what do you clean an lcd screen with factory

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

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

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

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

Over time, dirt, smudges, dust, and more can reduce the picture quality on an LCD, much like looking through a dirty pair of glasses. Cleaning an LCD screen is a simple and straightforward process.

3. Do not spray any cleaning fluid directly on the LCD screen to prevent liquid from dripping inside of it. (This also applies to touch screen monitors.)

4. A suitable cleaning solution for LCDs is a mixture of 50% Isopropyl alcohol and 50% distilled or otherwise purified water. For touch screens, 5-10% bleach may be used to clean the touch glass without harming it.

5. For purposes of disinfecting, benzyl alcohol and/or hydrogen peroxide can be used without harming the LCD screen and/or Touch Screen; please follow the same application directions as above to avoid damaging the touch screen and/or PC.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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• Perform highly diversified duties to install and maintain electrical apparatus on production machines and any other facility equipment (Screen Print, Punch Press, Steel Rule Die, Automated Machines, Turret, Laser Cutting Machines, etc.).

• Provide electrical emergency/unscheduled diagnostics, repairs of production equipment during production and performs scheduled electrical maintenance repairs of production equipment during machine service.

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

Don"t make the mistake of thinking that LCD screens work like your nifty new iPad. In general, touching should be off limits because pressing too hard on the screen can actually break or crack pixels. So the first rule to cleaning an LCD screen is don"t do it unless you have to (i.e. unless it"s actually dirty).

Many retailers offer special cleaning solutions for LCD screens, but the truth is that most of these are made up primarily of water. So, if you don"t want to take the time to go buy a cleaner or you want to save the money (maybe to put toward that "What Not to Wear" dress), you can just make your own LCD cleaner by mixing water with some vinegar or isopropyl alcohol -- the solution should be no more than 50/50.

You could even start with plain water and see if you need the vinegar or alcohol, which will come in handy when you"re trying to wipe away greasy fingerprints. Some people recommend only using distilled water, but regular water works fine, according to Dave Chipman from Sharp.

Unless you want to end up with a melted, discolored, hazy or scratched LCD screen, steer clear of all spray cleaners. In particular, don"t use any solvent cleaners that include acetone, ethyl alcohol, ethyl acid, ammonia or methyl chloride. You also want to avoid using any materials that could potentially scratch the screen"s delicate surface. Opt for a soft, clean, cotton cloth instead of wood-based products like paper towels and tissues. Chipman suggests using a microfiber cloth for best results.

If you"re lucky enough to have a service come in and do your cleaning for you, make sure they don"t inadvertently ruin your television or monitor by trying to clean it with something like glass cleaner. You should either take the time to explain -- and maybe even demonstrate -- how you want your LCD screen cleaned or just ask your cleaner to leave this particular job for you.

This approach does not bode well for cleaning the LCD screens of you digital signage system, though. And yes, the screens will need cleaned. One of the first responses users have when they see a new signage screen installed is to check if it is a touch screen. Whether it is or not, the finger prints are just the same. There also is a significant portion of the population that can not point to something on a screen without touching the screen with their finger.

A great way to see how much of a cleaning your screen requires is to turn it off. The light reflecting off the surface will highlight all of the smudges, fingerprints, and smears, usually in alarming quantities.

This is exactly what NOT to do. Ammonia based cleaners can damage any special coating that is on the screen. Depending on the brand, paper towels are fairly abrasive, to go along with the amount of lint debris they tend to leave behind.

Another tendency is to put some elbow grease into those tough to remove smudges. If they don’t rub off at first, you may be inclined to scrub harder. Doing so can damage the pixels in the screen.

LCD screens are designed to be cleaned with a delicate touch. Most light marks can be removed by gently wiping the screen with a dry microfiber cloth. For more stubborn smudges, you may need to dampen the cloth.  There are several cleaning solutions you can purchase, or for the Do-It-Yourselfer, use a 50/50 mixture of distilled water and vinegar. Do not spray the solution directly on the surface of the display. It could run down inside the display and cause damage to the electrical components. A good rule of thumb is liquid and electricity do not mix. It is best to spray the solution lightly onto the microfiber cloth and then wipe the screen. Repeat if necessary.

General Digital specializes in manufacturing LCD monitors and we know the struggles of maintaining a showroom-clean screen. We’re happy to share with readers our 3-step cleaning method, which will aid in the proper cleansing of your display.

Step 1) Put on the oil-free gloves and fold a lint-free wipe in half 2 -3 times. Proceed to spray the wipe until lightly moistened with UVEX™ or alcohol. Remember to NEVER SPRAY THE MONITOR DIRECTLY.

Step 2) Wipe the monitor with the lint-free wipe from top to bottom vertically. Wipe slow enough to avoid redepositing particles, but fast enough to avoid leaving any smudges on your screen.

Isopropyl Alcohol is commonly found as rubbing alcohol in the grocery store, usually in a 70% isopropyl alcohol 30% distilled water mix; there is no need to dilute it when it comes that way. Some stores may sell 100% isopropyl alcohol which should be diluted. Something about the 70/30 mix causes the alcohol to evaporate away in the most efficient manner, so it"s better to do that than a 50/50 mix.

Isopropyl alcohol should be used only when distilled water won"t do the job, because repeated applications can eventually damage more delicate finishes.

Solutions that eyeglasses stores sell to clean glasses should certainly be safe for monitors, for finishes on glasses can be even more delicate. They are a good place to find the microfiber cloths which really are the best material for the job.

Windex and other ammonia-based cleaners should never be used; they WILL ruin your monitor, staining the finish a yellow color that can"t ever be removed.

Everyone is spending more time staring at their laptop, tablet, or computer screens these days—which means more chances for finger smudges, accidental coffee drips, or even a wayward sneeze. All things considered, we could all be cleaning our laptop screens more frequently.

Fortunately, cleaning a laptop screen takes only a few minutes and a few basic supplies. The key to successful screen cleaning is that less is more. It"s important to use the least amount of cleaning products and the gentlest pressure possible to prevent damage to the screen.

There are two basic types of laptop screens: glass-covered LCD (liquid crystal display) screens and nonglass-covered LCD screens. Glass-covered screens, featured on many Apple products, are more durable and can withstand more moisture and stronger cleaning products like disinfecting wipes when cleaning. LCD screens that are not protected by glass can be permanently damaged by many cleaning products.

Before you attempt to clean your laptop screen or any electronic device, take the time to read the manufacturer"s guidelines on cleaning and maintenance. If you"ve lost or tossed the owner"s manual, you can find them online.

How frequently you clean your laptop and the screen will depend on how often you use it. If you use it daily, cleaning the laptop screen, keyboard, and external parts, should be done at least weekly. Laptops that travel around with you to places outside the home should be cleaned more often. Plan a deep clean every three to six months on the entire laptop.

Once you see it, there’s no use trying to ignore it—fingerprints, smears and smudges all over your TV screen. You have no recollection of ever touching your the screen, and yet there they are, stopping your favorite show dead in its tracks. And don’t even get started on the dust. Now, instead of enjoying some downtime, you’re doing a forensic analysis of what must be the most neglected surface in the home.

We’ve been there. It seems like some of the most sophisticated equipment we own (TV screens, computer screens, and phones) tend to also be some of the grossest.

The good news? With this handy guide at your fingertips, you can easily return your TV to its fresh-from-the-box perfection. And many (if not all) of the supplies you need for the job are already somewhere in your kitchen. No need to wait for a commercial break, let’s get to it.

Clean your screen with a gentle, circular motion. Avoid pressing down too hard, even when you’re trying to remedy tough-to-remove spots, as this can do irreparable damage.

There are a number of cleaning solutions you can choose from (more on that below), but no matter which one you settle on, never (emphasis on “never’) spay solutions directly on the screen. Instead, spray them onto your cleaning cloth. Remember: electronics and liquids don’t mix.

Did we mention you never spray a cleaning solution directly on your TV screen? We did, because it’s important enough to mention more than once. Below are four effective, and easy-to-make, cleaning solutions to get your screen sparkling again. Time to choose your own adventure.

Dish soap. Never doubt the power of a little dish soap (we always reach for Dawn, but you do you) to bring about big changes. Grab a bowl, and dilute one teaspoon of dish soap for every two cups of water. Soak a soft cloth in the solution, wring it out until it’s nearly dry, and you’re ready to get that screen shining once again.

Vinegar. Is there anything vinegar can’t do? It’s even good for screens. Mix 1 part white vinegar with 1 part distilled water. Put it into a spray bottle and grab your microfiber cloth. It’s about time to get that screen taken care of.

Isopropyl alcohol. For the cleaning power of vinegar without the temporary smell, look no further than rubbing alcohol. Just make sure to check the label. You want a product with 70% isopropyl (likely rubbing alcohol) and no ethyl, as this can cause serious damage to your screen. Create your cleaning solution by mixing 4 parts distilled water with 1 part alcohol. Get into a spray bottle, and you’re ready to go.

Power down. Start by turning your TV off—it’ll be easier to spot smudges, smears, and residue that way. Do a quick spot check before you move on, and identify your trouble areas.

Deal with dust. It doesn’t matter how often you clean your house: there will be dust, and it will inevitably be drawn to your TV. Run a Swiffer Duster over the screen to get the dust out of the way without also spreading it around. Don’t forget to address the outer edges and rims of the TV as well. Dust is the last thing you want clogging up your speakers, ports, and connections.

Spray the cloth. Third time mentioning this is a charm, right? Spray your cleaning solution onto a clean microfiber cloth (and not the screen). You want the cloth to be just barely dampened; if you squeeze the cloth, no liquid should come out. Move the cloth gently in circular motions until you’ve cleaned the entire surface. Wipe thoroughly, so that no moisture remains on the surface or runs down into the edges.

Wait before you watch. Before turning the TV back on, allow it to air dry completely. Do one last spot check, and re-address any persistent smudges that might have survived cleaning round 1.

That’s it! With these tips of the trade, you’ll soon be lost once more in your favorite TV series or movie, no smudges or smears to distract you. Remember to keep a bottle of whatever solution you made at the ready—they can be great for battling smudgy computer screens, eyeglasses, phones, and tablets as well.

It happens: There are parts of our homes we simply don"t get to during our weekly cleaning routines. And as much as we love catching up on our favorite shows, our TVs are occasionally the items that get overlooked. It"s important, however, to make cleaning their screens a priority, since they"re prone to dust, smudges, and fingerprints.

Thankfully, it"s easy to make your TV screen sparkle again with the right supplies and methods, say cleaning and tech experts. Ahead, these professionals explain how to clean every type of TV screen—along with your remote control.

You should dust and clean your TV screen once a week and should always include this chore when tidying up your home, says Kathy Cohoon, the director of franchise operations of Two Maids & A Mop. "Keeping your television screen clean and well-maintained can help provide a clearer picture (no more dust or fingerprints!) and prolong the lifespan of your TV," she says.

Put away the Windex and paper towels: Both are too harsh and rough for your TV screen, whatever its make or model, says Peter Lopez, the founder of Brooklyn Tech Guy. In fact, you don"t need a glass cleaner or much product at all—simply use a damp soft microfiber cloth. "Just using that can help a lot, since dust buildup can keep electronics from being able to cool off properly," he says.

If your flat screen is still dirty or greasy after sweeping it with a microfiber cloth, create a solution of distilled water and white vinegar, says Joel Worthington, the president of Mr. Electric, a Neighborly company. He recommends mixing equal parts of each ingredient and spraying it onto a cloth before wiping down the screen.

Do you have an old-school TV in your home? Formally known as cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs, box televisions require similar care to flat screens. Although their cleaning process is similar to the one listed above, you can also include rubbing alcohol in your DIY mixture.

As always, use a soft cloth, says Vera Peterson, the president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company. This will prevent scratches and help you rid the screen of any excess cleaning solution.

When you dust and clean your TV screen, you can and should tackle your remote control, too. Cohoon says you can actually sanitize it daily with an aerosol disinfectant spray, but you"ll want to avoid using any harsh chemicals, like bleach, or getting it too wet when you give it a deeper clean.

Whether it"s the monitor in your cubicle at work or a laptop on the standing desk in your home office, computer screens get grimy. Getting rid of dust is a major concern: As it silently and continuously builds up, it may distort the color or brightness of your screen. Greasy fingerprints are another offender. Even if you don"t have a touchscreen model, fingerprints happen and become especially visible when the screen is black. Finally, germs are always an issue — it"s just good practice to keep frequently used surfaces sanitary.

Cleaning a screen requires a delicate touch. Some cleaners or cloths are too abrasive. Using the wrong liquid can cause damage, and using too much liquid can cause your laptop or monitor to short out altogether. To find out what cleaning products and supplies are safest to use, we checked in with Carolyn Forté, the Executive Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab.

Forté says, "If there"s one thing you should avoid entirely, it"s regular glass cleaner that you"d find in the cleaning aisle.Windows are different surfaces from computer screens and with different cleaning needs." She explains that using a clean, dry microfiber cloth is the best and safest way to remove streaks or smudges and that just plain wiping also removes bacteria. But to actually disinfect, you"ll need a cleaning product.

A note on the various degrees of cleaning: Some products may only clean or sanitize a screen, which the CDC definesas "[lowering] the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level," based on how they work, the ingredients they contain and the length of time they remain on the surface. Others disinfect, which actually "kills germs on surfaces or objects" and "further lowers the risk of spreading infection" overall. Disinfecting takes longer than cleaning or sanitizing.

The answer is complicated, as there are hundreds of laptop manufacturers and even more when it comes to monitors — and they all have their own safe cleaning recommendations. Always start by following your computer manufacturer"s cleaning advice, especially if your device is still under warranty. If that doesn"t totally take care of the problem, there may be other steps you can take depending on the type of screen you have, but proceed carefully.

What is safe for your laptop screen usually comes down to whether or not it has a glass covering. For Macs, this is usually the case. But PC models may not have glass over their LCD screens. When in doubt, refer to your user"s manual, or reach out to your laptop"s manufacturer online via email or on-site support chats to learn more.

That being said, Forté says most Apple laptops and monitors — or any laptop with a glass-protected screen —can be wiped down with either Lysol or Clorox disinfecting wipes.Since laptops are routinely handled, Forté says even if you disinfect your device, it won"t stay disinfected for long. If you still want to give disinfecting a go, surfaces cleaned with traditional disinfecting wipes usually need to remain wet for four minutes to kill viruses and bacteria, but check the label of the wipes you are using to be sure. Then, let your screen air dry and buff again with a microfiber cloth.

Remember: For any device, you never want to spray a cleaning agent directly onto the screen — it could seep into the cracks and crevices of your laptop, Forté says. "You want to make sure that no excess water, cleaner or liquid gets inside your laptop," she explains. "Always spray onto a cloth first if you are trying to use aerosols or sprays, and make sure any wipes you use are not overly wet."

How to clean and disinfect a non-LCD (glass-covered) laptop screen:Unplugyour laptop from its power source, and turn it off (do the same for monitors).

Wring out a disinfecting wipe to ensure it"s not oversaturated and gently wipe your laptop"s screen horizontally and vertically making sure it stays wet for the time required by the package instructions and taking care to not touch any openings (including ports or speakers).

If you have a PC laptop with an LCD screen, you should not use disinfecting wipes. Manufacturers, such as Hewlett-Packard, say that active ingredients found in both Clorox and Lysol wipes could damage your screen. This HP customer support web page alsocautions: "Do not use any of the following chemicals or any solutions that contain them: Acetone, ethyl alcohol, toluene, ethyl acid, ammonia or methyl chloride." It also states that "some commercial glass cleaners contain ammonia and are therefore unacceptable." It"s best and safest to wipe them with a dry cloth or for stubborn spots, use an LCD-safe cleaner sparingly applied first to the cloth and then to the screen. Never spray the screen directly.

Microfiber cloths are made with special fibers that have more surface area to trap dirt, grime and germs, Forté says, and with edges to lift bacteria off your screen. While a dry microfiber clothcan"t disinfect an LCD screen, using one to wipe down your screen won"t put it in danger of the permanent damage that cleaners could pose and can remove some germs.

Additional recommendations on HP"s support page read, "To clean smudges from the LCD screen, choose a nonabrasive cloth or towel. Turn off the computer and disconnect the power cable. Wipe the screen gently with a soft, dry cloth. If any marks remain, moisten the cloth with LCD cleaner, and then gently stroke the cloth across the display in one direction, moving from the top of the display to the bottom."

Forté confirms that you should not use soap and water to clean any computer screen. Some soap varieties may contain ingredients known to affect LCD screens and a sudsy mix is not only too wet, but won"t evaporate quickly enough to safely be used on a laptop screen.

Since your keyboard is the part of your laptop you"re touching most, you might be wondering if you should use disinfectants on this surface as well. Apple"s cleaning recommendations page indicates that 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes can be used to gently wipe the hard, non-porous surfaces of Apple products, like displays, keyboards and exterior surfaces. PC laptop manufacturers all have various instructions (HP says cleaning the keycaps with dish soap is fine).

Forté says you shouldn"t be afraid to wipe down your keyboard with a wipe after you"ve taken time to clean your laptop"s screen. Despite official recommendations, keyboards are made with plastic keys that are non-porous, and Forté explains that they shouldn"t be affected,especially if you"re careful in ensuring excess liquid isn"t seeping between and beneath the keys. Just like when you clean your screen, you"ll want to make sure your computer is off.

Both Forté and Apple recommend holding your laptop at a 75° angle and using a can of compressed air to blow away debris that"s become lodged between keys before wiping it down. Lastly, you can also dip a clean microfiber cloth or a large cotton swab into rubbing alcohol and go over each of the keys to clean and sanitize them.

The bottom line:It"s clear that laptop manufacturers have various recommendations when it comes to cleaning so be sure to follow their guidelines first. While disinfectants may contain solvents or other cleaning agents potentially damaging to some surfaces, they"re formulated to actually kill germs. Regular screen cleaners or microfiber cloths don"t have the same killing power as disinfectants, but are viable cleaning alternatives if you"re concerned about the safety of your computer screen.

Zee Krstic is a health editor for Good Housekeeping, where he covers health and nutrition news, decodes diet and fitness trends and reviews the best products in the wellness aisle. Prior to joining GH in 2019, Zee fostered a nutrition background as an editor at Cooking Light and is continually developing his grasp of holistic health through collaboration with leading academic experts and clinical care providers. He has written about food and dining for Time, among other publications.

This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Regardless of the model you own, it is important to protect your investment.  Cleaning your television is straight forward.Flat screen TV’s have come along way. Components contributing to the television began as early as 1831.  Televisions on the market today are using semiconductors nanocrystals, self-illuminating pixels and an array of light-emitting diodes (LED) as pixels for a video display. These massive wall units deliver access to the world through content from shows, news and apps competing for our attention.  In some respects, the price for a flat screen TV has become more affordable, while the market is still there for individuals willing to pay much more for an award-winning consumer’s choice best picture.

There are some clear do’s and don’ts in caring for your flat screen. Hopefully, these tips shed some light when it’s time to clean your TV’s front and backside. Dust build-up can affect the quality of the images on your screen. By routinely cleaning your TV"s you can prolong the life of them.

Avoid using alcohol or other consumer cleaning product with harsh chemicals. Glass cleaners contain both alcohol and ammonia. Many televisions have anti-reflective coatings. Alcohol can cause clouding and permanently damage the screen

Too much moisture could cause an electrostatic charge and cause it to burn out. If water enters the control unit it may need to be replaced.  In many TV’s, the connections to the panel are at the bottom of the TV and if water seeps inside the unit it may short out some of the contacts to the panel. Consult and expert but in those cases the panel may need to be replaced, which may not be cost effective.

Dust can become trapped in the fibers and create scratches on your screen.  A higher GSM count microfiber cloth is plush and better for trapping dust. However, the dust remains inside the fibers and may cause tiny scratches on the screen.  These are great cloths but not ideal for cleaning a flat screen.

Most cities in the united states suffer from hard water which contain minerals such as calcium and magnesium which tend to leave a visible residue on your screen.

A flat weave cloth does not trap dust into the fibers and is what is used to clean dust and fingerprints off eyeglasses and fine glassware without scratching the lenses.

The heat from the unit can cause a cleaning solution to be too concentrated.  No different than cleaning your car windows on a hot day, it evaporates quickly making it hard to remove the streaks.

Gently wipe the surface using a clean, dry or barely damp split fiber microfiber cloth. These cloths have an electromagnetic charge which attract dust to the cloth. The split fibers trap the dust there. Be careful to not rub or press too hard on the screen.

It is important to use the best tool for cleaning the flat screen.  A flat weave microfiber cloth is the best option for cleaning a flat screen just as you would to polish wine glasses and optical lenses.

If your cloth is larger, fold it in half and then half again.  This Allows you to clean with 8 clean sides of the cloth.  You should never have to use a dirty part of the cloth more than once if you purposely clean 1/4 of the screen at a time.