how to clean a lcd screen without streaks factory

When it comes to cleaning, flat-screen TVs and LCD screens require special care and a gentle touch. With the wrong technique, you can easily scratch the screen or damage the surface"s antiglare coating. Even rubbing too hard can cause pixels (the tiny dots that compose images on computer monitors and TV screens) to burn out and stop working permanently. Most household cleaning products are too harsh to use on electronic devices with LCD or OLED screens, so choose your TV cleaning strategy carefully. These tips on how to clean a TV screen will help protect your device while ridding it of dust, smudges, fingerprints, and streaks.

Before you begin cleaning a TV or LCD monitor screen, check the manufacturer"s manual for cleaning instructions. If a computer or electronic wipe is recommended, purchase a container for quick cleanups. Note that using a cleaning product or method not recommended by the manufacturer will likely void a product"s warranty. It"s also important to avoid spraying liquid on the screen when cleaning a TV. Liquids can drip into the frame, get wicked inside the screen, and cause permanent damage.

If streaks or stains remain, wet a microfiber cloth with distilled water and wring the cloth until it"s almost dry. With very little pressure, wipe the cloth across the screen in broad motions, working from the top of the screen to the bottom. If smudges persist, dampen a new microfiber cloth with 50-50 water and vinegar solution, wringing it tightly to keep it slightly damp, and wipe.

To avoid damage to your TV while cleaning, only use gentle products. Never wipe the screen with paper towels, abrasive sponges, or coarsely woven rags, which can cause scratches. Instead, use high-quality, finely woven microfiber cloths to clean TV screens, recommends cleaning expert Leslie Reichert.

You should also avoid cleaning products that contain alcohol or ammonia. These types of cleaners can remove antiglare coatings and cause images to become cloudy or distorted. A simple swipe with a microfiber cloth ($9 for 5, Amazon) is typically all that"s needed to remove dust and other debris from the screen"s surface. When more than a light dusting is required, however, use the guidelines below for the best way to clean a TV.

Practice preventative measures so you won"t have to clean TV screens often. Keep food, drinks, and kids away from TV and computer screens to eradicate risks of messy splatters and fingerprint smudges. During your weekly house cleaning, lightly dust the screens with a microfiber cloth to prevent dust buildup.

How do TVs get so gross? And we"re not just talking about having kids and their inevitable little fingerprints all over the screen — flat screen TVs are just one of those things that you clean time and time again, but for whatever reason, they only look worse with each swipe of a cloth. They"re a major dust magnet, prone to streaks, and a major frustration to clean. It"s not like you"re grabbing your TV hands-on 24-7 — duh, that"s what a remote is for! — so what gives?

Whether you have an LCD or an OLED model, you"ve likely dealt with a few horrible streaks here and there (or honestly, all over) when you sit down to enjoy a night of Netflix and ice cream. As fabulous as these new, ultra HD or 4K TVs look with all the lights shut off, any tiny bit of glare is sure to shine a light on the streaks you"ve been dancing around for months. Don"t press "power off" on tackling this problem just yet, though — we"re here to break down how to clean your finicky flat screen of streaks for good. Here are the tools you"ll need.

Before attempting to clean your TV, you should always take a quick peek at the instruction manual first. If you got rid of the manual or don"t know where it is, a simple online search for the exact model should result in being able to easily download it.

There may very well be important information regarding what you should or should not be using to clean your specific flat screen TV. What can work for a QLED screen may not be the best for a LED, a plasma screen, and so on. So it"s very important to know what the manufacturer instructions are ahead of using anything to clean the screen.

If you"re thinking of skipping this step, you might want to reconsider. According to Better Homes & Gardens, if you attempt to use a product or process that isn"t approved by the manufacturer, then it could make the TV"s warranty invalid.

No matter the method you pick to tackle the streaks on your flat screen TV, this is a crucial step to avoid any streaks. If you use any sort of liquid, even just dampened on a gentle cloth, you"re going to end up with a streaky cleaning job if you keep the TV on.

LCD screens produce heat when turned on. Even though it"s a low level of heat that won"t hurt you, cleaning a warm surface is a recipe for disaster — one wrong swipe or too much pressure in one area over another could leave a mark, and the added heat certainly won"t help get rid of it (via Digital Innovations). Regardless of whether your next step involves a DIY dish soap mixture or just plain old water, always make sure to unplug your TV and let the flat screen cool first to avoid a streaky finish.

This may seem obvious, but it has to be said, since there"s an expensive TV at stake here: Electronics and liquid don"t play too well together. While there are some options that may help you get your screen streak-free, the best place to start is always with a dry, clean cloth.

Even if your TV looks like it needs some major TLC, a lint-free cloth (preferably microfiber) or feather duster may be just enough to do the trick, claims Real Simple. Whatever you do, definitely skip the paper towels, since those might scratch the surface — and the only thing worse than a streak on a TV is a permanent scratch.

Simply unplug the TV and give the screen a gentle wipe down. You don"t want to apply too much pressure, because you"ll risk damaging the hardware. Use just enough force to remove the dust and debris from the screen, and you should be left with a clean, streak-free result that"s ready for your next binge-watching session.

If you"ve already attempted to clean your TV screen with some sort of cleaner, then there are probably some existing streaks you need to take care of. While a dry microfiber cloth is key to regular maintenance, it may not be powerful enough to remove any stubborn streaks from those previous misguided attempts at giving it a good clean. Luckily, you don"t have to go too far — all you need is another cloth and some distilled water.

HelloTech says the key to a flawless flat screen is simple: Start with a dry microfiber cloth, wiping in gentle, circular motions. Then, spray another clean lint-free cloth with water. You don"t want it to be oversaturated, and you definitely don"t want to spray the water directly on the screen, since that could fry the internals of your TV. Get the cloth just damp enough and wipe the streaks away for good, then follow up with the dry cloth again to finish things off.

According to Digital Innovations, ammonia-based cleaners can wreak havoc on your flat screen TV. Ironically enough, people used to regularly use Windex to wipe down their old school TVs back in the day, but the popular window cleaner can actually degrade the protective layer of LCD flat screen TVs. Better to be safe than sorry!

Instead of harsh cleaners, mix up a 50-50 ratio of distilled water and white vinegar for a deeper clean. The Kitchn recommends combining the two in a spray bottle, then giving a spritz onto a lint-free cloth. Wipe down the flat screen in an S-shaped pattern to avoid any more streaks, then give it another pass with a dry cloth. This will stop the at-home vinegar mixture from sticking behind on the screen, and inevitably forming those unsightly water spots.

A tiny bit of isopropyl alcohol is about as harsh as you should get when it comes time to cleaning your flat screen TV, and that"s saying something, considering it"s not all that heavy-duty.

But if you"re faced with some utterly annoying streaks front and center on your TV before the big game, this easy method may save your viewing party. Start with an equal amount of water and isopropyl alcohol and mix the two, then apply it directly to an anti-static cloth. Be sure to wring out any excess liquid so that you aren"t over-saturating the TV.

If that doesn"t quite do the trick, Techwalla says it"s safe to step up the game a bit and opt for 100% isopropyl alcohol instead — no water necessary to dilute it. It"s a common fix for smudged device screens beyond just the TV: your phone, your laptop, you name it! Once you"re done, give the TV another gentle wipe with the plain water to get rid of any residue from the alcohol, then dry it with a clean cloth. You should be ready to watch kickoff without a single streak in sight!

Believe it or not, but Panasonic, one of the most popular electronics companies out there, used to tout a very interesting recommendation for stuck-on streaks: Dish soap.

According to Consumer Reports, the brand has said that the key to eliminating pesky streaks — after you"ve exhausted all other options — is a 100:1 ratio of water and dish soap. That means barely any soap at all, since the bubbles could get out of hand quickly, and leave you with a damaged device.

Always, always, always apply the cleaning solution to a gentle cloth first, then wipe down the screen. The last thing you want to do is spray the DIY cleaner onto the TV directly, since it"s crucial that you control the amount of soap and water used. Double-check that the dish soap you"re using does not contain ammonia or any abrasive chemicals or particles — if not, you should be in the clear to get cleaning.

Another foolproof way to get your flat screen looking fresh out of the box again is to invest in a specialty cleaning kit. Most TV manufacturers don"t recommend springing for harsh cleaners since they can damage the surface of LCD and OLED TVs, but some maintenance kits are created with those exact TV specs in mind.

ScreenDr is one popular choice among Amazon shoppers, averaging nearly five stars over almost 1,000 reviews. The kit costs just under $20 and comes with a soft microfiber cloth and designated TV screen cleaner. The cleaner is reportedly made from an "advanced, streak-free formula," and shoppers seem to support that claim. The only catch? It"s probably still mostly water — according to HelloTech, most are 99% water, since that"s truly the best thing for the job.

If you spring for a different TV screen cleaner, always double-check the ingredients before applying. HelloTech warns that benzene and acetone can permanently discolor your screen, which is substantially worse to deal with than the average smear or streak.

In lieu of a lint-free cloth, another simple method to try to clean your flat screen TV is using an electrostatic duster. According to Reader"s Digest, dusters are the next best alternative to microfiber cloths. They advise against using paper towels at any cost as they can leave lint behind on the screen.

Electrostatic dusters work the way they sound; they use static electricity to attract dust away from the surface and onto the duster instead. Using one on electronics, such as the TV, can be especially powerful in getting rid of the unwanted dust. Most are easy to wash by stirring the feathers in warm water and letting it dry.

If you don"t currently have a specific electronic duster on hand, a Swiffer duster can serve as an excellent alternative. Be sure to avoid heavy pressure when using either type of duster on your TV screen. Just a light touch should do the trick.

For a particularly tough to get out spot on your flat screen TV, try using a wipe that is designed specifically to be safe for electronics. They"re easy to find, particularly in any office supply or electronics stores and easy to store in your TV console for easy reach.

They might not, however, be the best method for you if you own a plasma TV. Good Housekeeping warns that even though the screen is glass, there is an anti-glare layer that doesn"t do well with wet cleaning products. They advise that you stick to dry methods such as a cloth or a duster to clean a plasma screen TV.

Electronic wipes are not only good for getting smudges off of your TV, but they are also safe to use on most other electronic devices that we touch often. Anything from our phones to our tablets can benefit from using wipes to keep them sanitized and clean.

Televisions are the center of entertainment in most homes, so we tend to take good care of them. However, cleaning the screen is always a head-scratcher as it’s often a coin toss on whether you’ll have streaks across the flat screen or not. What can you do about this universal problem?

To clean a flat screen TV without streaks, you need to avoid using ammonia-based cleaning products and go with distilled water or a 50/50 solution of vinegar and tap water. The cleaning agent should ideally go on a microfiber cloth for the best result.

Using anything you can find to clean your TV screen is a sure way to generate random results. This article will cover everything you need to know about getting a streak-free result every time.

Just like your PC screens, TV screens are a dust magnet. Going over it with a feather duster reduces the amount of dirt you have to work against when it’s time to clean it. It also reduces the number of times you have to clean (and worry about streaks) a great deal. The duster also gets rid of particles that can get stuck in when cleaning and cause scratches.

The best dusters are black male ostrich feather dusters. Many people agree that they are not just softer but also very good at trapping dust. If that sounds too exotic for you, any other decent dusters can do the job.

Microfiber cloth is great for cleaning TVs because it’s soft and non-abrasive. It’s also lint-free, which allows it to easily pick up any dust on your screen with a few wipes.

You need to get two pieces of these to use in the cleaning process. One should be damp enough to clean the screen properly, while the completely dry one will work as the shine. Most consumer electronics of today often come with one of these in the box. Check your TV’s packaging, and you’ll probably find one in the box.

The factory-added options are usually small and thin, though, so you should think of getting a few bigger ones the next time you’re at the store or shopping online. These

When you get these, don’t reuse a dirty one as many people do. Trapped grit or dirt is bad for your TV screen. Dirt buildup also makes the cloth less useful, so it’s important you only use clean ones for every cleaning. Fortunately, these clothes are easy to wash. You can throw them into the washing machine when you’re done cleaning.

This is an optional item for your TV-cleaning “toolbox.” You may not need it if you don’t get a lot of dust on your TV screen. They are excellent dust magnets, which means that one sweep over the screen is enough to get rid of dust. You can find these in supermarkets easily as well.

There’s a lot of argument on whether you need a cleaning solution for your TV screen, especially when some of them are just overpriced distilled water. On their part, most TV manufacturers often recommend cleaning with only a dry cloth in user guides. A few of them will recommend using a slightly damp cloth only when necessary.

However, the reality is that your flat TV screen will never truly be streak-free if you don’t use some dampness. In the early days after getting the TV out of the box, you’ll get by with cleaning the screen by just dusting it. As soon as more fingers touch the screen or some bits get blown onto it, the streaks will begin to appear if you only clean it with a dry cloth.

There are lots of TV (and computer) screen cleaning solutions in the market today. You can get any of them that appeal to you as long as they don’t contain acetate, acetone, ammonia, or alcohol. Such cleaning agents will deteriorate the coating in the TV that is useful for reducing screen reflection.

If you’d rather not buy any screen cleaning products off the shelf, you can use a balanced mix of water and vinegar or plain distilled water, as we mentioned above. A container of distilled water is cheap, so you can get a can or two to use for this purpose only.

Remember, you only need to get the micro-fiber cloth damp so you won’t spend much on replenishing the stock — if you buy the distilled water for this purpose alone. If you always have vinegar at home, you can save your pennies.

This method involves using distilled water or your water and vinegar mix. Follow the steps below:Get your bottle of distilled water or vinegar solution (don’t use plain tap water).

Fill up the spray bottle with some distilled water, and spray some on the micro-fiber cloth. Don’t spray water directly at the screen, or you’ll have it too wet and increase the chances of streaks. Spray only very little water on the cloth and re-spray if necessary instead of flooding the screen.

Wipe the screen gently, in a circular motion until it’s clean and dry. Use a dry microfiber cloth to dry off the screen — also maintaining a circular motion. You shouldn’t have any streaks if you do everything correctly.

Dust off the screen to eliminate large dust particles to avoid causing scratches when you start cleaning. A can of compressed air can also get the job done.

If streaks form, get rid of them by using a mix of vinegar and water. Some people also use a solution of isopropyl alcohol at this stage. Make your microfiber cloth damp with the solution.

Rub the cloth lightly over the streaks on the screen to get rid of them. You should consider using a stronger concentration of isopropyl alcohol and vinegar for stubborn streaks.

If you use isopropyl alcohol at any stage of this process, you have to ensure there’s no alcohol residue on the surface of the screen. Wipe it off properly, or you risk damaging the screen if it’s allowed to stay for long on the screen. This is why most people avoid using any kind of alcohol in the first place.

Tap water can work well for cleaning your flat screen TV, but it has a few disadvantages. It is known to leave streaks and will not provide some anti-static protection for your screen. Other mixtures we’ve recommended thus far or distilled water will give your screen some anti-static properties, which means that it will be harder for dust and fiber to gather on the screen after you’ve cleaned it.

When the screen is damaged due to using such cleaning agents, most manufacturers will not honor the warranty agreement. Stick with distilled water or a vinegar solution as the main cleaning agent. If you need to use isopropyl alcohol, as we covered in the second method above, use it sparingly and make sure you don’t leave any residue.

Just as water evaporates from your car windscreen on a sunny day, cleaning your TV screen with a damp cloth while it’s working will cause evaporation and ultimately leave lots of streaks. You should clean your screen when the TV has cooled down.

You need to allow at least half an hour after turning it off for most flat screen TVs to cool down properly. Also, cleaning the TV while on means you may get distracted and lose track of where you’re at with the cleaning process. If you wait too long to dry the screen or get distracted into breaking from the circular cleaning motion, you’ll be left with streaks on your screen.

Whether you’re using some distilled water or a cleaning agent, it’s a bad idea to use too much liquid when cleaning your TV screen. Apart from the fact that it will almost always lead to some streaking, excessive moisture can seep into parts of the TV and cause damage.

If you still have some streak after your best efforts, you should use your dry microfiber cloth to gently polish it out. Be careful not to apply too much force on the screen at this stage. Pressing too hard on the screen can damage the set. If the streak has settled in too deeply and can’t be removed with gentle buffing, repeat the cleaning process.

If you find some scratch on your TV screen while cleaning, you can solve the problem using scratch removal kits sold at stores. However, petroleum jelly can achieve the same thing. Apply a little bit of it to the area and rub it in gently. Clean off any excess jelly. Leaving the scratches unattended can lead to caked dirt around the area.

Using jelly works as well as the scratch removal kits because the latter doesn’t actually remove the scratch. They work by covering up the dent and diffusing light, thus making the scratch harder to notice. If the scratch can ruin the viewing experience, check to see if your warranty covers this scenario and consider going for a replacement.

A lot of the grime that gets on your TV screen comes from grabbing the grimy TV remote and touching the TV screen with the same fingers (or palms in the case of children). There’s also the little matter of the

If you need to get into the space between buttons better, a cotton swab dampened with the water mix will work. For caked dirt, use a toothpick or a dry toothbrush. With the debris removed, wipe the remote down again with a dry microfiber cloth and put back your batteries.

Cleaning your flat TV screen without streaks is often as simple as using the right cleaning cloth and cleaning agent. Avoid using window cleaners or any other harsh mixtures, and use distilled water or a vinegar solution for the best results. Don’t forget to gently clean your TV and don’t get it too wet to avoid causing damage to the screen.

Screens can scratch easily, and even paper towels and tissues contain fibers that can do damage. “Your best bet is to use a soft, anti-static microfiber cloth—the kind used to clean eyeglasses and camera lenses—and wipe in a circular motion,” says John Walsh, who cleans more than 250 TVs a year in his role as a CR photographer. (Some TV manufacturers will include a cloth for this purpose.) “Gently wipe the screen with a dry cloth to remove dust and other debris, but don’t press too hard,” he says.

You may also want to wipe down the TV’s cabinet, and make sure dust isn’t clogging the vents that help dissipate heat. If the TV is on a stand and not tethered to the wall, Walsh suggests cleaning with one hand while supporting the TV with the other to prevent the set from tipping over. However, CR strongly recommends anchoring all stand-mounted TVs using anti-tipping straps designed for this purpose.

If there are hard-to-remove stains, you can dampen the cloth slightly with distilled water and gently clean the screen. Don’t spray water directly onto the screen; that could cause a shock or component failure if water seeps into the inner workings of the set.

For the most stubborn stains, you can try using a solution of very mild dish soap highly diluted with water, once again applied to the cloth and not to the TV itself. (As a guideline, Panasonic used to recommend a 100:1 ratio of water to soap.) LCD screens, in particular, are very sensitive to pressure and can scratch easily, so don’t press hard.

Your television is probably one of the last things you think about adding to your "to clean" list, but the difference between a smudgy screen and a crisp picture isn"t one to shrug at. Every day, our TVs accumulate dust and fingerprints, and the buildup occurs so slowly that it"s hard to notice. That is, until you take a quick 10 minutes to clean your TV and revel in a far more satisfying cinematic experience.

We asked a couple cleaning pros for the full rundown on how to clean TV screens of all types, including flat plasma and LCD screens, along with some common mistakes people make when cleaning their TV screens so you know exactly what to avoid.

To prevent buildup from accumulating on your TV screen, aim for a once-weekly TV cleaning. "It"s important to clean your TV screen not only to prolong its lifespan, but also to provide the clearest picture possible—smudges, dust, and fingerprints be gone," says Kathy Cohoon, a cleaning professional with Two Maids & a Mop. "It can make a big difference in the aesthetic of your TV and the picture on screen."

Power down. Before breaking out any dust cloths or cleaners, make sure your TV is off. If you want to take an additional precaution, Cohoon says you can also unplug the TV, but it"s typically not necessary for modern TVs.

Dust the screen. Dry dusting your TV is a crucial step in the cleaning process. "Removing dry debris will ensure that you don"t accidentally create scratches by scrubbing a rough piece of dirt or buildup into the screen," Cohoon says. She recommends using a microfiber or soft cloth to gently dust the entire screen. If needed, flip the cloth over (or get a second cloth) in order to completely remove all dust, pet hair, and other loose debris. You can use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the speakers and cords as well.

Use screen-safe cleaner.Spray a small amount of screen-friendly cleaning product onto a soft cloth—never directly onto the screen itself—and wipe the TV down in a methodical, back-and-forth motion. Check that the cleanser is safe for the specific type of screen you are cleaning. Repeat as necessary to remove oily areas or fingerprint smudges. Also, don"t forget to gently wipe down the top and base of the TV.

Clean smudges on the screen."For tougher spots, make sure not to apply too much pressure, especially on more delicate screens," advises Leanne Stapf, the chief operating officer for The Cleaning Authority. "If microfiber cloth spot-cleaning doesn"t work, I recommend adding a bit of warm water to the cloth and then cleaning the spot with the dampened cloth."

Dust.Use a microfiber cloth to gently wipe away loose dust, dirt, or any other debris. You may need to turn the cloth over or get a second one to adequately remove everything.

Wipe down the screen."Since these screens are a bit sturdier, you can mix equal parts rubbing alcohol and lukewarm water to create a cleaning solution," Cohoon says. "Using a small amount of solution on a soft cloth, wipe the entire screen, base, and top." Spot-clean any stubborn areas with caked-on messes or heavy fingerprints. You can also remove fingerprints by rubbing with a microfiber cloth in a circular motion.

​​To clean and sanitize a remote, Stapf says to simply use a disinfecting wipe to remove bacteria, germs, fingerprints, and any other residue. Make sure the cleaning wipe is damp but not soaking wet to avoid getting liquid inside the remote control. Spend some time cleaning between the buttons since gunk can easily accumulate here.

It"s also a good idea to remove the batteries first, or you can take the remote to a different room so it doesn"t inadvertently change the TV settings as you clean the buttons.

Forgetting to Dust First: "A big misstep when cleaning a TV is forgetting to dust the screen before using a cleaning agent," says Cohoon. This can lead to tiny scratches that slowly degrade picture quality.

Scrubbing Too Hard:Modern TV screens are delicate and require a gentle touch. Wiping too vigorously or using a rough cloth can damage the screen quickly.

Spraying Solution Directly Onto the TV:All wet cleaners should be sprayed onto a cloth and then wiped over the TV. Spraying directly onto the screen can create spots that are hard to remove. It also puts you at risk of damaging the speakers.

Using Non-Approved Cleaners: Using store-bought glass cleaners on OLED or LCD TV screens is a big no-no. Stapf says, "These products contain harsh ingredients like alcohol and ammonia, which can damage the panels of the screen."

TVs are a magnet for dust, smudges, and children’s fingerprints. Unfortunately, cleaning plasma, LCD, LED, and OLED screens with glass cleaner causes damage to the TV surface and antiglare coatings. Learn how to clean flat screen TV without streaks to remove everyday dirt and grime.

It’s easy to clean older tube-style TVs with a cleaner such as Windex since these older screens are made of glass. Many commercial cleaning products contain ethyl alcohol or ammonia, and these chemicals wreak havoc on a modern flat screen TV such as an LCD TV, causing clouding, scratches, and liquid damage.

Giving your TV an occasional light dusting is a great way to remove dust, but what about those greasy smudges left behind by dirty hands? It’s easy to use a store-bought screen cleaner, but why not make a cleaning solution at home using a few simple ingredients?

The best way to clean a TV screen or computer monitor is with simple and easy cleaning methods. Avoid using harmful chemicals and skip the expensive cleaning kit. Use a soft, dry cloth and a few mild cleaners you already have in your home to give your new TV a streak-free clean.

There are many ways to clean a TV screen without streaks, whether you have a Samsung, Sony, or another TV brand. Cleaning a screen TV without streaks by performing routine dry cleaning of the surface is the easiest way to remove dirt and dust. The same technique is useful when cleaning a laptop screen.

Never wipe your TV down with paper towels or toilet paper. These materials are mildly abrasive and leave tiny scratches on the surface, which leads to the dulling of the screen.

Make sure the television is turned off while cleaning, and always use a soft, electrostatic cloth or duster. Clean the screen surface weekly using one of these items to remove dust and tiny particles. Dusting ensures that there aren’t any bits of dirt that potentially leave scratches during wet cleaning.

Cleaning a TV screen with plain water works well to remove everyday dirt and is one of the safest solutions. If your TV is heavily soiled, consider using a homemade TV cleaner for tougher jobs. This is also the easiest way to clean eyeglasses and other glass surfaces without streaking.

To clean glass without streaks and to eliminate ugly fingerprint smudges on your television, fill a bottle sprayer with distilled water. Turn the TV off and spray a soft cleaning cloth lightly with the water. Rub the TV screen gently in a circular motion.

Do not spray water directly onto the screen and do not apply too much pressure while cleaning. Use a dry towel to buff the screen gently to ensure all lint and dirt are gone.

If there are smeared stains of fingerprints on your TV screen, adding vinegar to the water loosens greasy residue safely from the screen without leaving streaks. Avoid using a glass cleaning spray on a plasma TV or HDTV to prevent damaging the screen.

Pour equal parts water and vinegar or isopropyl alcohol into a spray bottle and shake well. Use distilled water instead of tap water to prevent leaving a residue on the screen. Spray the solution onto a microfiber cloth. Do not spray it directly on the TV screen.

Turn off the TV so that the cleaning process does not interfere with the pixels. The black screen also helps you see dirt and smears easier. Rub the damp cloth over the entire screen using a gentle circular motion. Buff the screen dry using a microfiber cloth.

Use this simple home remedy to clean mirrors throughout your house, too. These ingredients will leave your mirrors and any glass surface shiny and streak-free.

Sometimes a TV has a little more on it than dust and fingerprints, especially if you have children. Mild dish soap is a safe way for cleaning a flat screen TV to remove tough stains without causing streaks.

Fill a bowl with warm distilled water, add a drop or two of mild dish soap, and mix the water with your fingers. Dunk the corner of a soft cloth into the solution without saturating the material.

Rub the dampened cloth with a gentle motion on the TV screen, paying particular attention to the extra dirty areas. Dry the screen well using a soft, microfiber towel.

After cleaning LCD or plasma screens, it’s easy to notice minor scratches on the clean surface. Not to worry, these scratches are easy to remove using a scratch repair kit or by applying petroleum jelly.

Before repairing scratches on your TV, check the owner manual for warranty information on your television. After cleaning your TV, and allowing it to dry completely, apply about one teaspoon of petroleum jelly to all of the surface scratches.

Smudged fingerprints on the screen of your flat screen TV are annoying. While it’s tempting to grab a bottle of window cleaner for quick cleaning of the TV screen, doing this causes damage to the surface. Simple ingredients such as distilled water or vinegar work best at removing smears without leaving a cloudy residue on the surface.

We are happy that we could show you how to clean flat screen TV without streaks so that you enjoy movie night without peering through a smudged screen, and we’d love it if you’d share our TV screen cleaning tips with your friends and family on Pinterest and Facebook.

The television screen is what everyone sees first, but don’t forget these other key areas, not to mention the area around your unit. “It can also help to clean the furniture and carpets around the TV to prevent dust and hair from getting into it,” says Williams.

The remote control is handled regularly. This is the one time when harsh chemicals can be used sparingly. Follow the manufacturer owner’s manual instructions first, but if sanitizing is needed, use a cleaner that’s at least 70 percent alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations. (Basic drugstore isopropyl alcohol works well for this.)

Start the remote control cleaning by removing the batteries. As with the TV screen recommendations, you’ll want to avoid spraying directly onto the surface, as this could cause the device to malfunction. Dampen a clean microfiber cloth and rub gently on the top and the underside of the remote control. For hard-to-reach gunk that’s jammed between the buttons, try a cotton swab dipped in a small amount of the cleaning solution. Make sure to let it dry thoroughly before replacing the batteries and using it again.

When figuring out how to clean a TV screen, selecting the safest cleaning solution is key, but it’s also important to know what cleaning products to avoid. Keep in mind that not only should you skip cleaning with certain products, you should also avoid spraying them in close proximity to the TV.

Both Panasonic and Samsung both have lengthy “avoid” lists that include harsh chemicals such as wax, cleaning fluid, acetone, benzene, alcohol, thinner, mosquito repellent and insect spray (really!), lubricant, solvent and undiluted mild dish soap. These can, as Williams says, “cause clouding and can wear away your TV’s anti-glare coating.”

In terms of what to use, Samsung recommends “monitor cleaner only” (also called TV screen cleaner). Panasonic suggests “one part mild liquid dish soap diluted by 100 times the amount of water.” To make this cleaning solution, add a scant teaspoon of liquid dish soap to two cups of water, stirring well to dissolve.

Williams likes TV cleaning kits for their ease of use. “A TV kit will be your safest option for cleaning a TV,” he says. “These kits will come with everything you need to get your TV looking new, like screen-cleaning solvent and a fast-drying microfiber cloth.” You can find TV cleaning kits and cleaning products designed for flat-screen TVs at electronics stores or on Amazon.

Some people swear that only distilled water is useful as cleaning spray for their delicate electronics. Although Williams does not necessarily recommend using distilled water, if you know for a fact you have hard water in your area, you may want to try the distilled water route and see if you notice a difference. Hard water, which has high levels of calcium and magnesium, may leave a film or residue when it’s used for cleaning. Before you spray water to clean TV screens, try experimenting with tap water on a less-important screen, like an old cell phone, to assess the results.

If you can picture the hulking tube TVs (also known as CRTVs) of yore, you may also remember how delightfully easy they were to clean—a few spritzes of window cleaner and some wipes with paper towels and you were good to go—no special microfiber cloth required. But modern TVs with fancier technologies like LCD, OLED, and plasma call for gentler techniques. “Avoid using chemicals like alcohol, ammonia or acetones when cleaning your TV. These cleaners were safe to use for previous generations of TVs with glass panels, but as the hardware changes with time, the cleaning methods do too,” says Williams. Since some multi-purpose and glass cleaners are made with ammonia, skip the Windex.

Modern TVs are often smart TVs but the cleaning tips are the same as the ones for LCD, OLED and plasma TVs. The microfiber cloth is your TV screen’s best friend. “The majority of TVs you purchase today will be smart TVs, and the cleaning process is the same as TVs without smart capabilities,” Williams says.

This article was co-authored by Marcus Shields and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Marcus is the owner of Maid Easy, a local residential cleaning company in Phoenix, Arizona. His cleaning roots date back to his grandmother who cleaned homes for valley residents in the 60’s through the 70’s. After working in tech for over a decade, he came back to the cleaning industry and opened Maid Easy to pass his family’s tried and true methods to home dwellers across the Phoenix Metro Area.

wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 56 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.

Regularly cleaning your LCD monitor keeps it free of dust, smudges, and germs. Wiping with a dry microfiber cloth is the safest cleaning option and is surprisingly effective at removing germs. You may need to use a dampened microfiber cloth to get rid of stubborn smudges and stuck-on debris, though. If you"re worried about germs, consider using a vinegar and water solution or a Lysol wipe on the screen. Be sure to check the device’s user manual first to make sure it’s okay to use liquids!

You’ve been staring at your computer screen for hours when suddenly the words and numbers seem to blur right in front of you. You could just be seeing things... or your computer screen could be dirty. Here’s our tried-and-true method for cleaning your computer screen without leaving smudges or streaks.

Before we explain what you should use to clean your screen, we should tell you what NOT to use. Don’t use large amounts of liquid, and never spray the screen directly. As you’ll see in the step-by-step cleaning method below, it takes just one spray of Puracy Natural Multi-Surface Cleaner on a microfiber cloth to clean your computer screen.

The cloth you use to clean your screen is important, too. Puracy’s cleaning experts recommend a soft microfiber cloth. “Micro” means “extremely small”; a microfiber cloth has tiny fibers that reach every square inch of the surface they’re cleaning, so they don’t leave streaks or smudges like cotton rags can. And avoid paper towels; they’re abrasive enough to scratch the screen’s coating -- and then you’ll be “seeing things” permanently.

Many window cleaners on the market today, including certain types of Windex, contain ammonium hydroxide, which is a solution made of ammonia and water. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies ammonia as an “extremely hazardous substance,” especially in high concentrations. As a result, we don’t use ammonia in any of our products here at Puracy.

Instead of cleaners powered by ammonia, we prefer Puracy Natural Multi-Surface Cleaner, with the fresh-smelling scent of either Green Tea & Lime or Organic Lemongrass. It’s made with plant-based ingredients and water that effectively cut through the grime without the use of chemicals, so it’s safe to use throughout your home -- and it always smells great.

Follow these step-by-step cleaning directions below for a smudge-free computer screen. Or follow along as cleaning expert and Puracy co-founder Sean Busch cleans his own computer screen in this video.

1. Turn your desktop monitor off or power-down your laptop.Then turn it towards a window or a bright light; this will allow you to see smudges and fingerprints more clearly. (In this case, that dreaded screen glare is your friend.)

2. Spray a clean, folded microfiber cloth with one spray of Puracy Natural Multi-Surface Cleaner. If you don’t have any on hand, you can use one spray of water. (Expert tip -- if you notice streaks on your screen after cleaning, then you’re probably using too much solution and/or your microfiber towel is dirty. Try again by carefully following these six steps, but use a fresh, clean microfiber towel and only a single spray of cleaner -- that’s all you need!)

NOTE: If you live in an area with hard water, use filtered or distilled water to avoid depositing mineral residue onto the screen. Not sure if your water is hard? Check out our article How to Remove Hard Water Stains Quickly & Easily; it features a handy map of hard-water areas across the country, plus more cleaning tips for households battling hard-water stains.

3. Wipe the screen with the microfiber cloth, starting at the top and using tight, overlapping “Z” strokes all the way to the bottom. If you’re using the proper technique, then you should see the multi-surface cleaner evaporate behind you as you wipe. This will help you eliminate the appearance of any streaks on your screen. If it doesn’t evaporate shortly after your pass, then you are probably using too much cleaning solution.

4. Turn the folded microfiber cloth to the dry side and make another pass, again starting at the top and using tight, overlapping “Z” strokes. This step will buff away any lint or residues remaining on the screen.

And by the way... if you successfully clean your computer screen but the words and numbers still look blurry, you could be experiencing digital eye strain (also known as computer vision syndrome). Try exercising your eyes using the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, focus on an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

LCD Screen Cleaner works on all screens and monitors without leaving any residue. Contains plant-based cleaning agents which safely remove smudges and fingerprints from all your electronic devices. Simply spray and wipe with a microfiber cloth. Alcohol-free, ammonia-free, and streak-free!

How do you clean fingerprints from a TV screen? It"s not difficult, but there are a few things to consider. Learn how to clean a flat screen TV without streaks.

Regularly cleaning your TV screen will keep your TV working as well as it can. But, if you don’t clean it correctly, you may scratch the screen or damage the delicate anti-glare coating that many new screens have – which will seriously affect the performance of the TV.

You will see the problem areas much easier when the screen is dark. You may also find it helpful to turn on the main room light, or open the curtains, as a bright light nearby can make it easier to see the problem areas.

Using a microfiber cloth is essential as it will not scratch the screen. A cloth made from a coarse material – even tissues and paper towels – can make things worse.

Please don’t use a cloth that has chemicals applied to it. If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, try using the small cloth that comes with your glasses, phone or tablet.

Wipe with overlapping vertical or horizontal strokes and remove any dust or particles on the screen. Apply minimal pressure to avoid damaging the pixels under the screen surface.

Change the position of the cloth in your hand so you regularly use a clean part. This will ensure you don’t simply move the dust from one part of the screen to another.

Check the screen and see if there are any stubborn problem areas. These might be sticky fingerprints or accumulations of dust that have stuck together.

These problem areas may need the help of a liquid to successfully remove them – but only use liquid on these isolated areas rather than across the whole screen.

Get another clean, dry microfiber cloth and spray the liquid as a fine mist onto the fabric. Whatever you do, don’t be tempted to spray any liquid directly on the screen.

If there is a significant dust accumulation in the TV’s speaker grilles or input and output ports, you can use your vacuum cleaner and a small nozzle tool to quickly clear these areas.

As you can see, the guidelines are similar, regardless of the TV brand. To find the best brand of TV for your room, check out the flat-screen TV buying guide.

If you have access to a microfiber cloth and distilled water at home, you have almost everything you need – or, if not, it is usually much cheaper to purchase these separately.

However, buying a cleaning kit can be easier if you want to get everything all in one go. Just make sure that any cleaning solution doesn’t include harmful chemicals like alcohol and ammonia.

Regular cleaning will make this a relatively small job, but if you wait until dust accumulates on greasy fingerprints, it will be more challenging to clean later on.

Avoid using chemicals if you can. Use a damp microfiber cloth or disposable antibacterial wipe to clean the remote’s front, sides, and back. Distilled or tap water should work well in most cases – or dilute water and white vinegar solution if you need something a little stronger.

Paul started the Home Cinema Guide to help less-experienced users get the most out of today"s audio-visual technology. He has been a sound, lighting and audio-visual engineer for around 20 years. At home, he has spent more time than is probably healthy installing, configuring, testing, de-rigging, fixing, tweaking, re-installing again (and sometimes using) various pieces of hi-fi and home cinema equipment. You can find out more here.

Luckily, the advice from most manufacturers is simple: turn off the TV to identify the marks or dusty areas then wipe gently using a clean, soft and dry cloth.

While we will go into more detail about how to clean the screen without causing any damage – and recommend some solid products to help you – that’s the broad advice from a range of top companies, including Samsung, Sony, LG and Panasonic.

It applies to all types of modern display – including every model on our best smart TV guide – and regardless of whether you have an LCD/LED, OLED or QLED. But it’s not only the TV itself, don’t forget the remote gets much more hands-on time every day.

You don’t want to have bought an expensive new smart TV just to have it covered in scratches, so here’s how to clean the display in five easy-to-follow steps:Unplug or switch off the device. This will help you quickly identify any areas that need to be cleaned or are particularly covered in dust or smudges.

Gently wipe the screen using a clean, dry, soft cloth. If possible, use a lint-free cloth – and our personal recommendation is to stick with microfibre. These are available at every supermarket. Best to wipe in a circular motion.

Make sure the display is fully dry and clean. If the marks were removed using a soft, dry cloth you can turn the TV on. If you had to use a specialist spray, make sure that the TV is completely dry before switching it back on.

The advice may be straightforward, but there are some key cleaning approaches you should always avoid when it comes to touching and cleaning a TV screen.Avoid all home cleaning products. Surface, window or glass cleaners should stay as far away from your TV as possible. These will often contain chemicals such as alcohol, benzene or ammonia that can damage your screen.

Avoid paper towels, rolls and your sleeves: A fast-track to scratch town, these will leave deep marks on your display that will be so much worse than dust. Using these harsh materials could also strip the TVs anti-glare coating.

Avoid all moisture on the screen if possible. Some manufacturers say a very small amount of water can be used for tough marks but others say to never apply moisture. If you have to, always apply to the cloth, not the screen. Using a solution is a last resort, and only after a careful gentle wipe has failed.

Don’t use too much pressure: TV screens are fragile to the touch, so never push down hard with your cloth while cleaning. Doing so may damage the pixels under the display. Your TV is not a touchscreen smartphone.

Don"t forget the remote control: While your TV screen won’t be touched often, the same can’t be said for the remotes. These will likely be passed between your family members or friends so it"s best to also give them a wipe down.

You don’t always need to buy a cleaning kit: While these are marketed as an all-in-one solution, a microfibre cloth is often enough for dust/smudges and purchasing a pack of 12-24 cloths may actually be better value.

Lastly, don’t forget about the ports: If the screen is covered in dust, it’s likely the same goes for the back of the TV. Give those ports a dust down, too.

While there’s a lot of overlap between each brand’s cleaning tips, here’s the advice from each major TV manufacturer – and a direct link to their own tips page.

LG: “Cleaning your 4K, LED or LED TV screen with a soft, dry cloth is recommended. If you have already used liquid on the screen, dry it as quickly as possible (it may not be too late). Chemicals… should be avoided. Moisture on or near the TV should be avoided as it could cause short circuits in the electronic components.”

Samsung: “For general cleaning of the frame and screen of your TV, you should use a soft, clean, lint-free, dry cloth. We recommend using a microfibre cloth.

“You should never use any type of window cleaner, soap, scouring powder, or any cleanser with solvents such as alcohol, benzene, ammonia, or paint thinner. Never use abrasive pads or paper towels. If you do, you can scratch the screen or strip the anti-glare coating off the screen and cause permanent damage.”

Sony: “Gently wipe the screen or exterior with a dry, soft cloth, such as an eyeglass cleaner. For inks from oil markers on the screen, soak a cloth in a non-soap cleanser diluted (by less than 1%) with water. Squeeze it tightly, then wipe the ink off. Don"t use detergent with abrasives such as a cleanser.” Avoid touching the screen.

Panasonic: “A clean, dry, soft cloth should be used. For stubborn dirt, dampen a soft cloth with clean water or diluted neutral detergent (1 part detergent to 100 parts water). Ring the cloth and wipe the screen. Ensure that the cloth does not drip water; the television is not watertight and any damage to the television due to water getting into it is not covered under warranty. Finally, wipe away all of the moisture.”

The AmazonBasics range of 30 cm x 41 cm microfibre cloths is an affordable option – with a variety of pack sizes available to buy. We chose the 24 pack as that should last months – if not longer – if you are cleaning general dust or smudges from your TV. They are lint-free and won’t result in streaks across your screen. For just under £12, you will get a variety of towel colours, including blue, orange and white.

These microfibre cloths stand out due to their 40cm x 22cm sizing and will be great if you are someone with a larger TV. Made by cleaning company Sorbo, they attract dust from the screen and won’t leave any streaks behind. The cloths are machine washable at a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius and come in a variety of colours including blue, pink and yellow. The pack of six microfibre cloths costs £5.93.Latest deals

These microfibre cleaning cloths by the brand Mr. Siga are exactly what TV makers were referencing in their cleaning guides: ultra-soft, highly absorbent, non-abrasive and will clean without any lint or streaks left behind. These ‎32 x 32cm cloths cost £11.99 for a pack of 12, although they are available in packs of 50 (£20.99).Latest deals

A slightly different design to the microfibre cloths that you will typically see in your kitchen, this polyester-made set more closely resembles a glasses cleaner but will be effective at wiping down electronics including phones, TVs and monitors. Made by Charles Parker London, you get five 30cm x 30cm black cloths for £9, these will be great for wiping off the dust – but especially fingerprints – from your screen.Latest deals

Another popular option is these lint-free microfibre cloths from UK-based brand Exel. At 40 x 40 cm, they are large in size so perfect for wiping down larger TVs from dust and smudges. For the pack of 10, which should last you months if you are only using them for your TV, it costs £8.30, so they are good value. If you need a well-sized set of microfibre cloths but don’t want dozens of towels, this is a great option.Latest deals

The screen cleaner spray from IT Dusters - called “Screen Mom” - is plant-based and contains no odour, alcohol, ammonia, or harmful chemicals. The kit also contains a 40xm x 40cm microfibre towel and in combination they can be used to remove tough prints, oils or streaks from screens, including TVs, monitors, laptops and phones. The company says that the 16oz bottle has enough for more than 1,500 sprays, but always remember to only spray on the cloth - and never on the TV screen itself.

The GreatShield cleaning kit contains one 20cm x 15cm microfibre cloth, one 60ml bottle of sterile solution cleaner and a brush that can be used to help remove dust or debris from your TV ports and remote control. The screen cleaner does not contain ammonia or phosphate and claims to be completely non-static and non-streak. As with all cleaning solutions, only spray on the cloth – never on the TV screen itself – and read up on your own TV manufacturer’s guidelines for cleaning the model.Latest deals

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