They say mattresses and underwear are non-transferable. I kid, but you see the logic. S'kinda like trying on someone else's sweaty baseball cap or using your friend's toothbrush.

Obviously, used microphones are bought 'n' sold all the time on ebay and gear exchanges, but how do you know that mic hasn't been the recipient of accumulated expectoration over the years?

Even more important, how can you make sure you're not ruining your own favorite microphone with neglect?

The catalyst for this article comes from a bad habit of ignoring the dust in my studio. It's a converted closet with shelves, electronic equipment, plenty of acoustical foam, and an open door when I'm not in it. 

Aside from that, it's important to note that I live in Las Vegas, one of the windiest and dustiest cities in the Northern Hemisphere. Left untouched, a fine film of dust can form in a week, more if it's windy.

One good thing, though, is that it's dry dry dry here. Recently it was 1% humidity (one!). 

Know your environment.

High humidity regions can be a contributor to electronic device degradation - including mics. Drastic changes in temperature and humidity should be avoided for your expensive condenser mic. Foam mic filters and windsocks begin to wear, and the filaments and particles can fall off and into your microphone, clogging the capsule.

Cigarette smoke can diminish the performance of a good mic over time, too, and since large-diaphragm condenser mics are designed to be sensitive to tiny change