can i use isopropyl alcohol to clean lcd screen price

Display technology has come a long way in recent years. OLED and LCD screens are brighter, more colorful and responsive than ever before, but at some point, they all still succumb to dust, dirt and grime. What’s worse is that there are a plethora of cleaning products out there that claim they can make your screen sparkle again. But in our testing, we’ve found that the simplest route is actually the best. In this how-to, we’ll show you how to clean all the screens in your home, from TVs to smartphones.

Before we get to how to clean a screen, there are a few ways you don’t want to go about the process. The first, and most important, is that you don’t want to clean a display using substances like isopropyl alcohol or Windex. Alcohol- and ammonia-based cleaners can damage your screen’s anti-reflective coating. Using those substances repeatedly can lead to clouding and the coating becoming uneven.

Companies like Whoosh make cleaning agents that won’t damage your screen, but in my experience, you’re best off using distilled water. It’s more affordable than a dedicated cleaning agent and more versatile too since you can use it on a variety of surfaces. It also won’t leave behind any residue on your display, which is something I’ve seen products like Whoosh do occasionally. You can buy distilled water at a grocery store or make it yourself with some simple cookware.

In a pinch, you can use tap water, but we recommend against it. Depending on the hardness of the water in your area and how your municipality treats it, there may be minerals and chemicals that will again either leave behind residue or, worse yet, damage your display’s coating.

Once you have some distilled water, you’ll want a separate spray bottle. One option is to reuse one you already have at home, but if you don’t have a spare, Muji makes these handy travel bottles in 100ml, 50ml and 30ml sizes that are perfect for the task, and you can find similar bottles on Amazon.

Next, be mindful of what you use to wipe your screen. You want to avoid using paper towel, dish rags and anything else that may have an abrasive surface that will damage the coating on your screen. You can use the sleeve of an old but clean t-shirt. That said, you’ll get the best results using microfiber cloths. That’s because the fabric they’re made from is extremely soft and good at attracting dust. We suggest buying a pack of them so that you always have a clean one on hand. The last thing you want to do is use a dirty one and transfer any dirt and grime onto your display.

Lastly, avoid spraying any liquid directly on a display. You’ll have a lot more control if you deposit it on your microfiber cloth and it’s much easier to avoid any of it making its way into the more sensitive parts of the display.

With all that out of the way, the actual process of cleaning a display is straightforward. If you’re only dealing with some dust, use a can of compressed air or an air blower to dislodge it. You can also turn to a dry microfiber cloth.

For anything more than that, dampen your microfiber cloth with a small amount of distilled water and then gently wipe the display. Once you’ve gone over the entire surface, turn over the cloth and use the dry side to remove any excess water. At this stage, avoid buffing the screen or using excessive pressure. You don’t want to work any particles into the surface of the screen.

That’s it. You should have a clean display now. Obviously, it will take longer to clean a bigger screen, but you can put to use the tips mentioned for all types of displays, including TVs, monitors and glass smartphone displays.

Screens, especially touchscreens, collect a lot of dirt, grease and hair. This means that periodic cleaning is something we all have to and should do.

Now, plenty of people get away with wiping a smartphone screen against their t-shirt or pants or using a sleeve to clean a laptop display, but this is not the best way and can itself damage the display.

Do a quick search on the internet, and you"ll find that isopropyl alcohol is the weapon of choice in cleaning displays. This is true, but if used incorrectly, this chemical can also damage the display.

The big DON"T of using isopropyl alcohol is this -- don"t pour or even spray isopropyl alcohol on your display. If you put too much isopropyl alcohol on a screen, damage can occur in two ways:The isopropyl alcohol can seep between the layers of the display, completely ruining it and requiring the device to have a replacement screen fitted

Apple has, naturally, published detailed information on safely cleaning a whole range of products, from notebooks to tablets to smartphones. While this is aimed at Apple users, the information applies to other brands too.

No matter where LCD screens are kept, they will always need cleaning from time to time. Cleaning an LCD may seem like a daunting task, but there are a few simple ways to clean it without damaging to scratching to surface.

There are many cleaning solutions available in shops. However these may seem a bit expensive and are sometimes quite unnecessary. PixelClean is one of the better and less expensive brands. It is highly recommended. Most products will come with instructions on how to use them.

It is recommended to use a simple alcohol solution to clean an LCD screen. This solution is made up of part distilled water and part 50% isopropyl alcohol. Be warned that isopropyl alcohol is flammable.

50% isopropyl alcohol is very common. If you find 70%, 91%, or 99% isopropyl alcohol, adjust the formula to use less alcohol and more distilled water.

The reason you want this mixture is because alcohol evaporates so quickly. More importantly, it doesn’t leave any residue behind, so the screen will be cleaned without there being any streaks or marks left. You can buy this at your local pharmacy–it’s used for cleaning wounds.

Do NOT use tissues/Kleenex to wipe your screen. That is ineffective, because they will leave little tissue particles all over your screen. You want a 100%-cotton cloth that is soft and absorbent. A t-shirt is a good cloth, but so is a sock or a Turkish towel, so long as it is 100% cotton.

Stay away from cloth that has polyester in it because this can contain stiff filaments. These filaments can scratch the screen while you are rubbing over it. Also stay away from paper towel and tissues. While it might feel soft, remember that it is paper and therefore, it comes from wood. This means that there might be microscopic wood fragments in the paper towel that will scratch your screen if you move it over it. Therefore, avoid anything paper and instead, focus on the cotton.

First dampen the cloth with the alcohol solution. You should never spray any sort of liquid directly onto the screen. You also don’t want to try and clean the screen without some sort of liquid because the dust particle, as it is moved across the screen, will scratch.

Wipe the screen gently from top to bottom or in a counter clockwise direction, and wait for it to dry. You’ll remove all of the dust and the liquid that is on the screen will evaporate quickly. Then, the screen will be clean and scratch free.

Be careful not to let the cleaning solution leak into the sides of the monitor. Also, be certain that you do not press hard on the LCD screen. You can permanently damage an LCD screen by pressing on it too hard.

If there is just dust on your screen, there is no need to fully clean it. To remove dust all that must be done is to wipe it away with a microfiber cloth. Simply wipe your screen from end to end gently with the cloth.

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It is pretty normal to pause or hesitate when it comes to cleaning electronics. They represent a large investment and there is always some fear that the wrong cleaner will cause serious damage or leave behind something permanently streaky, especially when it comes to screens.

Computer screens represent a special situation, (please see below) but electronics, in general, are not as delicate as you might think. Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol may seem too strong but it is actually better than most cleaning products for maintaining your electronics collection. You just need to know how to use it.

Household rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol is great for cleaning electronics. It kills fungus, bacteria and viruses, including E. coli, S. aureus, and the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. TheCDC recommends a 70% diluted version for disinfecting homes and schools.

It can be convenient when you don’t like the smell or when you have a lot of electronics and only a little rubbing alcohol on hand. Keep in mind, though, that when it is diluted more than 50%, its effectiveness drops. If you are cleaning a computer in a crowded office you do not want the germ-killing power watered down.

It is important to distinguish isopropyl alcohol from ethyl alcohol. Isopropyl or rubbing alcohol is what you want for cleaning electronics. Ethyl alcohol is the type found in alcoholic beverages like vodka and in some cleaning products. It does not evaporate as fast and can leave an oily residue.

Almost everything on your computer, television and phone can be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol just fine. Sometimes the anti-glare designs of some computer screens can be a bit delicate. Check manufacturer instructions the first time you clean any screen to make sure you get the right chemical.

It’s best not to spray rubbing alcohol or any kind of cleaner onto a screen or any other part of your electronics. There is a slight chance of the mist getting into speakers, keyboards or other crannies, which could impact performance. Pour some rubbing alcohol onto a cloth or cotton ball and use that to clean instead.

Paper towels might have been fine for old televisions with their glass screens but they do not work on modern screens. They can leave tiny scratches and residue.

Glass cleaners are formulated for windows and mirrors. Also, they don’t kill germs. Rubbing alcohol does. If you are cleaning a computer in an office during flu season you know how important this is.

If you are very focused on killing germs, it may seem like a Clorox wipe would work just fine. On many computer brands, it is OK to use those pre-moistened wipes (Apple says it is fine for almost all of their devices), but there are brands that can be damaged by Clorox wipes.

This has a very high alcohol concentration so it will kill germs easily and dry quickly. It is well regarded and will work perfectly with a cotton ball or microfiber cloth.

Angie Parkinson is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.

Dirt, dust, and fingerprint smudges aren"t likely to do any long-term damage to your gaming monitor(opens in new tab), but they still suck. Why pay all that money for a nice screen only to have the visual fidelity brought down by smudges and dust. Let"s face it, your monitor is filthy—it"s time to clean it.

You might think that cleaning your monitor is easy, and you"re right. But you still want to be careful and avoid doing things like just wiping it with the corner of your t-shirt—or even worse, a paper towel. Here are a few do"s and don"ts:

Before we start, let"s go over a few big no-no"s, as accidentally damaging your monitor is a pricey mistake we want to avoid. Unfortunately, most of your go-to cleaning products are in here, including our PC favourites like isopropyl.

First off, avoid corrosive substances! That means no alcohol- or ammonia-based cleaners (like diluted rubbing alcohol or Windex). These cleaners can damage your screen by stripping anti-reflective coatings, cause clouding, or worse. Monitors have come a long way from the giant glass bulbs of old-school CRT screens, but that means they"re a lot more sensitive too.

Next, be careful what you use to wipe the screen. Paper towels might seem like a good option, but at a microscopic level, they"re actually quite abrasive. Ditto to t-shirts or other household rags, which might be harboring a stowaway spec of sand, metal, or something else that could scratch up your display in a single wipe.

Finally, you never want to spray your cleaning agent directly onto your monitor. Excess liquid runs the risk of pooling in the corner of your screen, seeping in through tiny weak spots and wreaking havoc on the sensitive materials inside.

A mini vacuum/blower - If you"re sick of buying compressed air you can get one of these pretty cheap. They"re not as direct or as powerful but they"ll do the job and you can just recharge it instead of needing a new can.

1. Blast it — With those words of warning aside, let"s get down to the business of cleaning that monitor. For simple dustings, a blast of compressed air (the same stuff you use to knock dust out of your case fans(opens in new tab)) should do the trick, possibly followed up by a quick dry wipe-down.

2. Wipe it —As for what you wipe with, microfiber cloth is your best friend. Microfiber is extremely soft (at a microscopic level) and known for attracting dust and absorbing oils. Most importantly, it won"t damage your screen. We like these(opens in new tab), or these(opens in new tab) if you want to step up to a more plush option.

3. Wet it —For a little bit of extra cleaning power, slightly dampen your cloth with distilled water (no impurities to cause accidental damage), but not so much that water can be wrung out of it. Remember, we don"t want liquid to run down the screen and collect in the edges and corners. If water alone isn"t doing the trick, mix a cleaning solution of 50 percent distilled water, 50 percent white household vinegar. Same deal as before—apply liquid to the cloth, not the screen.

Now sit back, relax and enjoy the cleanest screen you"ve looked at in a while. Just remember to think of us now and then while you"re enjoying your gaming visual experience to its fullest capacity.

Like the OP, I"ve always used a 50/50 mixture of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water. Just now, I seem to have damaged the screen of my (Late 2013) MacBook Pro Retina by cleaning it with this mixture and a microfibre cloth.

There is a coating on the screen that has rubbed off in a patch about a quarter inch wide and two inches long. It"s very noticeable, but luckily it"s on the bezel rather than the screen proper. I"ll probably live with it, as a repair would probably involve replacing the whole screen. ($$$$)

This was possibly the third or fourth time that I"ve used this mixture to clean this screen in the few months that I"ve owned this machine. It"s really annoying to find that the most expensive laptop I"ve ever bought has a screen that can be so easily damaged, using a cleaner that I"ve seen recommended lots of times on the web and which has worked well for me in the past.

Make sure you get a good quality alcohol as some cheap stuff has other solvents which can cause damage or it leaves a film of junk when it dries. Best to get 85% or better, reagent grade being the ideal (no junk in it).

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One only requires a computer screen cleaning solution such as rubbing alcohol and a microfiber cloth to clean the screen. But the cleaner depends on the type of the screen, i.e., if LED LCD or non-LCD screen. Also, be careful not to use excessive moisture and abrasive cloth.

Even though it is a good idea to get rid of the dirt in your monitor, it is sometimes not safe. There arepotential issues with using wipes that aren’t meant for cleaning computer screens. Below are the possible instances that may cause problems to your monitor:

The wipes may contain components that leave a residue when the liquid dries up. For example, wipes used on human skin tend to have lotions, while those meant to clean household items contain some soaps, which leave streaks on the screen.

The wipes may contain too much liquid that is not sufficiently volatile. This liquid could then drip into the internal parts of the machine and cause damages. And may pose a danger to the person cleaning.

Commercial computer screen cleaning wipes are typically a piece of non-woven lint-free moistened with a highly volatile liquid such as rubbing alcohol.

Also, the sort of pre-moistened wipes meant for cleaning eyeglasses, dry-erase boards, wipe windows tend to do a similar job as the ones used for cleaning computer screens.

You can clean your screen with alcohol if it is made of plastic. However, it would be best if you watched out for the amount of moisture in the wipes. They tend to get wetter as you use them, but you can squeeze the liquid out until you remain with the proper amount of moisture. Also, watch out for the plastic that surrounds the screen.

Alcohol is a mild solvent; it is a less powerful solvent than water. But it has one advantage over water as alcohol can liquify grease and oil, which are the common causes of smears on the displays of electronic devices.

Don’t use pure alcohol to clean, though. A homemade mix of 7 parts of isopropyl alcohol and 3 parts of distilled water make the best cleaning agents of screens at home and are the cheapest and easiest to use.

Althoughalcohol might be a decent option to clean your screen, most new display screens have coatings that don’t react well with alcohol-based or ammonia-based detergents. Hence, in these instances, you should hold off using alcohol on your computer screen.

You are wondering how to clean your computer screen without causing any damages to it? Firstly, you don’t need to be a tech expert to understand that any liquid getting into the machine’s hardware means trouble. Hence, be careful not to let any liquid get behind the screen. Because of this, consider avoiding liquid sprays.

There are different types of screens, and depending on the screen,the cleaning options may vary. It is critical to clean your specific computer screen since the active components in cleaning products can cause irreversible harm in the form of scratches and streaks if done incorrectly.

If you have a computer with an LCD screen, you should avoid using disinfecting wipes as the active ingredients available in Clorox and Lysol wipes could damage the screen.

Chemicals or any solution containing acetone, ammonia, ethyl alcohol, ethyl acid, toluene, or methyl chloride can damage your computer screen. It’s best to avoid these kinds of cleaners as they may leave a glare-causing film.

Don’t bother using soap as well. Some soap varieties have ingredients that are known to affect LCD screens. A dry, non-abrasive microfiber cloth should do a better job.

There are several factors to consider while cleaning a PC or a Mac screen. There are many computer and monitor models from which to choose. However, displays are often either LED with LCD (liquid-crystal display) pixels or a Non-LCD glass-coated surface.

Cleaning chemicals are more likely to harm LCD screens. But because people commonly clean PCs, there are prodycrs developed to safely clean them. Be careful not to damage its surface or any of the LED elements and make sure to read the ingredients of the formula to ensure it’s right for your screen.

Any ammonia-containing cleaning solutions would leave a coating on the screen. As a result, using cleansers free of ammonia, alcohol, and acetone to clean an LCD screen is both safe and effective.

To remove stains, spritz an LCD cleaner onto a microfiber cloth; an inexpensive DIY alternative is distilled water and white vinegar mixed together in a 1:1 ratio. No cleaning alcohol should be used since it can harm the LCD screen!

Your desk at the office is not the most hygienic place, and because of this, computer screens, keyboards, and mice come into contact with germs, microbes, and bacteria, and they need regular cleaning.

Your computer screen requires cleaning at the end of every week. However, you can clean it at any time of the day before the weekends. This will ensure that computer screens are always clean.

Computer screens accumulate smudges and scratches all the time; thus, it is necessary to clean them regularly. Some cleaners are designed to clean screens and are available in online stores and computer stores. However, be careful to check the products to ensure that they don’t have active ingredients that can damage your screen.

If you have no knowledge about your computer screen type, you should refer to the user’s manual or reach out to your device’s manufacturer for assistance. You can contact them through email or on-site support chats.

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.

“Underneath there it’s the most intelligent part of the laptop,” Silverman explains. “What happens is that the liquid will get through that first line of defense, and when it does that it’s going to really affect the sensors.”

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.

Wet, newly washed hands can also be detrimental to regular computers. Silverman says he often sees such victims in his shop—computers completely dead after hand sanitizer rubbed off the owner’s hands, seeped through the keyboard, and ruined the inner guts of the machine.

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.

Be especially careful with charging ports, as contact with water (also present in rubbing alcohol) can damage the electronics inside your smartphone. Newer models often are resistant to liquids, but there’s always a threshold to how much they can withstand. And you probably don’t want to know what that is.

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.

Using a clean microfiber cloth, gently wipe the monitor’s screen to remove dust and fingerprints. Do not press on the screen while cleaning. You can also use compressed air to remove dust from the screen. Dampen the cloth with a small amount of distilled water.

Use a dry, soft, lint-free cloth, preferably the micro-fiber cleaning cloth that may have come with your TV or monitor. Use a solution of mild soap and water, if needed.

Your dry cloth will pick up particles and germs, says Button. But if your screen has some stubborn spots, water is the best alternative. However, if you’re adamant about getting a little extra cleaning power, you can try Lysol wipes or a 1:1 dilution of rubbing alcohol and water on non-LCD screens.

Do not use ammonia, alcohol, acetone-based, or other corrosive products. These can easily damage your screen, especially if it has a matte, anti-glare finish. Also avoid using anything soapy, as that can leave a residue. You may also consider buying a specifically-formulated screen-cleaning fluid.

You should use alcohol-based sanitiser or disinfectant to disinfect your devices. Do not spray disinfectant directly on the devices, it can get into any ports of the device, which can damage it. Remember to spray 70% alcohol-based disinfectant onto a cloth or use Clorox disinfectant to to gently wipe your devices.

“You don’t need much to clean a computer,” said Jolie Kerr, New York Times contributor, cleaning expert and host of the podcast “Ask a Clean Person.” “I use exactly four things to keep my laptop clean: Rubbing alcohol, microfiber cloths, cotton swabs and canned air.” Ninety percent or higher isopropyl alcohol is ideal, …

On the surface, alcohol creates unsightly marks on your screen due to the high level of acidity. After it dries, it might leave a smudge that just doesn’t come off. You’d have to replace the screen (or worse, the entire phone) to remove those stains. Alcohol is also especially bad for phones because it contains water.

IPA 99% is safe and effective for consumer use to clean personal computers and electronic devices. Isopropyl Alcohol 99% is the best substance to use for this purpose. Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol 91% may also be effective, but it is best to use the purest IPA available.

Generic or not, some of the biggest rip-offs in the realm of consumer electronics have got to be cleaning solutions. Why? Because whether they"re marketed to clean your phone, computer screen, keyboard, or mouse, the solution is nearly always water and alcohol.

For just a few bucks, you can make your own, equally effective screen-cleaning solution at home in large quantities. Keep one on your desk, one at home, and one for the road -- and never overspend on glorified water again.

Making this screen-cleaning spray couldn"t be easier. Simply combine one part alcohol and one part distilled water in the spray bottle. Cap it, give it a quick shake, and it"s ready for use.

Variation: If you don"t have isopropyl alcohol handy, you may substitute plain vinegar. Be warned, though, the scent won"t be very pleasant, and this alternative solution does take a little longer to dry.

Note: Please consult your product manual before using this homemade spray. Some manufacturers advise against using alcohol on their products, due to oleophobic coatings. If that"s the case, only use distilled water, or reserve the alcohol-water spray for removing stubborn dirt. Though excess use of alcohol-based cleaning sprays on oleophobic screens may remove their coatings, occasional is certainly acceptable.

Yes, it"s true that your phone harbors more bacteria than a toilet seat, which is why you should be regularly disinfecting the device that touches your skin multiple times throughout the day. As a bonus, cleaning your phone can also help

Ideally, you should clean your phone at least once a day by following your phone"s manual for cleaning instructions. Cleaning your device the wrong way (like using rubbing alcohol and paper towels) can strip away coatings that protect your screen. There are safer items that will do the trick.

If you touch your phone after touching a public door handle or grocery cart, your first thought might be to clean it with rubbing alcohol. Don"t. Straight alcohol can strip the oleophobic and hydrophobic coatings that keep oil and water from damaging your phone"s display and other ports.

AT&T"s cleaning guidelines suggest that you "spray a nonabrasive or alcohol-based (70% isopropyl) disinfectant directly on a soft lint-free cloth and wipe down your device while it is powered down and unplugged." Samsung has also said you can create an alcohol-based solution of 70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol, applied with a microfiber cloth.

Fingerprint smudges are hard to prevent because your skin constantly produces oils. That means that every time you pick up your phone, it"s bound to get fingerprints all over it.

The best way to remove sand and lint is Scotch tape. You can lay it along the creases and speaker, and roll it up and gently place it in the ports. The tape"s stickiness will pull out any lint or sand that may be stuck in your phone.

For the smaller speaker holes that tape can"t reach, use a toothpick (gently) or try to vacuum the debris out with a small small appliances or hard-to-reach areas in your car.

When you have a full face of makeup and need to make a call, guess what that foundation is about to stick to? That"s right, your phone screen. And while you may use makeup remover to take off your makeup every night, you shouldn"t use it as a screen cleaner due to some chemicals that could be lurking in the ingredients. (Organics.org explains the chemicals that could be in your makeup remover.)

You can also use a damp microfiber cloth to clean the phone -- and then throw that cloth in the wash. Make sure to use a spray bottle to spritz the cloth, rather than running it under water. The less water, the better.

Since some hand sanitizers have ingredients like fragrances and ethyl alcohol, it"s best to keep sanitizer off your phone"s screen. However, if you"ve touched anything outside your home, you should sanitize your hands before touching your phone to prevent viruses and bacteria from spreading. For best results, use a manufacturer"s hand sanitizer

You clean your mirrors and windows with window cleaner, and they"re squeaky-clean, so window cleaner must be OK to use on your phone? Wrong! Some phones, such as the iPhone, have a protective coating that resists water and oil and that can wear out over time.

Using harsh cleaners can strip the coating and could leave your phone more vulnerable to scratches. James LeBeau, an associate professor of materials science and engineering at MIT, told us that any cleanser with an abrasive agent will likely scratch the surface, so those should be avoided entirely.

A screen"s scratch-resistant properties won"t get ground down by cleaning agents, but stripping that protective coating is still a problem. That"s why Apple also suggests not using household cleaning products to clean your iPhone, including bleach. Bar Keepers Friend, for example, states that its abrasive formula may harm the protective layer. Bon Ami states not to use it on glass with coatings.

They may be the go-to for cleaning your desk, but keep them away from your phone. The paper can shred, making the debris on your phone much worse. Paper towels can even end up leaving scratches on your screen.

Since many newer phones have a protective coating, rubbing alcohol can wear it away more quickly over time, causing your phone to be more prone to scratches. Make sure to check for alcohol in the product ingredients on any "safe to use" phone screen cleaners. Apple says to avoid alcohol when cleaning its devices.

Some makeup removers may have chemicals that can be harsh on an electronic screen. LeBeau suggests avoiding makeup remover and instead, using a soft cloth with a little bit of water.

Your phone is delicate, so blowing an intense amount of air into its portals can cause damage, especially to your mic. Tech companies, like Apple, specifically warn not to use compressed air.

may be gentle, the only way to use them is to combine them with water. Most phone companies suggest keeping water away from your phone, so again, stick to a damp cloth.

This is a no-no. Vinegar will strip the screen"s coating. You could, as Lifehacker suggests, use very diluted vinegar to cleanse other parts of your phone. Android Central suggests a 50/50 mix with distilled water for cleaning the sides and back.

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Is it OK to use a disinfectant on my iPhone?Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe, 75 percent ethyl alcohol wipe, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the exterior surfaces of your iPhone. Don"t use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don"t submerge your iPhone in any cleaning agents.

These models feature glass with advanced textured matte finishes either on the back glass or around the camera area. With normal use, the textured glass on your iPhone might show signs of material transfer from objects that come in contact with your iPhone, such as denim or items in your pocket. Material transfer might resemble a scratch, but can be removed in most cases.

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:

Your iPhone has a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic — oil repellent — coating. Cleaning products and abrasive materials will diminish the coating and might scratch your iPhone.

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:

Your iPhone has a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic — oil repellent — coating. On iPhone 8 and later, the coating is on the front and back. This coating wears over time with normal use. Cleaning products and abrasive materials will further diminish the coating and might scratch your iPhone.

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.

To clean the dirt that might accumulate around the SIM tray opening, use a soft lint-free cloth and place a very small amount of rubbing alcohol on it. Very gently wipe the dirt away from the port opening and avoid getting any of the moisture in the opening.

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.

There’s nothing worse than turning on your favorite television show and seeing oily fingerprints peppered across the TV screen. The same goes for blurry streaks running across your favorite characters’ faces. Whether there are a hundred streaks, or only one, any smudge on your screen is an annoyance you need to fix fast. When learning how to clean a TV screen, there are several options available to you.

This article will address five of the best ways to clean your TV screen and leave it spotless! Television sets have changed drastically in the past decade or so. Many of us no longer use the old “tube TVs” and instead have newer versions made with a unique, protective coating.

This anti-glare coating on television screens means cleaning our flat-screen TVs with the same window cleaner we used on our “tube TVs” will damage the screen.

Sometimes using the appropriate cleaning cloth will do the trick, but when necessary, mild dish soaps, vinegar, and other natural cleaners used in place of harsh chemicals will leave a streak-free shine without ruining your TV screen.

The best way to clean an LED TV screen does not require using any fancy gadgets, rigorous cleaning methods, or heavy chemicals. Note that many of these tips also work to clean a computer screen or that of your laptop or iPad. These electronics require a delicate touch so that you don’t damage the screen or the internal works behind it.

Resolve simple cleaning issues by using no more than a soft cloth. Avoid using paper towels, toilet paper, or tissues to wipe down a TV since many of them contain fiber that will scratch the television screen.

Instead, use a microfiber cleaning cloth when dusting, such as those used to clean eyeglasses. These cleaning cloths may come with your television screen when you purchase it but can also be found in cleaning kits with or without glasses cleaner. These are also the best cloths to use when wiping away fingerprints and oils from your smartphone.

If the fingerprints or streaks do not disappear after dusting, do not press down or scrub at the spots on the screen. Doing this can apply pressure to the inner workings of the TV and damage the pixels in your screen. Smudges and grime that cannot be cleaned using a microfiber cleaning cloth should be cleaned using a mild screen cleaner, not elbow grease.

Popular brands like Sony and Panasonic suggest using mild dish soap to clean stubborn spots on your TV screen that cannot be cleaned using a microfiber cloth. The recommended ratio for this cleaning solution is 100 times the amount of water to the amount of dish soap.

This comes out to approximately one teaspoon of liquid dish soap for every two cups of water. When cleaning, do not substitute tap water for distilled water.

Tap water contains minerals that can leave water spots or residue on the screen, so distilled water is the only way to clean your LCD screen without leaving streaks.

Soak the cleaning cloth in the solution then wring it out thoroughly. Avoid leaving too much water in the cleaning cloth, or it might make its way into your television and ruin it.

The liquid dish soap breaks down the oils in the grime left behind on your TV screen, making it easier for you to wipe away greasy residue. Afterward, dry your TV screen using a dry cloth of the same variety used to clean it.

This simple cleaning recipe is also great to keep on hand for how to clean eyeglasses. Pour some in a small bottle that you can keep in your purse or on your desk to have when your glasses get smudged.

Vinegar is the all-purpose cleaner that just makes your life easier. Not only is it effective at removing stains, odors, and most bacteria, it makes an excellent DIY TV screen cleaner. This natural TV screen cleaner is non-toxic and easy to make.

Mix the vinegar and distilled water, using equal parts of both ingredients. Add these to a spray bottle and spray them onto a microfiber cleaning cloth. Just as with the dish soap and water solution, it is important not to spray the solution directly onto the TV screen to avoid excess liquids seeping into the electronics.

The owner’s manual for Samsung TVs warns that moisture inside the Samsung TV screen can cause the TV to stop working and increases the risk of electrocution or fire. Instead, spray the solution onto the cleaning cloth, then wipe down the TV.

Isopropyl alcohol is a common substitute for vinegar in cleaning solutions when vinegar is not readily available. Isopropyl alcohol also dries quickly and does not leave as pungent a smell behind as vinegar, making it preferable to the ingredient in many cases.

As a window cleaner, isopropyl alcohol delivers a beautiful, streak-free shine that will do the same for your TV screen. This method is also a fantastic way to clean your laptop screen.

So, for those of us who binge-watch our shows on a computer monitor instead of a flat-screen TV, it makes watching all your favorite shows more enjoyable.

Mix the alcohol with distilled water, and use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the TV. Most rubbing alcohols contain isopropyl alcohol, meaning you can also use it to clean your TV screens.

However, it is essential to check the ingredients on the bottle to ensure that the rubbing alcohol you are using doesn’t contain ethyl alcohol. This kind of alcohol can be as harmful to TV screens as chemicals like Windex and other window cleaners.

Either way, it is preferable to use a product with a higher grade of isopropyl alcohol. Rubbing alcohol usually only contains 70% isopropyl alcohol, while other brands may provide as much as 99% in their bottles.

For those of us with small children, or maybe clumsy adults, sticky fingerprints and residues are inevitably going to show up on our TV screens at some point. Since scrubbing the display only causes more harm than good, what can you do when regular TV screen cleaners don’t get the job done?

Citrus juices like lime, lemon, and even grapefruit seed extract, are natural degreasers and are an excellent way to break down oily or sticky messes. Essential oils are a perfect way to integrate ordinary cleaning solutions with a product that smells great!

Using the same vinegar and distilled water solution from before, add ten drops of lime or lemon essential oils into a spray bottle. Shake the contents well until they are perfectly blended. Again, be careful not to spray water, or any of the cleaning solution directly onto the TV screen.

Dry the area after removing the gooey gunk from your TV screen. The scent of the essential oils also counteracts the sour smell of the vinegar with a fresh, clean fragrance that lasts for hours.

How to clean a television screen is determined by the type of monitor you have. Older models allow you to use traditional cleaning solutions that won’t damage TV screens, where the brand new models require a gentler touch.

So, what are the different types of TV’s, and how can you tell the difference? Many households have a mix of the new and the old, so a cleaning method for one TV may not work for all of them in your home.

CRT screens, short for cathode-ray tube, were the most common television screens back in the day. These were the classic “tube-TVs” which can be cleaned using traditional glass cleaners like Windex. After the technology began to improve, plasma TVs slowly made their way onto the market.

These televisions were similar to the CRTs, except for their larger, but slightly less heavy, sizes. Most plasma screens also began using anti-glare coating, which meant cleaning them with a window cleaner would not work.

The LCD TVs and LED TVs are the newest types of TVs which have gradually made the CRT and plasma models obsolete. These TVs boast a lower energy consumption, better brightness levels, and a higher resolution than their predecessors, all of which are essential qualities in the age of HDTV.

The most significant difference between the LED and LCD TVs is their light source, which hinges solely on whether the television uses LED lighting or traditional bulbs, respectively.

There are several harsh chemicals and cleaning products to avoid when dusting your television screen, computer monitor, or even your smartphone. All of these products use relatively the same materials and are especially sensitive compared to older models.

Window cleaners, ethyl alcohol, and anything flammable should be avoided at all costs. Not only can they remove the essential coating from the surface, but they also wear down materials used to make the television and can pose serious safety hazards.

Another product to avoid is any material that might scratch the surface of the screen. These materials include paper products like tissues or paper towels but also encompasses materials like fabrics and a washcloth. Fabrics will only work if they are lint-free since lint might become trapped on the pieces of cloth and scratch the screen.

While the costs of quality TVs are now more economical, that doesn’t mean you should take risks when it comes to protecting your TV screen. How to clean a television screen is a simple solution, with quick and easy recipes for cleansers that won’t break the bank.

Taking the additional time and effort to understand how to care for your television screen properly will increase its longevity and save you unnecessary headaches in the future.

Hopefully, you enjoyed these TV screen cleaning tips as much as we enjoyed making them. If so, please share how to clean a TV screen with your fellow TV-watchers on Pinterest and Facebook.