Misleading! Viral Tiktok sound cannot clean your phone speaker

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson

Screenshot of the claim as seen on the TikTok app.

Claim: A TikTok user, technoskills, claimed that viral TikTok sound clip can entirely clean phone speakers. 

Verdict: Misleading! Playing the viral TikTok sound clip cannot entirely clean phone speakers. Experts have debunked the claim, saying some sound clips can only remove non-magnetic debris on speakers but removing small ferrite components that are stuck requires the use of specialized tools.

Full Text

Generally, smartphones that are not waterproof  can easily malfunction when they fall into water or get soaked mistakenly. 

The myth is that the water will dry out if the phone is hastily put in a bag or bowl of rice to heat up. Similarly, some people have claimed that dusty speakers can be cleaned by playing loud music.

Screenshot of a video frame from the viral claim.

Recently, Technoskills, a self acclaimed tech hacks platform for smartphones, claimed that playing this sound clip can clean mobile phone speakers. In the clip, the narrator further alleged that the viral TikTok sound clip can remove dust and water entirely from anyone's mobile phone that has been used for five or six months.

The claim archived here has so far generated over 10,000 comments and more than 8,600 reactions as of July 27, 2025 with many netizens doubting the information.

Screenshot showing the virality of the claim on TikTok.

The same claim was made here on TikTok alongside multiple other social media  platforms including Facebook.

Screenshots of other TikTok accounts that shared the same claim.

With hacking being a serious threat towards online safety for mobile phone users, DUBAWA in its quest to raise awareness on digital safety and further prevent spread of misinformation decided to fact-check the viral claim.

Verification: 

To verify the claim, DUBAWA contacted two mobile phone experts.

Ibrahim S. Yansaneh, an Electrical and Electronics Engineer with over 10 years expertise in phone repairing, computer networking and tele-communication runs a private workshop and serves as an Information Technology Officer at the Kambia Research Centre (formerly EBOVAC).

According to him, “the claim is false.” He explained that, “such a trick can only work with software sound tools which can only clean nonmagnetic debris on the speaker of smartphones but cannot remove small ferrite components that get stuck on phone speakers, unless they are removed manually by opening the phone and extracting them using some specialized tools.”

Yansaneh further explained that some smartphone faults including speaker cleaning can involve the use of not only specialized physical electrical tools but the use of specific software tools.

“Specifically, for speaker sound cleaning, while software tools such as sound waves or tones can help to remove small dust particles, water drops and other forms of minor moisture from smartphones, using such soundwaves or tones without proper understanding can cause more damage to the smartphone. So, the trick of using specific sounds to clean smartphone speakers is best to use with the guidance of a specialist; otherwise, it’s a risky thing to do.” he cautioned.

He added: “The most appropriate way for one to clean his or her smartphone speaker to enhance quality sound is to seek the services of a professional.”

His sentiment was re-echoed by another software and electrical engineer, dealer in electrical appliances, and owner of Scan Tech Intentional, Osman Mansaray, who has been offering I.T solutions to customers in Sierra Leone for over a decade. 

Mansaray said, “no phone speaker can be cleaned using this video. I have also been trying to enlighten some of my customers over time that the many TikTok videos like the one you have shared with me cannot clean phone speakers. 

“I can confirm, the claims in this video are not true. I want to use this opportunity to urge the public not to fall for such social media conversing sounds but to seek the services of a specialized phone mechanic when they suspect faults with their phone speakers.”

Further research revealed that platforms such as The Speaker Cleaner and Fix my Speaker recommended ways on how smartphone speakers can be cleaned using specific sound clips but equally advised users to seek professional help to prevent causing further damages to their phones.

Conclusion: 

The claim that the TikTok sound clip can entirely clean phone speakers is MISLEADING, as experts said the clip can only remove non-magnetic debris on mobile phone speakers but removing small ferrite components that are stuck requires the use of specialized tools beyond the clip.