windex for lcd screen free sample
Alcohol is absolutely fine. Most cleaners as-is include some level of alcohol, it"s the reason why they evaporate quickly. I use it all the time on external and internal components. You must be thinking of ammonia or acetone. These should definitely be avoided. Windex general does contain ammonia but it"s diluted by a lot of other solvents.
To answer your question, Windex will be just fine, I assure you. The exception being that it can be more runny/watery than alcohol so make sure to spray a cloth first or at least, don"t over due it. Seeing as how you can obviously damage a keyboard with too much exposure to liquid.
You spend a good amount of time looking at your TV screen, so it"s surprising when you don"t notice how dirty it is. However, dirt and debris have a way of building up on screened devices, and if you want the best performance, you have to clean your TV and other screens from time to time. Gunk and other accumulated detritus can be damaging to your precious TV panel, so it"s best to give your television a good cleaning. Fortunately, you only need a few products to get the job done, and it"s a fairly straightforward process. Read on to become an expert in cleaning your TV.
Step 3: When it’s cool to the touch, dust the screen to remove any dirt particles, then wipe it over with your soft, lint-free cloth to remove any residual dust.
Step 1: Mix the isopropyl alcohol with water in a measuring cup, ensuring the solution is equal parts water and alcohol. If you don’t have a measuring cup, try using a shot glass to measure quantities before mixing. In any case, just make sure you’re not overdoing it with the alcohol — the resulting solution shouldn’t be more than half alcohol or it could tarnish the display.
Step 4: Use the second lint-free cloth to dry your display. Don’t leave any moisture on it — you’ll want it to be completely dry before turning the TV back on.
We can’t just ignore the O.G. hardware. If you’ve still got an older tube-style TV hanging around the house and it simply refuses to die, here’s a quick how-to for getting the smudges and dust off of your old giant. Luckily, you’ll be able to use some household cleaners you probably have hanging around.
Step 2: Once the TV has settled down to room temperature, grab that same microfiber cloth you used for your prized living room QLED and wipe away any dust on the tube TV’s screen. Once the dust has cleared, you may still have fingerprints and other gunk to contend with.
Step 3: To clear the rest of the mess, you can use the same solution you put together to clean your high-end TV. If you’re lacking the materials to create this concoction, you can use a regular glass cleaner instead. This is because most older tube TVs actually have glass screens.
Important note: Do not under any circumstances use regular glass cleaner to clean an HDTV. The harsh chemicals used in the cleaner will damage the TV screen.
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.
This is the ultimate guide to properly cleaning your flat-screen television without scratching it or causing any potential damage. Included in this guide will be the best cleaning techniques, as well as the ideal products to accomplish a brand-new appearance on your TV. This guide is full of must-have knowledge for absolutely anyone who wants their television to remain in pristine condition. As a bonus, this guide will also provide you with a detailed explanation and instructions on how to clean your TV remote control.
Nowadays, most televisions are manufactured with a soft plastic screen. As a result of this, TV screens are delicate and can be easilydamagedif cleaned with an improper solution or technique. Accidentally using the incorrect product on your television could result in permanent damage, such as fogging, discoloring, or scratching.
When cleaning a television screen, two different techniques work extremely well. The first technique focuses on spraying down a microfiber cloth and wiping the Televisions screen. Alternatively, you may spray a minimal amount of non-ammonia based cleaner onto the TVs screen and gently wipe it away. These two techniques are proven safe and will not result in any permanent damage to your TV’s screen, as long as you follow the necessary detailed instructions when performing the cleaning.
Certain products and items you never want to use on the screen of your TV since they will cause permanent damage. When gearing up to perform a television cleaning, you will want to avoid using regular tap water, wood-based wipes, isopropyl alcohol solution containing more than 50% alcohol, regular Windex, or any cleaners that are ammonia-based.
Many products that are not made specifically for cleaning electronics will harm your television. If regular tap water is used on the television screen, a visible residue will appear after the water has dried. Instead of utilizing tap water, you may choose to use distilled water combined with a microfiber cloth. The combination of distilled water with the microfiber cloth will cause any dust on the screen’s surface to cling to the damp cloth. Distilled water will also ensure that the anti-reflective coating on your TV’s screen does not become worn-out.
Though Windex is a common go-to product for cleaning many devices and appliances, using it on a television screen can cause permanent damage. The reason behind this is because Windex is an ammonia-based cleaner. Ammonia-based cleaners may cause a chemical reaction between the ammonia-based cleaner and the coating on the Televisions screen or cause clouding.
It is essential to avoid the use of any wood-based cleaning wipes on a TV screen. Wood-based cleaning wipes include paper towels, Kleenex tissues, along with any similar products. If wood-based wipes are used on the TV’s screen, there is a strong possibility that you would be left with a multitude of visible, permanent scratches on the screen. The reason why the scratching often occurs is how rough the fibers of these products are combined with how soft the screen on the TV is.
You have a few technique options to choose from when preparing to clean a TV screen. A 50% isopropyl alcohol-based spray, also known as a lens cleaner, is a simple option that many lean towards. When using an isopropyl alcohol spray, you will want to pay close attention to the level of alcohol in the spray and be sure to avoid any alcohol-based sprays that contain more than 50% alcohol, as this will over-dry the television screen.
When choosing to utilize the lens cleaner technique, you will also want to use a clean, soft microfiber cloth that does not shed any fibers. If the microfiber cloth does shed fibers, you will find that sometimes after you’ve already cleaned the TV, you have to clean it again. This is due to the small static electricity charge produced when wiping the TV’s screen, which will attract the fibers of a microfiber cloth.
Optionally, specific products are intended for use on electronics that are extremely gentle as they do not contain ammonia or alcohol. Windex makes a special electronics cleaner that works phenomenally and is highly recommended. Additionally, the product “Screen Mom” is specially formulated for televisions and is also a fantastic product.
If the television is not dirty but has acquired a collection of dust particles on the surface, compressed air may be the best option for this job. Using compressed air will inevitably eliminate the worry of causing potential damage to the screen since there is no possible way to damage the television with air. Compressed air is an easy, inexpensive, and fast way to clear any dust from the television, leaving the TV appearing brand-new.
The first option entails simply spraying the microfiber cloth down with the cleaning solution and using that to wipe the television screen. If this is the method that is chosen, you will want to be cautious of the amount of solution used. Ideally, the cloth should only be slightly damp after you’ve sprayed it down.
Accidentally applying too much solution onto the microfiber cloth and using the excessively wet cloth on the TV screen may result in permanent damage. When too much cleaning solution is applied to the TV screen, the cleaner tends to run down the screen into the bezel and any other nearby electronics.
Alternatively, you may mist the TVs screen directly with a small amount of the cleaning solution that you’ve chosen. Immediately after misting the screen, you will want to gently wipe away the mist with a microfiber cloth. If this is the option that you would like to utilize, be sure to be extremely careful to not spray too much cleaner onto the television – as this may drip onto the bezel along with any other nearby electronics very rapidly, resulting in permanent damage.
IMPORTANT: When wiping a television screen with any wipe, be sure to be gentle, and refrain from applying any excessive pressure. Applying too much pressure on the screen will result in distorted pixels.
Microfiber cloths are commonly located in the automotive aisle of any big box store, and the lens cleaner can often be found bundled in kits for eyeglasses. Alternatively, Amazon possesses an extensive assortment of microfiber wipes and appropriate cleaning solutions that can be shipped directly to your door.
Recent studies from multiple universities have confirmed that the TV remote is the single dirtiest item in a typical home and is a hotbed for bacteria and viruses.
When performing a deep clean on your TV remote, all you need when performing a deep clean is rubbing alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol, which comes in a solution or a spray cleaner. Typically, you’ll find this at your local grocery, pharmacy, or hardware store as a 50% water and 50% isopropyl alcohol mixture. Combine this with a clean toothbrush, q-tips, and a microfiber cloth.
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.
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.
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Cleaning your smartphone or tablet screen is easy---but you need to make sure you"re doing it the right way. This means employing the right type of cleaner, as well as a material suited to cleaning.
After all, if you don"t know what to avoid, you might end up damaging the touchscreen. This can potentially render the device useless. Below we cover how safely and correctly clean your mobile phone or tablet touchscreen.
Before we go over a quick and easy method to safely clean your device"s touchscreen, let"s cover some mistakes you should never make when cleaning a smartphone touchscreen:
Never use harsh chemicals, including Windex, anything with ammonia, or alcohol-based cleaners. If a liquid is necessary, you should only use a small amount of water on the cloth. While you can purchase special cleaning solutions (such as iKlenz, recommended by Apple) these are not necessary.
Never use abrasive cloths, paper towels, or tissue paper, which can scratch the touchscreen. The scratches may be small, but they will build up over time, damaging and dulling the screen. Instead, use microfiber cloths, which are specially designed to clean sensitive surfaces.
Never use a large amount of water. If water is necessary to clean the screen, you should dampen your microfiber cloth instead. It"s a good idea to power off your device ahead of time if any water is necessary.
The steps outlined below are intended for cleaning glass screens. If your screen is covered in a plastic screen protector, you can use other types of cleaning solutions. Check the screen protector"s packaging or refer to the manufacturer"s website for details.
To clean a touchscreen, all you really need is a microfiber cloth. For dirtier screens, you may also need a small amount of plain water (soap is not necessary).
The term "microfiber cloth" may sound a bit fancy, but they"re extremely common and cheap. If you have a pair of eyeglasses, they probably came with a microfiber cloth for cleaning the lenses.
Cloths like the MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths safely clean sensitive glass surfaces without scratching, whether it"s a pair of glasses or a glass touchscreen. You may also have received a microfiber cloth with another device.
Why are microfiber cloths suited for this task? They contain very small fibers which won"t scratch your touchscreen. The microfibers also attract dust and oils, pulling them off your device"s screen instead of rubbing them around the display. A few quick wipes with a microfiber cloth and your phone"s touchscreen should be clean.
Turn off the device. This step is optional, but if plan to use any water, it"s a good idea. At the very least, turning off the device"s screen allows you to see the dirt more easily.
Wipe horizontally or vertically across the touchscreen in one repeating direction with the microfiber cloth. This motion sweeps grime away and is the safest way to clean the screen.For example, start at the left side of the screen and wipe straight across to the right side of the screen. Afterwards, move the cloth a bit lower and repeat this process to clean the entire screen.
If necessary, use a small amount of water to make a corner of the cloth slightly damp. Make sure you apply the water to the cloth, not the device. Use the damp part of the cloth to clean the screen in the same way. (Rubbing in a small circle may be necessary if the grime refuses to come off.)For particularly troublesome grease, you may consider a screen cleaning fluid, which you can buy from a store like Walmart or Amazon. You can also make your own using ten parts distilled water and one part white vinegar. Decant your mix into a suitable spray bottle---remember to spray the cloth, not the phone or tablet.
Wipe the screen with the dry part of the microfiber cloth. Leave any remaining moisture on on the screen to air-dry; don"t try too hard to dry it with the cloth.
While it might sound confusing, this is the most complicated way to explain the process. In most cases, simply turning the device"s screen off and giving it a few wipes across with a microfiber cloth will be enough to remove any dust and oil in just a few seconds.
Looking for a way to clean your iPad screen? Since the construction of most tablets resembles large phones, you can follow most of the steps to clean your tablet.
Nevertheless, the cleaning challenges facing tablet owners can differ considerably. For example, any iPad or other tablet stored in a silicon case is likely to have significant dust and dirt gathered under its edges.
As such, it is wise to remove your tablet from the case before cleaning. With a child"s tablet, the accumulated crud may require several attempts before it"s back to spotless.
This doesn"t mean that you have no options around Windex, however. The Windex range includes a vinegar glass cleaner and an ammonia-free option. Nonetheless, we recommend avoiding these as well, since they"re made for use on standard glass.
Instead, if you really want to use Windex products, try the Windex Electronics Wipes. These are intended for use on TVs, smartphones, tablets, ereaders, and more. You can use these as you would a microfiber cloth to remove fingerprints, dust, and smudges.
Once you"ve cleaned your phone or iPad touchscreen, it"s a good idea to keep it as clean as possible. Follow these tips to keep your device looking pristine:
From the television to the computer to the tablets, screens and monitors are all around your house. As more and more devices move into the touch-screen mode, you may very well find you’re frequently cleaning TV screens and computer monitors. While you may be quick to grab some paper towels, glass cleaner and start wiping away, stop and ask yourself this: is this the best way to clean this screen? There are many different considerations for cleaning the screens and monitors in your house. Here’s a closer look at what you need to know.
Most of the TVs found in homes today have flat screen monitors and are quite different compared to screens on older models. Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) TVs of the past (like the big 1980s-style sets you may recall) had a thick glass screen that was relatively safe to wipe clean with paper towels and window cleaner. Not so with today’s flat screen models. Much of what’s on the market today has a liquid crystal display, or LCD, monitor that produces images. LCD televisions are also thinner and lighter than CRTs.
The make-up of an LCD monitor or screen, however, features a special type of material that is sensitive to chemicals, such as a glass cleaner. Likewise, a plasma display panel (PDP) is made with small cells that contain electrically charged ionized gases—the plasmas.
One of the most important steps to remember is to turn the device off before you begin cleaning. When the screen is dark it will be easier to see the dirty areas. Keep in mind that using harsh chemicals on these screens could ultimately damage or even ruin the television or computer. And it’s not just the cleaners you need to be aware of; kitchen towels or paper towels could also cause scratches and leave the screens covered in lint.
Knowing and understanding how to clean your screens and monitors can help ensure you’re able to use and enjoy your devices for years to come. Here are a few suggestions for properly cleaning these specialty screens.
Probably one of the most important considerations is to never spray any type of cleaning fluid or even water directly onto the screen. While the old CRT screens were pretty much water-tight, the same can’t be said for today’s modern screens. Screens today are made of layers upon layers of glass, plastics, various display elements, and other materials. When liquid comes in contact with the screen’s edge it can be pulled in, like a capillary, to the layers. Once this happens, you will likely notice something that looks like a blob on your screen, and the liquid will most likely never evaporate without leaving some remaining damage.
You may think that grabbing the bottle of glass cleaner you already have on hand is fine for cleaning screens and monitors. But think again. Using many of these common cleaning products can end up causing serious damage. Ammonia-based cleaners (such as traditional window cleaning spray), for example, could cause a chemical reaction with the coating on the screen or cause clouding. Some electronics stores sell specialty cleaners for use on screens, but you can also make cleaning solutions at home. One option is to combine equal parts of water and vinegar for a homemade cleaning product. But don’t spray anything directly onto the screen. Instead, spray the solution onto a lint-free cloth and gently wipe the surface.
Paper towels, tissues and toilet paper are all wood based products and the fibers in those materials will leave small scratches all over the tv screen. These scratches will be very noticeable from the right angle.
For example, Windex contains ammonia and Dawn Dish Soap contains small amounts of alcohol. Flat screen TVs can cost thousands so it’s important to understand how to maintain them properly.
The method you use to clean your tv screen with will vary depending on the degree of dirtiness, but no matter how dirty the tv gets you always want to use a microfiber cloth.
2. Dampen a microfiber cloth with water. I recommend using Distilled water as I find tap water tends to leave a residue. Ensure you ring the cloth out well to prevent excess water from dripping down the screen.
For a flat screen tv that’s mucky, grimy, greasy and resembles a child’s iPad…. the level 3 cleaning is for you!! For this, you will need an actual electronics cleaner.
The difference between electronics cleaners and household cleaners is that they don’t contain ammonia or alcohol. If you ever stumble upon an electronics cleaner that contains ammonia or alcohol it’s a scam and should not be used to clean your tv screen!!
No! Over time it will dry out the screen and ruin the tv. Instead clean your tv screen with an electronics cleaner designed for tvs.How do you clean smudges off of a flat screen tv?
Use a damp microfiber cloth and gently rub away fingerprint smudges with small circular motions. Additionally, only apply light pressure as hard pressure can distort the pixels.What should never be used to clean a LCD screen?
Stay away from household cleaners that contain ammonia or alcohol. Instead, opt for electronics cleaners designed for tvs. Furthermore, avoid using paper towels, tissues, or toilet paper as these products are wood based and the fibers will scratch the tv screen.What is the best screen cleaner?
Flawless screen cleaner does a great job. It can be purchased from Amazon, comes with a microfiber cleaning cloth and is safe to use on all LCD, LED and plasma screens.
Let"s be real: Your TV screen is probably dirty. Sometimes, the dirtiness of a TV screen can go unnoticed, particularly if you spend a good amount of time watching bright, colorful content that minimizes the appearance of smudges and grime.
Like sunglasses, mirrors, and windows, TVs are best left free of smudge, spots, and fingerprints. Unfortunately, there"s a ton of misinformation out there about the best (and safest) ways to wipe away the blemishes on a TV. After all, these aren"t just any old surfaces—they"re expensive and often delicate pieces of technology.
Here"s the good news: Once you understand the basics, freeing your spot-covered TV of your kid"s oily palm prints couldn"t be simpler. Just remember: a clean screen means a clean scene.
Window cleaners contain harsh chemicals (like alcohol, ammonia, and lauramine oxide) that can do damage to LCD and OLED panels. One reason people assume that surface cleaners are still copacetic for TVs is because old-school CRT TVs could stand up against Windex, thanks in part to their glass screens. These days? The less liquid you use, the better.
Always use a microfiber cloth or towel—like the ones that come with a new pair of glasses—to clean your TV screen. Avoid using standard tissues or paper towels. Go to work on the problem areas with gentle, circular motions. Avoid applying too much pressure to the panel. If you"re dealing with some stubborn, oily stains that just won"t cooperate, resist the urge to exert more force. Instead, try moisturizing the cloth with a small amount of warm water.
Generally speaking, dedicated screen-cleaning solutions are OK for LCD/LED and OLED TVs, but if you decide to use screen cleaner, make sure the formula does not include alcohol or ammonia.
If you decide to use water or some sort of cleaner, do not spray the screen directly. Instead, lightly moisten your microfiber cloth before wiping the your TV screen.
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Many people have invested in HDTVs in recent years but don’t know how to clean them. This article will guide you on the best way to clean your tv screen and keep them viewing friendly.
The worst thing that you can do when cleaning your HDTV screen is to use the wrong cleaning product. Doing so will risk not only the value of your TV and its functionality but, it will also mean the end to many enjoyable TV viewing opportunities.
There are many harsh chemical cleaning products on the market that have the potential to strip and harm the protective layer that is on TV screens. Cleaning products such as Windex that contain ammonia or alcohol should be avoided at all costs when cleaning your HDTV screen. It is also important not to spray liquid such as water directly on to the screen. Doing this can cause excess liquid to run down the screen and potentially come into contact with the TV’s internal hardware.
Materials such as paper or kitchen towels are far too rough and abrasive for cleaning the screen of a TV. These cleaning tools, when combined with enough pressure, can scratch the protective coating of the screen and will leave streaks on your HDTV screen.
Cleaning your TV screen doesn’t have to be a chore. Using the right products such as a dry microfibre cloth, like theW! Cloth, and wiping the screen lightly will get rid of any dust and dirt particles that are on your TV screen. Make sure not to use circular buffing motions but rather wipe up and down the screen in vertical lines.
For stubborn spots, consider spraying a small amount of an ammonia and alcohol-free cleaning product on to a microfiber cloth. For example,Screen Shineis a non-toxic cleaning product designed to both clean and protect your HDTV screen. It leaves an invisible and anti-static coating which resists dust, dirt and smudges.
Most importantly, always make sure that your TV, whether an HDTV or an LCD, is turned off before you begin to clean it. Not only is it easier to see any dirt that is on your TV screen but you will also reduce the risk of an electric shock happening.
Nobody enjoys when there are smudges or streaks on their TV screen, especially if they are permanent due to not cleaning your TV correctly. So, the next time you are watching TV take some time to see how the dirty the screen really is. The right cleaning products and a little TLC is a small price to pay for a clean and viewing friendly HDTV screen.
Before you give into your impulses and wipe your screen with whatever you have at hand, let us stop you right there. Your display is way more delicate than you think, and if you want it to last a long time in optimal conditions, you’ll need to treat it with proper love and care.
The good news is that cleaning a computer screen is more simple than you think. You only need a soft cloth, a tiny bit of water, and the most delicate of touches.
As you would expect, not all screens are created equal, and some are more delicate than others. The safest way to figure out the proper care for your screen is to search for the make and model of your device, find out if it has an LCD, LED, or some other type of display, and search for the manufacturer’s instructions on how to care for it.
If you want to skip all that, there’s an easy way to avoid making a mistake that might not only result in irreparable damage to your screen but to your entire device. According to Joe Silverman, owner of New York Computer Help, a tech repair center in New York City, no matter how much money you spent on your computer or tablet, it probably has an LED or an LCD screen if you bought it within the last three years—and neither type benefits from window cleaner or highly concentrated alcohol.
That’s the uppermost layer of your screen, which is extremely sensitive to the acidity in alcohol and in compounds like ammonia or propylene glycol. These are often present in cleaning agents such as window cleaners and degreasers. Using these liquids will corrode the surface of your screen, resulting in scratches or even smudges you won’t be able to get rid of.
Things get even trickier when you’re dealing with touchscreens. On models like the Microsoft Surface, the display is the main input—as opposed to your mouse or trackpad on a regular laptop—so it’s ultra-sensitive, Silverman says. Using a strong liquid cleaner like a degreaser or a bleach-based disinfectant can obliterate the top layer on the screen. Combine that with high pressure, and you can kiss your fancy touchscreen computer goodbye.
Another downside to newer computers is their size and weight. If you decided to splurge on a new laptop, for example, you probably found one that has top-notch components, but also a slick, lightweight design. This format is only possible if everything in your laptop is smaller and thinner. In the case of your display, a thinner screen means a weaker barrier between your computer’s guts and the elements in the outside world.
Caring for your screen is simple—it only takes a little bit of water and a dust-free cloth, such as a microfiber wipe or the piece of fabric that came with your glasses.
First, turn off your computer and disconnect the charger. This might sound paranoid, but the benefit is twofold—you avoid any chance of triggering an electrical surge, and your screen will remain black, which will make it easier to see any dirt and grime.
Pour a couple drops of water on your cloth. Forget paper towels or the sleeve of that soft cotton t-shirt you love—microfiber is your best bet. Still, no matter how soft it is, a dry wipe could always leave micro-abrasions on your screen. The moisture will also help gather dust and particles while lifting grease from your display.
Use circular motions starting in the center of your screen and moving outward, so you don’t leave any streaks. If you can see any droplets or water traces on the glass while you clean, you’ve used way too much water. Gently dab the residual H2O with an absorbent cloth or tissue paper and start again.
If you’re dealing with next-level gunk, you can use isopropyl alcohol at 70 percent or lower, Silverman says. “That percentage is very important,” he explains. “We’d only use 90 percent or higher on dummy parts that don’t have sensors, like top cases and keyboards.” In these extreme cases, spray the alcohol on the cloth, never directly on the screen, and wipe it gently.
Just like solar damage, screen damage is cumulative. The more pressure you apply, the more abrasive a product you use, and the more often you use it, the greater the damage you’re inflicting on the protective layer of your display and the delicate sensors underneath it.
Maybe you can get away with using a high percentage of alcohol or even a window cleaner on your computer screen once or twice. But if you keep at it, eventually you’ll see the deleterious effects.
“You’ll see discoloration, lines (vertical and horizontal); sometimes it looks pretty and rainbow-like,” Silverman says. “Sometimes it’ll blink and sometimes you’ll see droplets of water or liquid in the back of the screen. There’s a lot of ways in which damage appears.”
The best way to avoid damaging your screen while cleaning it is to simply keep it from getting dirty in the first place. If you have a laptop, cover the keyboard with a thin microfiber cloth before closing it to prevent finger grease from transferring to the screen. If you have a touchscreen, wash your hands often before you use it, but make sure you let your hands dry completely before you start tapping—the soapy water or liquid hand cleanser from your fingers can easily end up on the screen and corrode it.
Your phone was designed to be carried, dropped, tapped, swiped, smashed against your face for long periods of time, and stowed in the deepest corners of your bag. In other words, its screen is way more resilient than your computer’s.
Silverman explains that most iPhones and Samsung phones, for example, have screens made out of one thick piece of glass. These, as opposed to computer screens, have all the LCD layers fused together, making them much more difficult to damage. Still, if you’re using alcohol, he recommends keeping the concentration at 70 percent or lower, using a soft cloth, and applying only low pressure to get rid of any accumulated gunk there.
Replacing the screen of your computer or smartphone can be expensive, and even if that’s not an issue for you, no one wants their devices to fail when they need them the most. So remember these tips well—we hope you never have to read this article again.
A. Klear Screen and iKlear are the only Screen Cleaners used, sold, or recommended by Apple, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Panasonic, Samsung, and ViewSonic. The Klear Screen and iKlear formula"s anti-static, alcohol and ammonia-free properties allow you to safely clean, protect, and preserve your LCD, Plasma, HDTV, Big Screen TV, and CRT displays. Klear Screen is also safe to use on your iPods, Digital Cameras and Camcorders, Scanners, PDA"s, GPS Screens, Portable DVD Players, DVD"s, and CD"s.
A. Glass cleaner is made with alcohol and ammonia, which will damage any LCD screen. LCD display screens are made of plastic. Plastics and Computer manufacturers consistently do not recommend alcohol or ammonia-based cleaners. Repeated applications of alcohol on plastic may turn your screen surface yellow, make it brittle, and can cause stress cracking on your screen surface. Do not make a very expensive mistake cleaning your laptop LCD screen with a $2 glass cleaner and a paper towel!
A. Beware, one of the best known brands recently relabeled their alcohol-based wipes for laptop use. Many commercially available computer screen cleaners are formulated to clean glass, not plastic, and contain either alcohol or ammonia, both of which are harmful to LCD screens.
A. Klear Screen is a state-of-the-art cleaner for precision and multi-coated optics and is internationally recognized for its unique, non-damaging, alcohol and ammonia-free formula. Klear Screen and iKlear use the same unique formula, which safely cleans and replenishes your screen surface with a non-toxic, non-damaging, liquid polymer-based solution. Our solution lifts and dissolves surface contaminants, fingerprints, and floating debris off the screen surface leaving an anti-static coating, which dramatically reduces surface friction, resists fingerprinting and provides a renewable protective screen barrier.
Q. Why do I need a special cleaner for my new High Definition Display Screen? The owners manual specifically warns against using glass cleaners. Is Klear Screen and iKlear compatible and safe for cleaning my display screen?
A. High Definition Display screens are made of plastic. High Definition Screen Manufacturersrecommend againstusing alcohol or ammonia-based cleaners. Repeated application of alcohol on plastic may turn your screen surface yellow, make it brittle, and can cause stress cracking on your screen surface. Do not make a very expensive mistake by cleaning your High Definition Screen with a $2 glass cleaner and a paper towel! Please review the specific LCD, High Definition TV, Plasma, and Flat Panel Display cleaning instructions in theKlear Screen Application Guide (PDF)for detailed cleaning information.
A. Klear Screen and iKlear are 100% safe for cleaning the screen and any externally applied vinyl film screen protectors for your PDA"s. Klear Screen will clean your PDA screen without damage and will enhance the smoothness of the writing surface. Repeated use of Klear Screen or iKlear can help to extend the usable service life of each vinyl film screen protector you apply.
Q. Why do I need to use the Klear Screen or iKlear solution in conjunction with a Klear Screen polishing cloth (Micro-Chamois, Micro-Fiber, or Klear Kloth)?
A. You may see streaks on your display if you have not polished off the Klear Screen or iKlear Solution completely. Klear Screen and iKlear requires a two-step cleaning process. In order to remove the streaks, begin the cleaning process over.
If the cleaner is still visible on screen, continue to polish until screen is clear. Please see our specialinstructionsabout cleaning “glossy” TFT screens.
Remove the dry Step 2, Klear Kloth and gently polish surface, side to side and top to bottom (a new addition to our Travel Singles is our Travel Size Micro-Chamois). Immediately after using a Travel Single, follow with a final polish using our Micro-Chamois cloth, and you will achieve the ultimate cleaning results. For ultimate cleaning results use our Klear Screen or iKlear Micro-Chamois or Micro-Fiber cloths as a substitution for Step 3.
A. Yes. Klear Screen and iKlear are great for cleaning CD’s and DVD’s. To clean: Lightly mist both sides of the disk. Polish the Klear Screen or iKlear solution off by polishing the entire disk in straight lines (not in a circular motion). By cleaning the non-playing surface, the static charge from both sides of the disk will be removed.
A. We make no claims for our iKlear Apple Polish products as a scratch remover of any kind. However, we offer a third-party product called iCleaner iPod & MacBook Pro Scratch Remover that has been highly rated by Mac publications including Macworld magazine. One of the secrets of using the iCleaner is to follow it up with an application of our own iKlear iPod, MacBook & MacBook Pro Cleaning Kit. A 2 oz bottle should allow you clean your iPod every week for a year or more. You can safely re-apply our iKlear Apple Polish as many times per day or per week as you wish. People do find that regular and consistent application of our iKlear Apple Polish may greatly reduce the amount of surface scratches on your iPod.
A. We make no claims for our iKlear Apple Polish products as a scratch remover of any kind. However, we offer a third-party product callediCleaner iPod & MacBook Pro Scratch Removerthat has been highly rated by Mac publications including Macworld magazine. One of the secrets of using the iCleaner is to follow it up with an application of our owniKlear iPod, Macbook & MacBook Pro Cleaning Kit. A 2 oz bottle should allow you clean your iBook/MacBook every week for a year or more. You can safely re-apply our iKlear Apple Polish as many times per day or per week as you wish. People do find that regular and consistent application of our iKlear Apple Polish may greatly reduce the amount of surface scratches on your iBook/ MacBook.
Q. I have a Sony ™ VAIO™ notebook computer with the X-Brite™ screen technology. People I"ve asked have recommended your Klear Screen High Performance Kit. Why should I be using your products?
A. We have achieved a 100% customer satisfaction rating because Klear Screen safely and effectively cleans X-Brite-type screens. You must use one of our Micro-Chamois or Micro-Fiber Cloths with our Klear Screen Solution.
A. Cleaning the glossy X-Brite-type screens requires a little more patience and a little more effort to clean effectively. Let the screen cool before attempting to clean with our Klear Screen High Performance or Deluxe Cleaning Kits. Note: Youcannoteffectively clean a glossy TFT screen when it"s hot or has been in use for an extended period of time. Clean in small sections until the entire screen is streak-free. Any of our Klear Screen products will safely clean a glossy X-Brite-type screen effectively but you must utilize one of our Micro-Chamois or Micro-Fiber Cloths with whatever Klear Screen solution you choose to achieve satisfactory results. Please review the specific glossy screen cleaning instructions in theKlear Screen Application Guide (PDF)for detailed cleaning information on all glossy TFT screens.
Q. I recently purchased a Dell™ Inspiron™ Notebook™, which includes a Klear Screen for Dell sample cleaning kit. Why should I use Klear Screen for Dell and where can I get more of your Klear Screen for Dell products when I run out?
A. Dell recently introduced Notebooks™ with their new TrueLife™ glossy TFT screens, which are difficult to clean. After testing multiple screen cleaning products Dell determined that Klear Screen is the only safe and effective screen cleaner. To guarantee customer satisfaction Dell asked us to create a dedicated screen cleaning kit for Dell users. Since their introduction in August of 2004, we delivered almost a half a million Klear Screen for Dell Cleaning Kits and have achieved a 100% customer satisfaction rating. Please review the specific glossy screen cleaning instructions in theKlear Screen Application Guide (PDF)for detailed cleaning information on all glossy TFT screens. All Klear Screen products can be purchased from ouronline storeor select dealers.
A. You should purchase one of ouriKlear Apple Polish Kits. Cleaning the glossy TFT screens requires a little more patience and a little more effort to clean effectively. Let the screen cool before attempting to clean with our Klear Screen High Performance or Deluxe Cleaning Kits. Note: Youcannoteffectively clean a glossy TFT screen when it"s hot or has been in use for an extended period of time. Clean in small sections until the entire screen is streak-free. Any of our Klear Screen products will safely clean a glossy TFT screen effectively but you must utilize one of our Micro-Chamois or Micro-Fiber Cloths with whatever Klear Screen solution you choose to achieve satisfactory results. Please review the specific glossy screen cleaning instructions in theKlear Screen Application Guide (PDF)for detailed cleaning information on all glossy TFT screens.
We"ve all had that moment: You"re sitting at your computer or laptop and the light hits your screen in a way to reveal an unsightly accumulation of streaks, fingerprints, and dust.
To help, we round up the most important things to know about cleaning your computer screen, whether it"s a Mac or PC. While it"s a simple process, there are a few important rules to keep in mind to make sure you"re doing it safely.
Computer screens are not all made the same, and thus can"t all be cleaned the same way. You"ll want to be careful no matter your screen type, but it"s helpful to know that displays come in two categories:Glass-coated screens: The screens on newer iMac displays and MacBooks have a glass overlay. Glass displays are a little less delicate than LCD or LED screens, and mild cleaning solutions, like rubbing alcohol, are generally safe to use on them.
LCD or LED screens:Windows computers and most touchscreens and matte displays are typically not coated in glass. Extra care should be taken with these screens so not to damage the pixels that make up the display.
To clean a computer screen, you really just need two things: A microfiber cloth and filtered or distilled water. That"s to say you don"t need a special store-bought cleaning solution.
If you"d like some extra sanitation power, an equal parts mixture of water and vinegar is safe no matter your screen type. If you know that your display is glass-coated, you can also use an equal parts mixture of water and 70% rubbing alcohol.What you needTwo lint-free microfiber cloths
d3sign/Getty ImagesTurn the computer or laptop off.For safety reasons, begin by letting the device cool down completely. Dust, fingerprints, and smudges are also easier to spot on a black screen.
If any marks remain, wipe with a lightly moistened cloth.For glass-coated screens, you can use a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar or rubbing alcohol. For LED or LCD screens, use only water. Spray or lightly dab the solution directly onto the cloth and carefully wipe the screen from left to right.
Buff with a dry cloth and air-dry.If any streaks remain once the screen dries, gently buff them with the dry cloth. Before you turn your computer or laptop back on, allow the screen to dry completely.Note:Apple claims that you can use 70% isopropyl disinfecting wipes to clean any Apple product. Just remember not to get any liquid into the device"s ports or openings — to avoid this, you might want to wring out the wipe to remove any excess liquid before using it.
For the best advice for cleaning your screen, it"s a smart idea to check your owner"s manual, which provides the manufacturer"s specific recommendations. But since screens are especially susceptible to damage, there are a few general guidelines that apply, no matter the type of screen you own.
Turn off your computer before cleaning the screen. This is just safe practice where any amount of liquid is involved, but more specifically, any static on the screen could create a shock and damage the internal components.
Do not use abrasive cleaning solutions. This includes bleach (or any products containing bleach), hydrogen peroxide, or all-purpose spray cleaners. Using an abrasive cleaner can ruin the finish of your screen.
Use filtered or distilled water. Especially in areas with hard water, water containing minerals like calcium and magnesium can damage your screen or leave even more streaks.
Use only soft microfiber cloths.Even a fabric as soft as a cotton shirt has snags and uneven particles that can scratch a computer screen. For this reason, avoid T-shirts, towels, and paper towels. The exception is the Apple Pro Display XDR or iMac, which requires a special polishing cloth.
Never spray cleaning solution directly onto the screen. To avoid any risk of damage from excess moisture, mist the solution directly onto the microfiber cloth instead.
Do not wipe in circles. Wiping in circles can create uneven pressure and ultimately lead to screen damage. It"s also more likely to create streaking. Wipe in tight, Z-shaped motions, or in broad strokes from side to side.
Do not scrub.Apply gentle pressure only. Hard scrubbing can damage the internal components of the screen and could leave scratches or spots of discoloration or dead pixels that won"t go away.Melanie Weir
Melanie Weir is a freelance author for Insider, mainly focusing on the Tech Reference section, but occasionally contributing to Lifestyle and Entertainment topics as well. She is also a freelance writer for ScreenRant, and is the Lead Weekend News Editor at TheThings.com. In her spare time she writes plays for both stage and screen. She can be reached at melanie.weir1008@gmail.com, or through LinkedIn.
Clean your iPhone immediately if it comes in contact with anything that might cause stains or other damage — for example, dirt or sand, ink, makeup, soap, detergent, acids or acidic foods, or lotions. Follow these guidelines for cleaning:
Clean your iPhone immediately if it comes in contact with anything that might cause stains or other damage — for example, dirt or sand, ink, makeup, soap, detergent, acids or acidic foods, or lotions. Follow these guidelines:
Clean your iPhone immediately if it comes into contact with contaminants that might cause stains, such as ink, dyes, makeup, dirt, food, oils, and lotions. To clean your iPhone, unplug all cables and turn it off. Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. Avoid getting moisture in openings. Don"t use window cleaners, household cleaners, compressed air, aerosol sprays, solvents, ammonia, or abrasives to clean your iPhone. The front glass surfaces have an oleophobic coating. To remove fingerprints, wipe these surfaces with a soft, lint-free cloth. The ability of this coating to repel oil will diminish over time with normal use, and rubbing the screen with an abrasive material will further diminish its effect and might scratch the glass.
Clean your iPhone immediately if it comes into contact with contaminants that might cause stains, such as ink, dyes, makeup, dirt, food, oils, and lotions. To clean your iPhone, unplug all cables and turn it off. Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. Avoid getting moisture in openings. Don"t use window cleaners, household cleaners, compressed air, aerosol sprays, solvents, ammonia, abrasives, or cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide to clean your iPhone. The front glass surfaces have an oleophobic coating. To remove fingerprints, wipe these surfaces with a soft, lint-free cloth. The ability of this coating to repel oil will diminish over time with normal use, and rubbing the screen with an abrasive material will further diminish its effect and might scratch the glass.
Clean your iPhone immediately if it comes into contact with contaminants that might cause stains, such as ink, dyes, makeup, dirt, food, oils, and lotions. To clean your iPhone, unplug all cables and turn it off. Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. Avoid getting moisture in openings. Don"t use window cleaners, household cleaners, compressed air, aerosol sprays, solvents, ammonia, abrasives, or cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide to clean your iPhone. The front glass surfaces have an oleophobic coating. To remove fingerprints, wipe these surfaces with a soft, lint-free cloth. The ability of this coating to repel oil will diminish over time with normal use, and rubbing the screen with an abrasive material will further diminish its effect and might scratch the glass.
Clean your iPhone immediately if it comes into contact with contaminants that might cause stains, such as ink, dyes, makeup, dirt, food, oils, and lotions. To clean your iPhone, unplug all cables and turn off your iPhone (press and hold the Sleep/Wake button, and then drag the onscreen slider). Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. Avoid getting moisture in openings. Don"t use window cleaners, household cleaners, compressed air, aerosol sprays, solvents, ammonia, abrasives, or cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide to clean your iPhone. The front and back glass surfaces have an oleophobic coating. To remove fingerprints, wipe these surfaces with a soft, lint-free cloth. The ability of this coating to repel oil will diminish over time with normal use, and rubbing the screen with an abrasive material will further diminish its effect and might scratch the glass.
Clean your iPhone immediately if it comes into contact with contaminants that might cause stains, such as ink, dyes, makeup, dirt, food, oils, and lotions. To clean your iPhone, unplug all cables and turn off your iPhone (press and hold the Sleep/Wake button, and then drag the onscreen slider). Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. Avoid getting moisture in openings. Don"t use window cleaners, household cleaners, compressed air, aerosol sprays, solvents, ammonia, abrasives, or cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide to clean your iPhone. The front glass surface has an oleophobic coating. To remove fingerprints, wipe these surfaces with a soft, lint-free cloth. The ability of this coating to repel oil will diminish over time with normal use, and rubbing the screen with an abrasive material will further diminish its effect and might scratch the glass.
To clean your iPhone, unplug all cables and turn off your iPhone (press and hold the Sleep/Wake button, and then drag the onscreen slider). Then use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. Avoid getting moisture in openings. Don"t use window cleaners, household cleaners, compressed air, aerosol sprays, solvents, ammonia, abrasives, or cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide to clean your iPhone.