how do you clean an lcd screen manufacturer

Remember when your LCD or OLED display had that brand-new, fresh-out-of-the-box shine, feel and look? You are in the right place if your display is now due for deep cleaning.

Things to consider before cleaning or handling an electronic displayAvoid static by grounding your body and following proper ESD-safe handling techniques.

A microfiber cloth and distilled water is recommended for cleaning the display glass. Use Qtips and Isopropyl alcohol for cleaning the printed circuit board.

Although distilled water is recommended for wiping the display glass, you can use a cleanser developed explicitly for cleaning displays. However, do not spray it directly onto the display. Spray a tiny amount of the cleaner onto a microfiber cloth first to avoid getting any cleaning solution inside the display.Never spray any liquids directly onto the display.A spray is too hard to control and confine. The fluids can seep into the other display layers or surrounding components and cause irreversible liquid damage.

Only use a microfiber cloth and don"t use chemicals to clean a resistive touchscreen.Disconnect the display from the power supply and remove any screen protectors or liners.

Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is widely used to clean printed circuit boards (PCBs). Use a Q-tip or soft small bristle brush for scrubbing a PCB, and never use a paintbrush.Gently rub a Q-tip in Isopropyl alcohol.

Cleaning soldering residue on LCD with Isopropyl alcohol and a Q-Tip.Cleaning residue around soldering elements is not necessary if Newhaven Display performed the soldering.

Cleaning your electronic display is a simple task. However, it is essential to consider these steps to handle and clean it properly. You should now have a better understanding of what cleaning products are safe to use, how to clean the display screen glass, how to clean touchscreens and how to clean soldering residue.

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

Industrial LCD displays and computer monitors are generally very low maintenance, but they do need a good cleaning every once in a while to make the viewing experience more enjoyable and extend their lifespan. But it’s important that you learn the proper ways to clean LCD screens to avoid damaging them in the process. Keep reading to learn how to clean a monitor screen the right way, so that you can get the most use out of it and remove smudges, dirt, and germs.

Cleaning your computer screen the wrong way could actually damage it and lead to expensive repairs or replacements. To avoid this type of headache, here are some tips on how to clean a monitor screen the right way.

Computers usually come with special care instructions from the manufacturers that explain in detail the proper ways to care for your device and keep it clean. Before setting up your device, make sure to read through the care instructions carefully and follow them closely. If you have any questions or need further assistance, you can contact the manufacturer directly.

Make sure to turn the monitor off before you start cleaning it as wiping it with a damp cloth while it’s on can damage the pixels. Plus, it’s easier to see the dust, smudges, and dust particles when the screen is off and completely black. That way, you can make sure you get a thorough clean without damaging the screen. Turning off touchscreen devices before cleaning is also highly recommended so you can avoid accidental touches that perform the wrong actions or functions.

LCD screens have protective anti-glare and anti-reflective coatings on them to improve visibility. Touchscreens also have oleophobic coatings that prevent fingerprint oil smudges from appearing on the screen. Store-bought glass cleaners contain harsh chemicals such as alcohol and ammonia, which can penetrate the surface of the screen and severely damage its internal mechanism after wearing down the protective coatings. It’s best to stay away from using household cleaners on your industrial LCD displays unless you have the greenlight from the manufacturer.

Canned air is incredibly effective at blasting away dust particles, crumbs, hairs, and any other organic materials that can become stuck to your screen or lodged between the keys on your keyboard. This prevents the particles from scratching the surface of the screen.

Microfiber cloths are also a great option because they usually have grooves that gently capture and remove stuck-on particles while also removing smudges on the screen without damaging them.

If blasting the screen with canned air or wiping it down with a microfiber cloth doesn’t work, then your next best option is cleaning it with distilled water. Unlike tap water, distilled water isn’t fortified with mineral deposits that can scratch or damage industrial display monitors. Many manufacturers advise against spraying the water directly onto the screen for obvious reasons. Instead, spray a small amount onto a microfiber cloth until it’s just damp and gently spot wipe the parts of the display that need it.

Some manufacturers of industrial computer monitors also sell special screen cleaners that are meant to go along with their products. If you’re lucky, they might even be included with your original purchase. These are light cleaning solutions that effectively remove dirt, grime, and dust from your screen for optimal functionality and usability. After applying a cleaning solution to your screen, make sure to let it dry completely before resuming usage. Otherwise, you’re just going to smudge the screen again if it’s a touchscreen.

For more tips on how to clean a monitor screen and keep it in tiptop shape, contact Nauticomp Inc. We’re one of the leading suppliers of industrial computer monitors and displays around the globe.

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.

Notice: Do not use any of the following chemicals or any solutions that contain them: acetone, ethyl alcohol, toluene, ethyl acid, ammonia, or methyl chloride. If you have a different chemical or solution and are not sure whether it is suitable, do not use it. Using any of the chemicals in the previous list may cause permanent damage to the LCD screen. Some commercial window cleaners contain ammonia and are, therefore, unacceptable.

Note: Many cleaning solutions are sold specifically as LCD cleaners. You can use these to clean LCD screens on Dell laptops. Alternately, you may use a 50/50 isopropyl alcohol and water mixture. Microfiber cloths such as those used to clean eyeglasses are excellent for use with LCDs.

Please visit the support page for your manufacturer to find out how to clean your LCD. The support pages for some manufacturers are listed on the Checking Warranty page.

Don"t spray the screen because the mist can get in the sides and bottom/top of screen area and short out your monitor. Play it safe and spray the cloth. These things are expensive.

It is good to know that flannel is the best material to use to clean an LCD screen. I learned the hard way how important it is to use the right products to clean these screens. I was spraying on a general cleaner, with a paper towel and now my screen has a dull finish to it.

I am going to try the vinegar and water solution to see if this will help. I don"t have high hopes that my screen will look like new again, but now I know what not to do the next time I buy something that has an LCD screen.

I use a multipurpose biodegradable cleaner to clean my LCD screens. This is a diluted solution that I use to clean the glass in my home. I have never had any problem using this on my screens. I also use this on my iPad to get rid of all the fingerprints. I have found if I use this all the time it also seems to keep the fingerprints from building up as often.

I keep a small bottle of this mixed up all the time and always spray on the cloth before wiping the screen. I don"t mind the smell of vinegar so this doesn"t bother me. Because it is diluted in water it isn"t that strong anyway and quickly disappears.

You can use this cleaning solution for a lot of other uses in your home. It is safe for you and the environment and works just as good or better than cleaning products that have chemicals in them.

I have always wondered what was the best way to clean an LCD screen. After spending that much money on something I didn"t want to ruin it by using something I wasn"t supposed to. I have just taking a soft cloth and wiping away the dust when the screen is turned off. So far this has worked OK for me, but I like knowing I can use a liquid solution as long as I don"t directly spray on the screen.

First, you run the risk of having liquid run down between the diffusion layers on the LCD, or hitting the CCFL in there and shorting out your inverter.

The second problem is that manufacturers sometimes put the T-Con board at the bottom of the TV. Or if it is a plasma. you have buffers that run along the bottom edge. Again shorting those out will kill your monitor/TV.

It"s just as easy and safer to spray the cloth you wish to use rather than the screen itself. The screens are not sealed in anyway, so any drips can possibly cause damage if they get inside.

You don"t spray it on the screen because cleaners used to damage the seal on the bottom edge of the screen. I don"t believe is still happens as long as something reasonable is used. The warning is most likely still there simply to cover themselves if someone uses something that is much to harsh and allows it to drip down the screen.

I actually spray the liquid (i.e., eyeglass cleaner or the solution they make specifically for LCD screens) on the screen all the time, and haven"t noticed anything bad come of it. I think the fear is that the droplets from the spray makes permanent splotches on the screen. It"s there for only a brief second but maybe with the heat of the screen those splotches get burned in somehow? I"m not sure, but I"ve done it -- I wipe right away and do it when the screens turned off -- and I haven"t had any problems with it.

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.

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.

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Q: I have a new LCD television, and I"m not sure how to clean it. With my old tube set, I just spritzed it with Windex, but the surface of my new TV isn"t glass.

A: "We recommend using LCD cleanser that can be purchased at any electronics store," says a customer service tech for Westinghouse, a manufacturer of popular LCD televisions. The cleaner can be found in both spray and wipe form. But what exactly goes into these LCD solutions?

Kai Hui of MG Chemicals, makers of one of many available LCD cleaners, explains, "The main ingredient in most wipes on the market is water. There needs to be a small percentage of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to help get rid of the grease from busy fingers." Some LCD cleaning solutions may include up to 50 percent IPA, according to Hui, but any more than that could damage the screens.

Since I"d never suggest you spend more money than you have to, I"d start with a clean, soft cloth and regular ol" tap water. You can add just a capful of isopropyl alcohol to a glass of water if you need something to help loosen the greasy gunk on the screen, so it can wipe off more easily. Get the cloth damp and then apply to the screen instead of splashing the screen and trying to wipe up the liquid; and always -- always -- use a clean cloth, as tiny, hard particles trapped in the fibers can scratch the surface of your screen.

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

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

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

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

We’ve all lived that moment when our computer monitor is met with the perfect stream of daylight, and the thought crosses your mind as you squint to see through the scattered fingerprints and dust: “Whoa, when was the last time I cleaned this thing?”

There are a few different types of screens, and your cleaning options vary between the surfaces. It’s critical to know how to clean your specific screen because, if you do it wrong, the active ingredients in the cleaning agents could affect the display of sensitive crystals or cause permanent damage in the form of streaks and scratches.

It doesn"t hurt to wipe down the surface of your keys and your mouse at the same time you"re cleaning your screen, since many germs are housed on those surfaces. Using a dry microfiber cloth is always safest when it comes to removing dust.

Are there different considerations for cleaning a Mac screen versus a PC screen? In short, yes. We know that there are hundreds of different computer and monitor models to consider, but in general, screens are either backlit LED made with LCD (liquid-crystal display) pixels, or a non-LCD glass-coated surface. And just to note, some of the newer matte glass screens are nano-texture glass, which require a special polishing cloth from the manufacturer and should be cleaned with nothing else.

LCD screens are more susceptible to damage by cleaning agents, but because they’re commonly used on PC laptops and standalone computer monitors, there are lots of easy-to-use products available to clean them. It’s not that they’re hard to clean, but you’ll have to be careful and diligent so you don’t damage the surface or any of the LED elements. Any cleaners that include ammonia will leave a film. Soap and water can cause damage. It’s always safest and most effective to use an LCD cleaner free of alcohol, ammonia and acetone to clean an LCD screen, but if you need a DIY fix, you’ll be successful if you use a microfiber cloth that’s sprayed lightly with a mix of vinegar and distilled water.

Most Mac computer screens are glass-coated and can be cleaned and resolved streak-free more easily than LCD products using glass cleaners, like Windex, or a cloth lightly sprayed with rubbing alcohol. Nano-texture glass screens on products like the Apple Pro Display XDR or iMac require use of the special polishing cloth sold by Apple.

For fingerprints and smudges, spray 70% isopropyl alcohol onto a cloth, or use a pre-moistened alcohol wipe or a Clorox Disinfecting Wipe, to clean non-porous surfaces like the screen; do not use bleach.

To clean spots and streaks on the surface of the screen, mist an LCD cleaning spray onto a dust-free side of your microfiber cloth; an easy DIY solution is 1:1 parts of white vinegar and distilled water.

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One of the most common questions I am asked, now that LCDs are in wide use, is how to clean one.  Every manufacturer has their recommended method.  What Envision recommends will ruin an NEC LCD and void your warranty.  As you will be able to tell, every LCD needs to be cleaned in a different way.

Another thing I learned from finding all this information is that every manufacturer has the same warning: Never touch or press on the LCD screen with your fingers – NEVER!!!  Doing so can cause the pixels to short out and die.  Then you will have blank spots on your LCD.

Here is the cleaning information I have gathered from various manufacturer’s web sites.  The text is taken verbatim from the manufacturer’s websites, “read-me” files, PDFs, and e-mails.

I called CTX tech support and was told the way to clean their LCDs was in the Technical Glossary and General FAQ.  I asked the guy to check that out and he said he couldn’t find it either.  He said to use very mild soap, tepid or lukewarm water, and a just slightly moist lint-free cloth.  This is supposed to be added to their General FAQ.

Discussion: A common cause for marks on the LCD is oil and dirt deposited on the keys of the keyboard that can get pressed against the LCD when carried in a carrying case or when pressure is applied to the lid.

There are many cleaners sold specifically as LCD cleaners. These are perfectly acceptable for cleaning LCDs on Dell notebooks.  If you do not wish to purchase one of these products designated specifically as an LCD cleanser, the following is a list of what is and is not acceptable for cleaning your LCD.

These cleaners might cause permanent damage to the LCD due to a chemical reaction. Some commercial window cleaners contain ammonia and are generally unacceptable.

Clean the computer’s built-in LCD display with a soft, clean cloth and one of the cleaners listed above or a commercial window cleaner that does not contain ammonia, wax, or abrasives. Apply the cleaner to the cloth, and then stroke the cloth across the display in one direction, moving from the top of the display to the bottom. If the display contains grease or some other contaminant, use a cloth with an acceptable cleaner listed above instead of a commercial window cleaner.

A. You can use Windex® to clean the screen and 409® clean the outer casing of the monitor. Please use a “soft” non-fibrous cloth to clean the screen. Do not use any paper products to clean the screen.

Shut down and unplug the computer and clean the LCD screen with a soft cloth moistened only with water. Wet the cloth, wipe the display, and then dry the screen with another soft cloth.

Gently dust the screen with a dry, soft, lint-free cloth. If the screen is still dirty, you can dampen the cloth with several drops of distilled water.  Make sure the LCD panel is completely dry before you turn the display back on.[/box]

Soak a soft gauze cloth with isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol diluted with water (1:1) and gently wipe the surface of the monitor. Do not dust it or wipe it with a cloth dampened with pure water.

CAUTION: Never use pure water to clean the LCD screen. Do not use cleaning solutions containing fluoride, acids, or alkalis. Do not use ketone substances such as acetone or solvents such as xylene or toluene to clean the monitor. Do not use benzene, thinner, ammonia, or any volatile substance to clean the monitor’s screen or cabinet. These chemicals may damage the monitor.

This is the strangest one ever.  On March 21, 2003, I e-mailed every e-mail address I could find on Hyundai’s web sites.  I guess I threw them for a loop because I received a phone call from a Peter at AVC Tech USA.  That must be Hyundai’s USA distributor.  Peter told me that Hyundai has NO written instructions for cleaning their LCDs.  Quoting Peter this is what he told me to do: “use alcohol and soft cotton cloth and don’t run too hard”.

The display area is highly prone to scratching.  Do not use ketone-type cleaners (i.e. acetone), ethyl alcohol, toluene, ethyl acid or methyl chloride to clean the panel.  Doing so may result in permanent damage.

MAG was another hard one to get any information on.  On April 21, 2003, I finally received an e-mail response (I sent my first request for information back on January 21, 2003).  Here is the reply I received:

You can use regular Windex, just do not spray directly to monitor screen, spray to a soft rag or cloth and then wipe out gently, any other question please let us know and thank you for your time.

CAUTION: Do not use benzene or thinner or rubbing alcohol.  Doing so may adversely affect the surface, e.g. discoloration.  In addition, do not use commercially-available cleaners and cosmetics as they may contain components harmful to the surface.

Unplug the monitor, if you need to clean it with a slightly damp cloth. Wiping the screen with a dry cloth is possible when the power is off. However, never use alcohol, solvents, or ammonia-based liquids.

A: For normal cleaning, use the clean, soft, and fine. For extensive cleaning, please use Isopropyl alcohol. Do not use other solvents such as ethyl alcohol, ethanol, acetone, hexane, etc.

If still not clean, apply a small amount of non-ammonia, non-alcohol based glass cleaner onto a clean, soft, lint-free cloth, and wipe the screen with only slight pressure. Too much pressure may damage the screen.

If still not clean, apply a small amount of a non-ammonia, non-alcohol based, mild non-abrasive detergent onto a clean, soft, lint-free cloth, then wipe the surface.

NOTE: You, the customer, are solely responsible for data security. WinBook strongly recommends that you perform a backup of all personal data contained on your system prior to performing this procedure. Warning: WinBook will NOT be held responsible for any data loss incurred during this process.

A: We recommend that you use a cleaner specifically designed for electronic equipment to clean the case and, if necessary, a separate cleaner specifically designed for cleaning LCD Panels. This should be used in conjunction with a soft, lint-free cloth.

A: Any cleaning solution should be applied to the cloth. Under no circumstances should you spray the cleaner directly onto the machine. The excess cleaner may find its way into sensitive areas of the machine and can cause severe damage.

A: In general, the answer to this question is yes. Most cleaners that are satisfactory for cleaning the case of your WinBook are not satisfactory for cleaning the LCD panel. You should look for a cleaner that is specifically designed and labeled for cleaning LCD screens.

A: You SHOULD NOT use any sort of harsh solvents to clean your WinBook. This includes fingernail polish remover, alcohol, turpentine, gasoline, lighter fluid, acetone, paint thinner, mineral spirits, kerosene, ammonia, dishwashing soap, glass cleaner, vinegar, or any other commonly found household cleaner.

Q: Where can I get these cleaners that I need to use on my WinBook?A: Most good computer stores will carry these cleaning supplies. Also, they may be found at local electronics stores or office supply stores.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Back when you used to have CRT monitors and TVs, you could clean them with almost anything. The screen was made out of glass and nothing else. That’s no longer the case with today’s LCD and OLED displays.

The modern display is a sensitive device that requires special care. You can easily damage a touchscreen if you clean it using a rough sponge or an aggressive cleaning agent. You’ll eventually scratch the screen and damage its special coatings, and you’ll end up with an inferior device that no longer takes your touch commands. This applies to any laptop, tablet, TV, phone, or another device with LCD, MicroLED, or OLED display.

Most people open the box, take the smart TV or monitor out, plug it in, and that’s that. They ignore the manufacturer’s instructions. Don’t skip reading those instructions. Some manufacturers offer specific cleaning product recommendations to be used with their products.

For example, Dell might recommend using 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean one of their PC monitor models, while Samsung might recommend using nothing other than a dry microfiber cloth. Despite general recommendations, you should always prioritize the manufacturer’s specific instructions. This will also help you with warranty claims.

Some screens, especially touch screens, have special coatings for protection and to reduce the amount of reflection and glare. Harsh chemicals will remove those coatings and even damage the material of the display. Don’t use any household cleaning agents.

Stay away from glass cleaning products and anything that contains ammonia, chlorine, and even alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is sometimes okay to use if specified by the manufacturer. Just make sure you pay attention to the percentage, which is usually 70% or 90%.

If you’ve been cleaning your TV or monitor with one of the aforementioned solutions, stop. Using them a few times might not cause any visible damage, but over time they’ll leave streaks once the protective coating is gone.

When you aren’t sure what’s safe to use, use canned air and microfiber cloths. Canned air is great for cleaning computer hardware, keyboards, as well as monitors, and TVs. It can’t cause any damage to the surface of the screen whether you’re cleaning a tablet, an OLED monitor, or an old school glass TV.

Dust gathers on the surface of your screen, especially around the edges, so start by blowing it off with compressed air. Use a high-quality microfiber cloth to move the stubborn dust particles when the compressed air isn’t enough. All you need is a light touch. Don’t press too hard on the display or you can damage it.

It’s very important to use microfiber cloth only. It’s soft enough not to scratch the screen or damage any of the protective coatings. Don’t use paper towels or tissues because they contain little loose fibers that can cause small scratches.

Sometimes canned air and dry microfiber cloth aren’t enough to remove stubborn particles. Don’t press extra hard when something dry is stuck to the display. Use distilled water instead. Tap water would also work, but we don’t recommend it because it contains all sorts of minerals that will leave streaks behind.

Take note that most manufacturers will tell you to avoid using any liquids, but sometimes you just don’t have a choice. Distilled water is safe to use as long as you just dampen the microfiber cloth enough to remove that pesky spot of dirt. Don’t spray it or splash it directly on your screen. Spray it on the cloth until it’s slightly damp.

Use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe the corners of the display and remove the dirt and oils from the screen. Use a light touch. Don’t press hard when you find a stain. This can cause serious damage.

Clean the back of the TV or monitor. You’ll find a lot of dust there. Fortunately, it’s all plastic, so you can use a multipurpose cleaning solution as long as you don’t touch the screen.

Instead of using distilled water with a microfiber cloth, you can opt for one of the many professional cleaners available on the market. It’s important to buy a cleaning kit or cleaning solution that is odorless and without any alcohol or toxins that could damage a TV or monitor display. So take a look at some of the best and safest cleaning solutions we’ve found.

WHOOSH! is an alcohol-free display cleaner. It’s suitable for all types of screens, whether they’re LCD, OLED, LED, or CRT. You can also use it to clean your mobile devices. In fact, this is the same display cleaner that Apple uses in its stores. It’s also completely odorless, so it won’t leave any residues.

EVEO is a screen cleaner safe to use on all types of TVs, monitors, and touchscreen devices. It’s great for removing greasy fingerprints and other stubborn smudges. Just remember not to press hard and use the microfiber cloth that’s included in the package. You can also use EVEO to clean other electronic gadgets.

If you don’t want to use sprays or liquids, try the lens and screen cleaning wipes from Care Touch. They’re individually packed, so when you need to clean a display, you always have one handy.

Care Touch wipes contain some isopropyl alcohol, but not in an amount that should be dangerous. The wipes are made for cleaning all types of screens without damaging the anti-reflection coating. As a bonus, you can also use these wipes on sunglasses and camera lenses.

The more often you clean your TV and computer monitor, the less you’ll have to deal with a build-up of grime and dust. This way a microfiber cloth should also be enough because you won’t have any tough dirt spots. So clean your screens regularly and keep them sparkling.

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.