Guide: How to clean your LCD screen

When ever I see a lot of threads about the same topic, I think its time to write a guide. So I see a lot of threads on this one so this is the one stop shop for information on how to safely and effectively clean your computer screen.

There are a ton of different methods but I will cover the ones most used and verified to be safe and effective.


First of all is just a good ol plain

DRY MICROFIBER CLOTH
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A lot of laptops may come with one of these, or maybe some other accessory you have purchased (my sunglasses came with one). These are very soft fabrics that will not scratch or damage your screen.

Chances are if you take care of your laptop the only thing on there is some dust, all you really need to do is lightly wipe off the screen with the cloth to remove the dust. LCD's are sensitive to pressure so never apply too much pressure when cleaning it or you could possible damage it.

I have never actually needed anything but a dry cloth to clean my laptop screen or its glossy lid. Just light pressure with a bit of buffing for finger prints.

However if you happen to be a bit on the messy side or have somebody else around your laptop that is, maybe the grime is worse or you even have food or something on there so you may want to look into...



Microfiber Cloth + Cleaning Solution
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So yeah you were just saving that sloppy joe for later right? Well the laptop screen is not the best place to keep it so you may want to take it off (the sooner the better)

You still want a nice soft microfiber cloth to clean with as its just simply the best thing you can use and its not expensive, but you have a choice in cleaning solutions.

You can buy a whole kit if you would like with the cloth & solution like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882155273

Also they make LCD wipes like these:
http://www.mgchemicals.com/products/8242t.html

However I feel both are unnecessary. The same stuff that was cleaning my Nintendo games 10 years ago is great for cleaning you screen too.

Isopropyl Alchohol (70% is good)


I recommend this stuff mixed with water in about a 50/50 mix ratio.

Now something that I have heard nobody else mention that is also important is the water! Not everybody has clean water running from there tap in there homes, and it often has additives and impurities so call me a perfectionist but you may want to pick up some distilled water for less than a dollar while your at it:



Mix the water & alcohol however you please, most prefer just using a small spray bottle and make sure to apply it to your cloth and not directly to the screen! Never put liquid on electronics directly. You want the cloth just moist enough to help remove any stains/buildup. If one area is really bad, then go ahead and wet the cloth more in one small section and just use your finger to rub that one spot until its cleared up then go back over it with the dryer part of the cloth.

You will be ship shape in no time with a perfectly new screen.


Some methods that I do not fully approve of would be.

Use of Compressed Air
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Its great for cleaning your heatsink out, or your keyboard but do not use it on the screen. You have just as much a chance to blow the dust into a crack between the bezel and the screen cover as you do to blow it off, and I have not ever seen it personally happen but I am sure there is a way to get dust stuck behind your screen and that would be bad. Plus compressed air is usually really cold and has stuff in the can to make it work that you probably do not want in contact with your screen.



Windex or other glass/universal cleaners
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You know it will probably work just fine to get that screen nice and clean, but at what cost? Ammonia is probably a prime ingredient in there and its abrasive enough to ruin the finish on some screens, it could ruin the finish or even start to discolor it after extended amounts of time if you continue to use it. I think it would be safe on certian screens, but do you want to take the chance? Besides the water & alcohol combo above is cheaper anyways.


Drain Cleaner
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Haha, nobody has actually done this right? If you did, was it enjoyable to watch your screen melt?

 

Very nice guide. 5/5

 

I wonder...can you use those pieces of cloth that come with optical glasses? I have no idea whether they are microfibre cloths or not!

Cheers!

 

Hi.

99% of the time, I can remove the dust with the duster below, It is so gentle on the screen.

If it does not budge out comes the micro-fiber cloth and the cleaning spay.



regards

John.

 

Yeah I am really sure its a microfiber cloth, what ever it is its designed not to scratch your glasses so it should be just fine with your monitor. Abit of common sense and you will be ok.

Its things like paper towels that can seem to be soft (like when wet) but are actually abrasive that you should avoid at all cost, plus with a paper towel it likes to break apart and leave probably more partials on the screen than you started with.

 

What about small tissues for cleaning optical glasses, they are wet, probably alcohol or something but is that OK?
I'm cleaning with them and the result is very good but now I'm worried.

 

Its probably isopropyl alcohol & water, but you may want to see if you can find a label and make sure it doesn't have ammonia in it. Glasses are just glass and they do not suffer ill effects from it like a finish on a monitor can.

If you dont see damage already your probably fine, but if you find it does have other stuff in there that is possibly bad, dont use them anymore from here out.

 

I use microfiber or the same kind of cleaner for glasses and other LCDs.

 

help, would this be good to clean my Sager 9262 screen?

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/s...00001001&langId=-1&searchTerms=screen cleaner

if not then could you be tell me something that will be able to clean it safely, would any LCD cleaner work?

 

Yeah that will work, its supposed to be a pretty good one actually.

 

thats great. thanx

 

thansk for a cheap and simple solution!

 

ha, I was planning on opening this thread and seeing some elaborate guide. Needing this cleaner, that cloth, wipe up, down, side side, new cloth etc....

Soooo glad to see this simple, inexpensive and so very effective guide posted here. I have been cleaning all my screens this same way for years. Most of the "LCD Cleaners" out there are just a mixture of alcohol and water, some with coloring so you don't think it is just that simple mix.

My tip would be go to Walmart and look for 3M Microfiber dusting cloth. They come I believe in a 2 pack. And are GREAT cloths. Not all Microfiber cloths are made the same.

 

umm what is Drain cleaner?