in liquid. 
6. Dry the microphone by wiping the length of the cable with a clean, dry cloth.  
7. The microphone is ready to use immediately following cleaning.