How to clean the speakers on Xiaomi Mi 8: 5 proven ways without disassembling the phone

Xiaomi Mi 8 is the flagship of 2018, which is still relevant due to the powerful hardware and high-quality build. However, over time, even in such a reliable device, speakers begin to wheez or muted. The reason is almost always the same: the accumulation of dust, pile of pockets or microparticles of dirt in the grille and under the membrane. In this article, we will discuss how to clean the speakers on Xiaomi Mi 8 at home without breaking the phone and without risking damage to the microphones or sealed body.

It's important to understand that the Mi 8 has two speakers, the main one (bottom one for music and calls) and the conversational one (top one for voice calls), and their design is different, so the cleaning methods will be different. We tested 5 ways, from the simplest (scotch and toothpick) to the advanced ones (ultrasonic tub for electronics), all of which are safe if you follow the instructions and don't apply excessive force.

Before you start, check if the pollution is the problem, run the speaker test through the engineering menu (code ##4636## → Audio Tests), or play a track with deep bass. If the sound is distorted only at high volume or "bubbling" is 99% clogged grille. If the sound is missing completely, the speaker may be faulty or the plume has gone (you need to disassemble it).

1.Preparation: What will be needed for cleaning

Before you start the speakers, prepare the tools and the workplace.

• 🧼 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) — To degrease and remove sticky contaminants, don't use vodka or medical alcohol, they contain additives that can leave a film behind.
• 🪥 A soft bristling toothbrush is perfect for dry cleaning of the grille. Hard bristles can scratch the metal mesh.
• 📎 Scotch or sticky tape - to remove dust from hard-to-reach places. Better take stationery tape 1.5-2 cm wide.
• 🔍 Loop or flashlight – to assess the degree of contamination and the result of cleaning.
• 🧷 Wooden toothpick or plastic spatula - for neatly tucking the grille (only if it's removable!) On the Mi 8, the top grille is glued - don't try to remove it without heating it!

A vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle (at minimum power!) or a can of compressed air (for example, to clean keyboards) are also useful, but they should be used extremely carefully: the air flow should not be icy (condensate risk) and too strong (can damage the speaker membrane).

⚠️ Attention: Never blow into the speaker with your mouth! saliva contains enzymes and microorganisms that, when hitting the membrane, can cause corrosion or mold. Also, don't use wet wipes - they leave fibers behind.

2. Method 1: Cleaning with Scotch (the safest)

This is a method that is suitable for surface cleaning and removal of dust, pile or small debris, and it is absolutely safe, because it does not require mechanical action on the lattice or membrane.

Instructions:

1. Cut a strip of scotch ~1.5 cm wide and 5-7 cm long.
2. Fold it with a sticky side outwards, forming a “loop” (as in the photo below).
3. Carefully press the loop against the speaker grille and pull it over. Repeat 3-4 times, each time using a new piece of tape.
4. For the top speaker (Mi 8 has a narrow slit), use a narrow tape or cut a strip 0.5 cm wide.

This is a good way to remove dust, grains of sand and hair, but it's useless against dried dirt or sticky dirt, and you'll need to combine scotch with other methods.

Try a toothbrush.|Use alcohol to dissolve dirt|Check the speaker for moisture (if the sound "bursts»)|Contact the service (if the sound is not completely available)-->

⚠️ Warning: Do not use paint tape or construction tape - their glue is too aggressive and can leave marks on the case. Also do not press the loop too hard: the membrane speaker is thin and can deform.

Method 2: Toothbrush + isopropyl alcohol

If the tape fails, we move to "heavy artillery," which removes dried dirt, soda leaks, or sticky contaminants (for example, if the phone was in a candy bag).

Step-by-step:

1. Wet the bristles of your toothbrush in isopropyl alcohol. Press the excess! The liquid must not drip.
2. Carefully, without pressing, brush the speaker along (not across!) the perforation lines. For the top speaker, use top-down motion.
3. Let the alcohol evaporate (2-3 minutes). Don't turn on the phone right away - residual moisture can damage the contacts.
4. Repeat the procedure with tape (method 1) to remove softened dirt.

To enhance the effect, you can heat the grille with a hairdryer (temperature no higher than 50 ° C!) for 10-15 seconds, which will help dissolve old contaminants, but don't direct the air flow directly into the speaker - only onto the metal mesh!

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If you don't have isopropyl alcohol on hand, you can use a liquid to clean your smartphone screens (no ammonia!). Apply 1-2 drops on a cotton swab and wipe the grille without pressing.

Method 3: Ultrasonic Bath (for Advanced)

If the Xiaomi Mi 8 speakers are so jammed that previous methods didn’t work, you can use an ultrasonic bathtub, which requires caution, but produces almost 100% results.

What you need:

• 🛁 Ultrasonic bath (you can buy inexpensive on AliExpress or borrow from friends).
• 💧 Distilled water or isopropyl alcohol (70%+).
• 🧴 Soap solution (optional, for severe contaminants).
• 🔧 Plastic tweezers.

Instructions:

1. Remove the speaker grille. On the Mi 8, the bottom grille is mounted on the latches, the top grille is attached to the glue. To remove the top grille, gently tuck it in with a plastic spatula, preheated with a hairdryer (60-70°C).
2. Place the lattice in a bath with solution (water + 10% alcohol or soap solution). Set a temperature of 40-50 ° C and a time of 2-3 minutes.
3. After treatment, wash the grille with distilled water and dry for 12+ hours (or use a dryer at minimum power).
4. Set the grille back, making sure it fits tightly.

⚠️ Warning: Never put the entire phone or membrane speaker in an ultrasonic bath! Vibration can damage the adhesives inside the module.

Method 4: Vacuum cleaning (vacuum cleaner or spray)

If you have a power-adjusted vacuum cleaner on hand or a compressed air canister (like an Air Duster), you can try blowing the speakers out, which is a good way to remove dust from the depths, but requires care.

How to do it right:

• 🌀 Use a narrow nozzle on the vacuum cleaner (for example, for furniture). Set the minimum power.
• 🌬️ Keep the nozzle 1-2 cm away from the grille. Don't touch the phone!
• ⏱️ Processing time - no more than 5 seconds per speaker.
• 🔄 For compressed air spray, shake it off before use to avoid liquid ejection. Hold the balloon vertically.

After vacuum cleaning, be sure to repeat the procedure with tape or brush - the airflow expels the dirt out, and it must be removed from the surface.

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Vacuum cleaning is effective at removing fine dust from internal cavities, but is useless against sticky or dried contaminants. Combine it with other methods for better results.

6. Method 5: Disassembly of the phone (extreme case)

If all the previous methods didn't work, and the sound in the speakers is still distorted, maybe the pollution is under the membrane or on the speakers contacts, in which case a partial disassembly will be required.

What needs to be done:

1. Unplug the back cover of the Mi 8 with a plastic shoulder blade and hair dryer (heat the edges to 70°C). Be careful - the fingerprint scanner plume is thin!
2. Disconnect the battery (required!), then turn off the speaker plume.
3. Remove the speaker and clean it with a soft brush of alcohol.
4. Check the contacts on the board - if necessary, clean them with a stripe or alcohol.
5. Collect the phone in reverse order, making sure all plumes are tightly connected.

If you have never disassembled smartphones, it is better to contact the service.The cost of cleaning speakers on the Mi 8 in 2026 — from 500 to 1500 rubles, depending on the region.

7.Prevention: How to protect speakers from pollution

To keep the Xiaomi Mi 8 speakers clean for longer, follow the simple rules:

• 📵 Do not put your phone in your pocket with coins, keys or other metal objects – they scratch the grille and clog it with shavings.
• 🧴 Avoid creams, lotions or cosmetics on the body, and fats from these products attract dust.
• 🌧️ Do not use your phone in the rain or in dusty areas (such as a construction site) without a cover.
• 🔄 Once every 2-3 months, wipe the grilles with a dry soft brush (for example, for makeup).
• 🛡️ Put the tape on speakers (sold with special stickers with microperforation) They do not degrade the sound, but protect against dust.

If you often listen to music at high volume, consider a wireless headphone, which will reduce the load on the speakers and reduce the risk of dirt from increased vibration.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning the Xiaomi Mi 8 speakers