how do you clean an lcd screen tv supplier
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.
As the weather warms, it"s time for everyone"s "favorite" pastime: spring cleaning. While you"re dusting off the shelves and shoveling out a winter"s worth of detritus, spare a moment to check your TV. Dust and grime can accumulate there, and over time it can become more and more noticeable. And if you have children, there may be an array of fingerprints and other smears on the screen.
The short version? Don"t use liquids, don"t press too hard, don"t use any traditional cleaners. Microfiber cloths are good, but be gentle. Modern TVs are predominantly plastic and therefore far easier to scratch than windows or your phone.
Want the longer version? Here"s what the top TV manufacturers say about cleaning their screens:Cleaning your 4K, OLED, or LED TV screen with a soft, dry cloth is recommended. The goal here is to avoid scratching the screen. Gentle, circular motions tend to give better results, since the circular motion hits each area from several angles in a single swipe.
Caution: Don"t spray water or other liquids directly on the TV, as electric shock could occur.Turn the TV off and let it cool down for a few minutes before unplugging it.
To clean the frame and screen, gently wipe it with a microfiber cleaning cloth. Make sure to wipe the TV frame and screen as gently as possible. TV screens are fragile and can be damaged when pressed too hard.
Important: Never use any type of window cleaner, soap, scouring powder, wax, or any cleanser with solvents such as alcohol, benzene, ammonia, or acetone. Never use abrasive pads or paper towels. If you do, you can scratch the screen or strip the anti-glare coating off the screen and cause permanent damage. Never spray water directly onto the TV. Make sure to wipe the TV as gently as possible. TV screens are fragile and can be damaged when pressed too hard.Gently wipe the screen or the exterior with a dry, soft cloth, such as an eyeglass cleaner.
For inks from oil markers on the screen, soak a cloth in a non-soap synthetic cleanser diluted (by less than 1% ) with water. Squeeze the cloth tightly to eliminate excess liquid, then wipe gently to remove the ink. Use non-soap cleansers cautiously because it may cause environmental problems when disposed improperly.
So why not Windex? Regular Windex is formulated for glass windows, plus a few other surfaces. It contains ammonia and alcohol, not the friendliest of chemicals. S. C. Johnson doesn"t explicitly say not to use Windex on TVs, but it offers Windex Electronics wipes and cleaners, so infer what you will. The better screen cleaners will clearly state that they do not contain alcohol or ammonia.
At last count, I found a billion companies making TV screen cleaners. Almost all of these are something like 99 percent water, 1 percent other stuff. Years ago I tested a handful and found them, on average, to work well enough. If you don"t have luck with a simple cloth and possibly distilled water, a screen cleaner is worth a try, and as a bonus you can also use it for your laptop, tablet and cell phone screens. Plus, they come with a microfiber cloth. If they don"t clearly state they don"t contain alcohol and ammonia, however, I would skip them.
So yeah, cleaning your TV is a good idea. But just remember that they"re exceptionally fragile. Why risk marring their surface by using cleaning methods the companies themselves don"t advise? If you damage your screen with cleaners, you won"t be able to fix it.
My advice? Get a nice microfiber cloth (if your TV didn"t come with one), and use that. If that doesn"t fix your smudges, try a cloth moist with water. Don"t press too hard. There"s less than a millimeter between your finger and a broken TV.
Screen cleaning kits are fine, though most people won"t need them. Remember, like all TV accessories, the store is selling them because they probably make more profit on that $20 kit than on a $500 TV.
As well as covering TV and other display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000 mile road trips, and more. Check out Tech Treks for all his tours and adventures.
He wrote a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines, along with a sequel. You can follow his adventures on Instagram and his YouTube channel.
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To catch every second of your favorite show and keep your TV in excellent condition, you"ll need to clean your television screen regularly so it remains dust-, dirt- and fingerprint-free. But using the wrong cleaning method like spraying your TV directly with harsh chemicals can cause permanent damage and negate any warranty that may still be in effect.
That’s why the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Cleaning and Media and Tech Labs have joined forces to recommend the safest, most effective methods and household products to clean your television screenand reveal a picture that’s brilliant to watch and totally streak-free.
No matter what type of television you have, our recommended cleaning method remains the same. All you"ll need to clean your TV screen is a dry microfiber cloth that’s designed to gently clean and remove smudges from eyeglasses, cell phones and camera lenses. Though there are thousands of microfiber cloths to choose from, our experts like Elite Tech Gear"s oversized option. It"s twelve inches square, so it’s easier to use on a large TV screen than a smaller cloth and helps you can zap away fingerprints quickly. And since it"s designed for delicate surfaces and electronics you can use it to clean your laptop and iPad once you"re done with your TV.
Here"s the best way to clean a flat-screen TV without ruining it or ending up pesky little streaks, along with some useful tips on how to scrub down all the accessories that go along with it:
The television screen is what everyone sees first, but don’t forget these other key areas, not to mention the area around your unit. “It can also help to clean the furniture and carpets around the TV to prevent dust and hair from getting into it,” says Williams.
The remote control is handled regularly. This is the one time when harsh chemicals can be used sparingly. Follow the manufacturer owner’s manual instructions first, but if sanitizing is needed, use a cleaner that’s at least 70 percent alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations. (Basic drugstore isopropyl alcohol works well for this.)
Start the remote control cleaning by removing the batteries. As with the TV screen recommendations, you’ll want to avoid spraying directly onto the surface, as this could cause the device to malfunction. Dampen a clean microfiber cloth and rub gently on the top and the underside of the remote control. For hard-to-reach gunk that’s jammed between the buttons, try a cotton swab dipped in a small amount of the cleaning solution. Make sure to let it dry thoroughly before replacing the batteries and using it again.
When figuring out how to clean a TV screen, selecting the safest cleaning solution is key, but it’s also important to know what cleaning products to avoid. Keep in mind that not only should you skip cleaning with certain products, you should also avoid spraying them in close proximity to the TV.
Both Panasonic and Samsung both have lengthy “avoid” lists that include harsh chemicals such as wax, cleaning fluid, acetone, benzene, alcohol, thinner, mosquito repellent and insect spray (really!), lubricant, solvent and undiluted mild dish soap. These can, as Williams says, “cause clouding and can wear away your TV’s anti-glare coating.”
In terms of what to use, Samsung recommends “monitor cleaner only” (also called TV screen cleaner). Panasonic suggests “one part mild liquid dish soap diluted by 100 times the amount of water.” To make this cleaning solution, add a scant teaspoon of liquid dish soap to two cups of water, stirring well to dissolve.
Williams likes TV cleaning kits for their ease of use. “A TV kit will be your safest option for cleaning a TV,” he says. “These kits will come with everything you need to get your TV looking new, like screen-cleaning solvent and a fast-drying microfiber cloth.” You can find TV cleaning kits and cleaning products designed for flat-screen TVs at electronics stores or on Amazon.
Some people swear that only distilled water is useful as cleaning spray for their delicate electronics. Although Williams does not necessarily recommend using distilled water, if you know for a fact you have hard water in your area, you may want to try the distilled water route and see if you notice a difference. Hard water, which has high levels of calcium and magnesium, may leave a film or residue when it’s used for cleaning. Before you spray water to clean TV screens, try experimenting with tap water on a less-important screen, like an old cell phone, to assess the results.
If you can picture the hulking tube TVs (also known as CRTVs) of yore, you may also remember how delightfully easy they were to clean—a few spritzes of window cleaner and some wipes with paper towels and you were good to go—no special microfiber cloth required. But modern TVs with fancier technologies like LCD, OLED, and plasma call for gentler techniques. “Avoid using chemicals like alcohol, ammonia or acetones when cleaning your TV. These cleaners were safe to use for previous generations of TVs with glass panels, but as the hardware changes with time, the cleaning methods do too,” says Williams. Since some multi-purpose and glass cleaners are made with ammonia, skip the Windex.
Modern TVs are often smart TVs but the cleaning tips are the same as the ones for LCD, OLED and plasma TVs. The microfiber cloth is your TV screen’s best friend. “The majority of TVs you purchase today will be smart TVs, and the cleaning process is the same as TVs without smart capabilities,” Williams says.
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.
See you later, dirty television screens. Whether your TV screens are challenged by dust or inconvenient smudges that seem to appear from nowhere, it’s time to adopt a simple cleaning routine that takes care of all that. Get your screen clean pronto, and then kick back and enjoy the show.
Before you start guessing at what will work for your home’s needs, refer to the owner"s manual that came with your television. It’s always best to get advice from the manufacturer, especially if there’s a warranty involved; however, if that document has long since hit the recycling bin, follow these tips and take necessary precautions so you don’t cause permanent damage to the pixels and electrical components.
Different screens require different cleaning agents, and though we address how to clean old school glass-screen tube TVs and glass-coated iPad screens below, we know it’s more likely that you’re dealing with a flatscreen LCD or plasma television. TL;DR: Avoid abrasion. Avoid excess moisture. Avoid harsh chemicals.
Use soft, lint-free microfiber cloths and nothing rough or abrasive. Even paper towels can scratch a television, and plasma screens in particular are very delicate.
Always refer to manufacturer guidelines for cleaning and play it safe if there’s any doubt, especially if the only cleaners you have on hand are harsh chemicals with a bad reputation.
Remove dust with a dry microfiber cloth. Wipe around all edges of the screen too, because dust buildup on ports and speakers can negatively affect performance over time.
Mist a formulated cleaning spray onto a clean microfiber cloth; you can opt for store-bought or try an easy DIY solution, such as 1:1 parts of white vinegar and distilled water, or 1:4 parts distilled water to 70% isopropyl alcohol. These formulas may dry at different rates, so be sure that you don’t oversaturate your cloth.
If you’re using a vinegar- or alcohol-based cleaner, thoroughly wipe down the remote with the damp microfiber cloth you used to clean the television screen.
Big tip: Remove the batteries first so you don’t accidentally turn on the TV (and undoubtedly, push the magic combination of buttons that turns on subtitles and changes your settings to German … you know how it is).
Television screens are supposed to be clean and free of dirt, dust, or any debris that may blur vision. This is why this component is one of the most vital parts of a Television. Nothing can be worse than straining your eyes to make sense of the pictures your set is projecting. If you do not clean your TV regularly, fingerprint smudges and dust will build up.
Cleaning your LED TV or any type of television for that matter is something you should do at least once every 2 or 3 weeks. In fact, I will suggest that you do it as often as you watch it any paying more attention to the screen when you do so. If you clean your TV set regularly, it will always look brand new, and you will enjoy bright and colorful pictures without said. Bearing that in mind, there are ways to go about a cleaning endeavor. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to clean a set effectively. Many think that a piece of towel soaked in water will do. How wrong they are. Television screens are very sensitive, so a great deal of care is required to do the job effectively. In addition to that, being careful also protects the screen for damage. Secondly, you need to understand that TV sets are different. Although they all project sounds and images, they are built differently. So, therefore, the approach to cleaning should also be different as well.
The approach to cleaning an LED TV screen, for instance, requires extra care compared to the cleaning of a Tube TV. They both have screens, but the former is more sensitive than the latter due to the sensitivity of LED screens build material. Bearing all this in mind, how do you safely clean an LED TV screen without damaging it in the process. In this article, we will show you safe and intelligent ways to go about it using available and affordable materials. You will also learn a few tips about how to do it safely too.
Before you proceed, you need to bear two things in mind when cleaning LED TV screens. Firstly, you want to do it in such a way and with the right materials that ensure the screen is clean and devoid of dust or stains of any kind. You want your screen to be as bright and clear as possible. Secondly, you want to avoid damaging the screen or reducing its projection quality. This is why it is necessary to use only the right cleaning materials and approach at all times. Now, here are some helpful tips for adopting when cleaning an LED television screen. [/fusion_text]
Every electronic equipment comes with an owner’s manual. This manual provides the user with sufficient information about how to use and maintain the gadget. The same thing goes for LED sets. They come with an owner’s manual too. Before you clean the set, you may want to read the manual first.
In fact, it is advisable that you read it first immediately you buy and install it in your home. By reading the manual, you gain more understanding regarding how to care for the television all through it a lifespan in your home, office, or wherever you install it. For the purpose of cleaning, pay attention to the section that provides information about how to do it effectively.
Reading manuals is important because different television manufacturers provide different approaches to cleaning their sets. What works for an LG LED TV may not work for a Samsung set. That is why it is so important to only follow the recommendation of a one cap fits all approach to cleaning your TV screen. If you read the manual when you bought it, but you have forgotten the cleaning details, consult it once again to refresh your memory.
Before you start the cleaning properly, turn off the television set. Do not stop at that. You also need to unplug it from the power source. Once you have done that, do not start cleaning the screen immediately. Give it time to cool down. The cleaning process may take between 2-5 minutes or even more depend on your LED TV model or how long it was on.
Turning the TV off will cut off power leading to the cooling down of the screen. You don’t want to be cleaning a hot or warm screen, do you? You want to make sure that the screen is as cool as possible and non-reactive to whichever cleaning agent you use.
Another advice to take in that is so important is that you should never use paper towels to clean the screen. There are reasons to avoid paper towels. Paper towels, especially when soaked in water, leave smudges and stains on the screen. No matter how long or how hard you try to wipe the marks off, they yet remain. Paper towels are bad for your TV screen. It’s as simple as that.
To enjoy an ultimate cleaning experience, you should consider using microfiber cleaning pieces. Some people recommend cotton whole because they are more breathable. However, microfiber cloths are more durable. In addition, they do not stick to your screen. Older LED, or LCD screens can’t handle traditional cleaning methods or materials. With microfiber, you can eliminate stains, remove smudges, and fingerprints with ease.
To use microfiber, simply wipe the surface of the screen in a circular motion. Cover as much part of the screen as you possibly can. Work your way around the edges as well. More importantly, when cleaning, avoid touching the screen with your bare hands as doing so will leave fingerprint marks on it.
The use of chemicals should be avoided at all costs. Chemicals damage screens more than you know. That a chemical agent worked on a particular surface is not an indication that it will work well for your TV screen. LED screens are very sensitive and fragile, so you ought to make sure that you keep chemicals as far away as possible. Another material you should never use is a detergent solution (water and detergent).
Soap, scouring powder, was window cleaners, and any other general industrial cleaner should be avoided. Abrasive pads and towels made from paper should not be used either. Using any of these materials will lead to screen scratches, anti-glare coating damage, or permanent screen damage. The sad part is that the damage may not be noticeable at first, but over time, the same will become permanent.
If you must wet your cleaning material with water, do so in little splashes. Avoid spraying the screen directly with water. When wiping the screen, do so gently because it can break if pressed too hard as screens are very fragile.
You will notice that your microfiber cloth cannot reach the edges of the screen like the other areas. If you don’t clean the edges too, dust and first will accumulate in those parts, and after a time removing the stains will love difficult. Furthermore, failure to clean screen edges will lead to an uneven appearance, with poor picture quality being the end result. To clean edges and corners effectively, use cotton swabs to greater effect. For better results, dab the cotton swabs in water. Pick off the dirt carefully by dragging them out using the swabs. Do this for the four corners of the screen.
As for the edges, run the swabs up and down systematically but avoid running them all the way down to the edges as this may drive dirt further on that may be difficult to remove. For better results, use as many cotton swabs as you can.
Unlike an LED TV screen, cleaning a Tube TV is much easier. Tube TV screens are more rugged and can withstand pressure, but doing so carefully is also important. You can use a microfiber cleaning cloth doused in a little water. Never spray the screen directly as this may damage it. Rather, work your way with the microfiber cloth. Apply the same circular cleaning motion like you would do an LED TV screen. Cotton swabs will also come in handy to pick off the dirt from the screen corners.
Dish soap can also be used on LED and LCD screens, albeit with care. Before you use a dish soap solution, first wipe the screen with a dry cloth to remove dust. Now, dip your cleaning cloth in the dish soap solution. Squeeze off the liquid then gently wipe the screen. Make sure you cover every surface area. Once you are done, don’t waste time to clean; otherwise, the solution will dry up on the screen leading to a blurry vision. Rinse the cloth with water to remove soapy residue then take the dry cloth you used to wipe off the dust once again to dry the screen.
Yes, they do. There are actually cleaners specially made for cleaning tv screens. Screen cleaners contain distilled water, isopropyl, and alcohol solutions. If you must use an electronic screen cleaner, make sure you shake to content before use. Also, apply on a limited portion of your cleaning cloth.
Cleaning your TV remote control is part of a general TV cleaning process. So to clean your remote control, follow these tips. Pop-out the batteries:Remove the batteries from the remote. Doing so will create enough room when cleaning the interior casing.
Tap the remote lightly on a hard surface:Remote controls gather a lot of dust and debris along the way. To remove them, tap the remote control on a hard surface like a table. Do this gently and several times to dislodge debris stuck in crevices.
Use a mild disinfectant:Apply a cleaning disinfectant on a piece of cloth and clean the body thoroughly. The use of disinfectant is necessary because our hands carry germs, and we transfer these germs to the remote control anytime we operate it. Clean the whole body thoroughly.
Maintain a weekly timetable:To ensure that your TV set is always clean, make sure you clean it weekly. Add it as part of your to-do list when cleaning your home. If your furniture deserves regular cleaning, so does your television set. Doing regular cleaning will atop dust, debris and fingerprints from smearing the screen. It is also much easier to clean when there is little dust on the surface. Keeping a microfiber cloth close by is also advised so that you can quickly wipe off dust when necessary.
Never spray your LED TVset directly with any substance:Avoid spraying your screen directly with any substance even if it is an electronic cleaning gel. Excessive spraying can damage the cabinet and the structural make-up of the screen. If you must use any cleaning solution, apply it on the napkin or microfiber cloth you are using and gently wipe the screen with it.
Use a Vacuum:To draw out dust and debris hidden in the crevices of the set, use a low suction vacuum. You may also use the vacuum cleaner’s soft brush to remove dust from the cable, vents, and ports of the TV
Adhere strictly to the User Manual:Your LED TV set comes with a user manual for a reason. The manual is meant to guide your use of the device. When cleaning your set, make sure you follow the directives of the manufacturer. Doing it any other way may damage the TV beyond repair.
Avoid strong cleaning agents:Just like we pointed out in the article, avoid strong cleaning agent as not all of them are good for your television’s screen. The screen is very sensitive, so bear this in mind. Some examples of cleaning agents to avoid include unmixed alcohol, ammonia, acetone, and Wax.
Maintaining your LED TV set requires a lot of patience and attention to detail. If you want the screen to remain in good shape, you need to clean it regularly and with proper cleaning materials. If you follow the tips in this article, your screen will remain bright and sharp for as long as you use the set.
As with any electronic item, televisions attract dust and are magnets for smudges and children"s fingerprints. Luckily, learning how to clean a flat-screen TV is fairly straightforward, requiring very little time and few materials. Regardless of whether you have an LCD or a plasma TV, all flat-screen TVs are made out of thin, flexible materials and should be treated very gently. They have extremely sensitive components, and using chemical cleaners may lead to a broken or blank screen (so skip the window cleaning spray!). Even ordinary kitchen towels or paper towels can cause marks and scratches on the screen. Here"s the right way to clean a flat-screen TV and prevent costly damage.
Turn Off the TV.Shutting off your monitor will not only help you see where dirt and dust have collected, but it will also give your screen time to cool down. A warm or hot screen will be harder to clean, increasing the chances that you"ll accidentally damage it if you scrub too forcefully.
Consult the Owner"s Manual (seriously!).If you take a quick survey of the different cleaning recommendations from various flat-screen TV manufacturers, you"ll quickly discover that many of the directions conflict with each other. When in doubt, check your owner"s manual or look online at the manufacturer"s website for instructions on how to clean your flat-screen TV. This cautionary step will prevent you from doing something the manual warns against, thus voiding your warranty.
Wipe Only With a Soft Cloth.Gently wiping the screen with a dry, soft cloth may be the only universally agreed upon method for cleaning a flat-screen TV. While this will likely take care of any surface lint, it may not be enough to remove oil or dirt. Be warned, an attempt to scrub the screen by using any amount of pressure may only cause the liquid crystals inside to misalign or burn out.
Then, Try a Damp Cloth.Unless your owner"s manual specifically prohibits it, carefully wipe the screen with a damp, lint-free cloth. When using water, be sure to spray onto the cleaning towel rather than directly onto the screen. This will give you more control over where the water is going and how much is being used. Have a dry towel handy for carefully drying off the screen.
Add a Drop of Dish Soap.In certain instances, like when your TV gets mixed up in a food fight or when a child with grimy hands insists on touching the screen, you may need to use a little soap to clean the surface. Mix a singular drop of dish soap into one-fourth cup of water and apply to a soft cloth. Wipe the mess away using the soapy cloth. Then, lightly dampen a second cloth in water to wash off any soapy residue. Finally, dry the screen with a third soft, lint-free cloth.
Follow the steps below to safely clean your flat screen monitor, TV, laptop screen, or other device in just a few minutes. This information applies to televisions from manufacturers including LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, and Vizio.
Turn off the device. If the screen is dark, it will be easier to see the areas that are dirty or oily. Turning the device off also prevents you from accidentally pushing buttons you don"t actually want to push, which happens a lot when cleaning touchscreen devices like tablets, iPads, etc.
If the dry cloth did not completely remove the dirt or oil, do not press harder in an attempt to scrub it off. Pushing directly on the screen can often cause pixels to burn out, especially on laptop displays, desktop monitors, and LCD/LED TV screens.
If necessary, dampen the cloth with distilled water or with an equal ratio of distilled water to white vinegar. Many companies also sell small spray bottles of special cleaner for flat screens.
Avoid using paper towels, toilet paper, tissue paper, rags, or something like your shirt to wipe the screen. These non-ultrasoft materials can scratch the display.
Avoid cleaning products that contain ammonia (like Windex®), ethyl alcohol (Everclear® or other strong drinking alcohol), toluene (paint solvents), as well as acetone or ethyl acetate (one or the other is often used in nail polish remover).
These chemicals can react with the materials that the flat screen is made of or coated with, which could permanently discolor the screen or cause other kinds of damage.
Never spray liquid directly onto the screen. It could leak into the device and cause damage. Be sure to always put the cleaning solution directly onto the cloth and then wipe from there.
These same cleaning "rules" apply no matter if your TV is 8K, 4K, or 1080p (HD). Those differences don"t mean the display is necessarily made out of anything different, requiring different cleaning, it"s just a measure of how many pixels per inch they shoved in the same space.
Want to buy your own cleaning products to clean your TV screen and other electronics? See our Best Tech Cleaning Products list for some of our favorite picks.
If you"re cleaning your TV because it appears dirty, but then find that the screen is actually physically damaged, you might be ready for a new HDTV. See our Best TVs to Buy list for our top suggestions, or this Best Cheap TVs list for some budget-friendly HDTVs.
Plasma TVs are glass, as are many touchscreens, but often also have very sensitive anti-glare coatings applied. Take the same special care with those types of displays.
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How do TVs get so gross? And we"re not just talking about having kids and their inevitable little fingerprints all over the screen — flat screen TVs are just one of those things that you clean time and time again, but for whatever reason, they only look worse with each swipe of a cloth. They"re a major dust magnet, prone to streaks, and a major frustration to clean. It"s not like you"re grabbing your TV hands-on 24-7 — duh, that"s what a remote is for! — so what gives?
Whether you have an LCD or an OLED model, you"ve likely dealt with a few horrible streaks here and there (or honestly, all over) when you sit down to enjoy a night of Netflix and ice cream. As fabulous as these new, ultra HD or 4K TVs look with all the lights shut off, any tiny bit of glare is sure to shine a light on the streaks you"ve been dancing around for months. Don"t press "power off" on tackling this problem just yet, though — we"re here to break down how to clean your finicky flat screen of streaks for good. Here are the tools you"ll need.
Before attempting to clean your TV, you should always take a quick peek at the instruction manual first. If you got rid of the manual or don"t know where it is, a simple online search for the exact model should result in being able to easily download it.
There may very well be important information regarding what you should or should not be using to clean your specific flat screen TV. What can work for a QLED screen may not be the best for a LED, a plasma screen, and so on. So it"s very important to know what the manufacturer instructions are ahead of using anything to clean the screen.
If you"re thinking of skipping this step, you might want to reconsider. According to Better Homes & Gardens, if you attempt to use a product or process that isn"t approved by the manufacturer, then it could make the TV"s warranty invalid.
No matter the method you pick to tackle the streaks on your flat screen TV, this is a crucial step to avoid any streaks. If you use any sort of liquid, even just dampened on a gentle cloth, you"re going to end up with a streaky cleaning job if you keep the TV on.
LCD screens produce heat when turned on. Even though it"s a low level of heat that won"t hurt you, cleaning a warm surface is a recipe for disaster — one wrong swipe or too much pressure in one area over another could leave a mark, and the added heat certainly won"t help get rid of it (via Digital Innovations). Regardless of whether your next step involves a DIY dish soap mixture or just plain old water, always make sure to unplug your TV and let the flat screen cool first to avoid a streaky finish.
This may seem obvious, but it has to be said, since there"s an expensive TV at stake here: Electronics and liquid don"t play too well together. While there are some options that may help you get your screen streak-free, the best place to start is always with a dry, clean cloth.
Even if your TV looks like it needs some major TLC, a lint-free cloth (preferably microfiber) or feather duster may be just enough to do the trick, claims Real Simple. Whatever you do, definitely skip the paper towels, since those might scratch the surface — and the only thing worse than a streak on a TV is a permanent scratch.
Simply unplug the TV and give the screen a gentle wipe down. You don"t want to apply too much pressure, because you"ll risk damaging the hardware. Use just enough force to remove the dust and debris from the screen, and you should be left with a clean, streak-free result that"s ready for your next binge-watching session.
If you"ve already attempted to clean your TV screen with some sort of cleaner, then there are probably some existing streaks you need to take care of. While a dry microfiber cloth is key to regular maintenance, it may not be powerful enough to remove any stubborn streaks from those previous misguided attempts at giving it a good clean. Luckily, you don"t have to go too far — all you need is another cloth and some distilled water.
HelloTech says the key to a flawless flat screen is simple: Start with a dry microfiber cloth, wiping in gentle, circular motions. Then, spray another clean lint-free cloth with water. You don"t want it to be oversaturated, and you definitely don"t want to spray the water directly on the screen, since that could fry the internals of your TV. Get the cloth just damp enough and wipe the streaks away for good, then follow up with the dry cloth again to finish things off.
According to Digital Innovations, ammonia-based cleaners can wreak havoc on your flat screen TV. Ironically enough, people used to regularly use Windex to wipe down their old school TVs back in the day, but the popular window cleaner can actually degrade the protective layer of LCD flat screen TVs. Better to be safe than sorry!
Instead of harsh cleaners, mix up a 50-50 ratio of distilled water and white vinegar for a deeper clean. The Kitchn recommends combining the two in a spray bottle, then giving a spritz onto a lint-free cloth. Wipe down the flat screen in an S-shaped pattern to avoid any more streaks, then give it another pass with a dry cloth. This will stop the at-home vinegar mixture from sticking behind on the screen, and inevitably forming those unsightly water spots.
A tiny bit of isopropyl alcohol is about as harsh as you should get when it comes time to cleaning your flat screen TV, and that"s saying something, considering it"s not all that heavy-duty.
But if you"re faced with some utterly annoying streaks front and center on your TV before the big game, this easy method may save your viewing party. Start with an equal amount of water and isopropyl alcohol and mix the two, then apply it directly to an anti-static cloth. Be sure to wring out any excess liquid so that you aren"t over-saturating the TV.
If that doesn"t quite do the trick, Techwalla says it"s safe to step up the game a bit and opt for 100% isopropyl alcohol instead — no water necessary to dilute it. It"s a common fix for smudged device screens beyond just the TV: your phone, your laptop, you name it! Once you"re done, give the TV another gentle wipe with the plain water to get rid of any residue from the alcohol, then dry it with a clean cloth. You should be ready to watch kickoff without a single streak in sight!
Believe it or not, but Panasonic, one of the most popular electronics companies out there, used to tout a very interesting recommendation for stuck-on streaks: Dish soap.
According to Consumer Reports, the brand has said that the key to eliminating pesky streaks — after you"ve exhausted all other options — is a 100:1 ratio of water and dish soap. That means barely any soap at all, since the bubbles could get out of hand quickly, and leave you with a damaged device.
Always, always, always apply the cleaning solution to a gentle cloth first, then wipe down the screen. The last thing you want to do is spray the DIY cleaner onto the TV directly, since it"s crucial that you control the amount of soap and water used. Double-check that the dish soap you"re using does not contain ammonia or any abrasive chemicals or particles — if not, you should be in the clear to get cleaning.
Another foolproof way to get your flat screen looking fresh out of the box again is to invest in a specialty cleaning kit. Most TV manufacturers don"t recommend springing for harsh cleaners since they can damage the surface of LCD and OLED TVs, but some maintenance kits are created with those exact TV specs in mind.
ScreenDr is one popular choice among Amazon shoppers, averaging nearly five stars over almost 1,000 reviews. The kit costs just under $20 and comes with a soft microfiber cloth and designated TV screen cleaner. The cleaner is reportedly made from an "advanced, streak-free formula," and shoppers seem to support that claim. The only catch? It"s probably still mostly water — according to HelloTech, most are 99% water, since that"s truly the best thing for the job.
If you spring for a different TV screen cleaner, always double-check the ingredients before applying. HelloTech warns that benzene and acetone can permanently discolor your screen, which is substantially worse to deal with than the average smear or streak.
In lieu of a lint-free cloth, another simple method to try to clean your flat screen TV is using an electrostatic duster. According to Reader"s Digest, dusters are the next best alternative to microfiber cloths. They advise against using paper towels at any cost as they can leave lint behind on the screen.
Electrostatic dusters work the way they sound; they use static electricity to attract dust away from the surface and onto the duster instead. Using one on electronics, such as the TV, can be especially powerful in getting rid of the unwanted dust. Most are easy to wash by stirring the feathers in warm water and letting it dry.
If you don"t currently have a specific electronic duster on hand, a Swiffer duster can serve as an excellent alternative. Be sure to avoid heavy pressure when using either type of duster on your TV screen. Just a light touch should do the trick.
For a particularly tough to get out spot on your flat screen TV, try using a wipe that is designed specifically to be safe for electronics. They"re easy to find, particularly in any office supply or electronics stores and easy to store in your TV console for easy reach.
They might not, however, be the best method for you if you own a plasma TV. Good Housekeeping warns that even though the screen is glass, there is an anti-glare layer that doesn"t do well with wet cleaning products. They advise that you stick to dry methods such as a cloth or a duster to clean a plasma screen TV.
Electronic wipes are not only good for getting smudges off of your TV, but they are also safe to use on most other electronic devices that we touch often. Anything from our phones to our tablets can benefit from using wipes to keep them sanitized and clean.
A flawless piece of glass designed to transport you to different worlds, different time periods and down Coronation Street is only a scratch or smear or away from being ruined. So what cleaners and cloths are safe to use to clean your TV and avoid this happening?
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Panasonic - gently wipe the display with a soft cloth. For stubborn dirt, dampen a soft cloth with clean water, or diluted neutral detergent (one part detergent to 100 parts water) wring out the cloth and wipe away the dirt. Wipe away any moisture when you"re done.
Samsung - unplug the TV and wipe the screen with a soft, clean, lint-free, dry cloth. You can spray screen cleaner onto the cloth first, but never on the screen. Let the screen fully dry before plugging the TV back in.
Sony - unplug the TV and clean the screen with a soft, dry cloth. You can dampen the cloth slightly with a solution of mild soap and warm water if needs be. Use small circular motions, then use a soft cloth to dry the screen.
There"s some differing opinion on whether water should be used. So be careful if you"ve got an LG TV, where no water or glass cleaner is recommended. This could affect your warranty, so stick to the official advice.
Before you start, unplug your TV.Use a dry soft cloth, ideally microfibre or similar to something you might clean a pair of glasses with. Don"t use a rough cloth or kitchen roll. The abrasive surface could scratch your screen.
Some TVs are less stable than others and you may need to support the back of the screen with your free hand - particularly OLEDs where the screen is incredibly thin at the top.
If there are any stubborn marks, use a water solution or specialist TV screen cleaner in line with your manufacturer"s policy. Put the solution on the cloth, not directly on the screen.
A clean screen is one thing, but there are numerous settings you can tweak to make sure you"re getting the best picture. Input your model into our tool ongetting the best TV pictureto see how to get your telly looking its best.
Nearly all the cleaners you use in your kitchen and bathroom could damage your TV screen. For the sake of simplicity, we"d recommend you avoid them all.
As much as possible, you want to use a dry cloth and only resort to a cleaning solution if there"s a mark that won"t come off with careful dry wiping.
TV ports, such as HDMI and USB inputs, can get dusty. If you haven"t used one of your HDMI inputs before and go to plug in a new device, you could push that built-up dust into your TV"s innards.
Wipe the ports with a cloth. If they"re particularly dusty, you can use a vacuum cleaner on its lowest setting to clear out any debris. Take care and hold the nozzle away from the TV as to not cause damage. Try not to push into the port since this could also damage the connection.
Monitors and TVs are one of those things you tend to set up and then forget about, despite how much of our lives we spend staring at them. As the days and weeks wear on, these invaluable parts of our daily routine collect dust, pet hair, liquid droplets, and other debris, just like any other surface in your home. You probably paid hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for the device, so you want to be sure you"re cleaning it the right way, without doing any damage to it. We"re here to show you the simple, dirt-cheap method that"s still the absolute best, safest way to get your flat screen TV or monitor sparkling clean.
The first step is to remove any loose dust. This will make the wet cleaning that comes later much more effective. It will also prevent any scratches during the cleaning process by removing grit that may be lurking in the dust on your display.
To do this, turn off your display and grab one of your clean microfiber or lens cloths and apply the minimal amount of pressure necessary to wipe away any loose dust. Don"t press too hard, and don"t scrub at any stubborn spots. Doing either could damage your display. Instead, brush across the display beginning at one and and moving across, making sure to reposition the cloth to a clean spot if it becomes noticeably soiled.
You never want to spray your distilled water directly onto your display. Doing so could severely damage it, and could be dangerous for you. Just use a tiny amount of distilled water from your bottle of choice to lightly dampen a clean cloth (not the one you used to dust). It should feel wet, but not drip if you squeeze it.
It"s also important to use distilled water here. This type of water has had the impurities and minerals that exist in most locations" tap water removed, prevents any haze or residue from lingering on your display after cleaning.
Use the dampened cloth to begin wiping your display, using the gentlest pressure possible to remove any visible smears, fingerprints, or dust. It helps to have a bright light aimed at your display from above or below to reveal hidden dirt and dust. Even your smartphone"s flashlight works great here.
Work you way across your display, making sure to get every bit of the screen. If you come across a stubborn spot, gently hold your dampened cloth over it for a few moments, then wipe again. If it still won"t come clean, see our note below. Don"t forget to re-wet your cloth as needed.
For stubborn spots: If distilled water alone can"t get off a particularly resistant smear, you can add a tiny amount of very mild dish soap to your water before dampening your cloth. Most manufacturers advise using a 1:50 or 1:100 ratio of dish soap to water, but even just a drop or 2 in a full spray/squeeze bottle should do the trick. Remember to be patient and keep your cloth damp. It might take some time and a few passes, but it"s best to always be gentle to avoid damage.
Depending on your local temperature and humidity, this step may not even be necessary. If your display looks dry enough for you, you"re done. If you notice any droplets on it, it"s probably worth grabbing one more clean, dry microfiber cloth and going over it gently to remove any lingering moisture.
It can sometimes be helpful here to turn the monitor back on and put something bright white on the screen. The "rainbow" effect you see will show you where any wet spots might be. Distilled water is pure enough that either air drying or cloth drying should never leave any residue behind. If you notice any spots you missed, head back to step 3.
Yes. The reason why we specified that you should only verylightly dampen your cleaning cloth is to prevent any drips or droplets from entering your TV or monitor. At no time should you see any drops rolling down your screen. If you do, immediately use your cloth to absorb them and unplug the unit.
You could just as easily clean the display with it turned on as well, but the darkened black screen makes it easier to see the dirt without the backlight and on-screen images interfering.
Only if you like overpaying for things. Most cleaning kits come with a cleaning cloth and a bottle of solution that is, itself, mostly water. While some will likely due a decent job of cleaning your display, you can"t always be sure what goes into the provided solution, and could risk damaging your display by using a product from a less-than-trustworthy manufacturer.
Even if it works great, you"re still likely to pay $10-$20 for way fewer cleanings than you"ll get out of a single gallon jug of distilled water that can be had for $1-$2.
Absolutely! Just be even more careful with the extra delicate OLED panels. The technology they use is even more fragile than other LCD displays due to the thinness of the panel. Taking your time and using a very light hand will still produce great results on whatever type of flat panel display you might have.