Washing acoustic foams???

superfunk · 1st November 2010, 03:08 PM

Hi all.
A friend gave me a large box of some acoustic foams, those with tiny pyramids.
The foam's colour is a funky PINK, but most of them are very dirty and some of them are like "compressed", that's because they've been stored for long time in this box.
I was thinking of washing them with some water and vinegar.
Will i damage them? Are acoustic foams somehow washable? Any suggestions?
Someone once told me that even pushing the spikes with fingers is not a good thing...

Boofers · 1st November 2010, 03:30 PM

Maybe try blowing them with compressed air?

superfunk · 6th November 2010, 10:37 PM

Done it!
The dirty ones are still dirty.
My worries were concerned on the "pushing-squeezing" part.
Do you think this was just a stupid affirmation?
That person was sustaining the presence of a superficial treatment over those tiny pyramids.. Is it possible?

forgive my english

Juergen Knoop · 6th November 2010, 10:57 PM

pink? Sounds more like some packaging foam. Since you do have a whole box of it, why not try to wash one sample with warm water and some detergent or washing powder?
I have washed foam with the washing machine in the past. But I'm not not shure, if I would do this with foam of questionable quality. It may ruin the poor machine!

regards

superfunk · 6th November 2010, 11:43 PM

It is probably some sort of packaging foam... I think you could be right! I'm getting suspicious as the pieces are cutted about 40x40cm...
Thanks

unclejed613 · 7th November 2010, 12:02 AM

pink "egg carton" foam is a packing material. the pink color is from an antistatic dye used in the foam. it's not considered conductive, but it does bleed off static charges if you don't mind the odd color, it will still make a good sound dampening material. i have used it to line speaker boxes. it's not really acoustic foam, as it's a closed cell foam, and acoustic foam is open-cell foam. closed cell foam doesn't get damaged when you poke it, but some open cell foams can get damaged.

superfunk · 7th November 2010, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclejed613

it's not really acoustic foam, as it's a closed cell foam, and acoustic foam is open-cell foam. closed cell foam doesn't get damaged when you poke it, but some open cell foams can get damaged.

This is exactely what i wanted to know.
Tomorrow i'll wash all of them with some soap and white vinegar.
Thank you!

1st November 2010, 03:08 PM	#1
superfunk diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2010	Washing acoustic foams??? Hi all. A friend gave me a large box of some acoustic foams, those with tiny pyramids. The foam's colour is a funky PINK, but most of them are very dirty and some of them are like "compressed", that's because they've been stored for long time in this box. I was thinking of washing them with some water and vinegar. Will i damage them? Are acoustic foams somehow washable? Any suggestions? Someone once told me that even pushing the spikes with fingers is not a good thing...

7th November 2010, 12:02 AM	#6
unclejed613 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2006	pink "egg carton" foam is a packing material. the pink color is from an antistatic dye used in the foam. it's not considered conductive, but it does bleed off static charges if you don't mind the odd color, it will still make a good sound dampening material. i have used it to line speaker boxes. it's not really acoustic foam, as it's a closed cell foam, and acoustic foam is open-cell foam. closed cell foam doesn't get damaged when you poke it, but some open cell foams can get damaged. __________________ Vintage Audio and Pro-Audio repair ampz(removethis)@sohonet.net spammer trap: http://www1284177414881.v-dc.net/

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1st November 2010, 03:30 PM	#2
Boofers diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ontario Blog Entries: 1	Maybe try blowing them with compressed air?

6th November 2010, 10:37 PM	#3
superfunk diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2010	Done it! The dirty ones are still dirty. My worries were concerned on the "pushing-squeezing" part. Do you think this was just a stupid affirmation? That person was sustaining the presence of a superficial treatment over those tiny pyramids.. Is it possible? forgive my english

6th November 2010, 10:57 PM	#4
Juergen Knoop diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Blog Entries: 3	pink? Sounds more like some packaging foam. Since you do have a whole box of it, why not try to wash one sample with warm water and some detergent or washing powder? I have washed foam with the washing machine in the past. But I'm not not shure, if I would do this with foam of questionable quality. It may ruin the poor machine! regards

6th November 2010, 11:43 PM	#5
superfunk diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2010	It is probably some sort of packaging foam... I think you could be right! I'm getting suspicious as the pieces are cutted about 40x40cm... Thanks

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