The Proper Way to Clean LCD Screens Of Your Laptop or Flat Screen Monitors
The TFT or LCD screen is one of the most expensive component of your notebook or desktop computer and they're very sensitive to dust, fingerprints or even when you cough or sneeze without covering the mouth and nose.
Unlike the standard CRT monitors with Glass screens, you are not advised to clean an LCD Monitor by wiping it with a piece of dry lint-free cloth since the sensitive display is likely to get scratches from dust particles.
So how do you clean an LCD monitor screen without buying any of those expensive LCD Monitor Cleaner solutions or Monitor Wipes available in the market ? We look at some proper methods and precautions before you clean the monitor [should apply to HDTVs, projection TVs and Plasma TVs as well]
Think of LCD Displays just like the soft and delicate skin of your newborn baby - Be very gentle and never put even the slightest pressure on the computer screen with your hand.
Second, you need to find a piece of soft cloth - old cotton handkerchiefs lying in your mom's wardrobe should be fine but don't try tissue papers, toilet rolls or even shower towels as the fabric will scratch your screen permanently [like sandpaper or utensil scrubbers]
Either turn the monitor off or set the background to black and hide all the desktop icons and minimize the open windows. This will easily help you identify the dirty areas of the monitor.
To prepare the solution for cleaning LCD monitors, you will need deionized or distilled water and vinegar or iso-propyl alcohol - Don't use tap water or mineral water as they could leave white marks on the screen because of the dissolved salts.
Dilute the vinegar or IPA with distilled water [1:1] and spray this liquid on the cloth. Never ever spray liquid directly onto the LCD screen. Moisten the cloth with this home made LCD cleaner and gently move the wet cloth in just one direction - from top to bottom.
Word of Caution: Be sure that the LCD screen is dry before closing it or using the computer. Do not use any solutions that contain Acetone, ethyl alcohol, toluene, ethyl acid, ammonia, or methyl chloride. Never touch the LCD screen with your fingers as this can cause the pixels to burn out.
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Reader Comments:
Amit - thanks so much for this. Just one question - is it advisable to put a cover (the usual plastic type) on the LCD TV to prevent dust, moisture, etc ? Appreciate your help. Thanks.
LCD Covers are fine as long as you find one from a good company that fits your screen size.
Instructables has DIY instructions to create a LCD Monitor cover from a piece of acrylic plexiglass.
If that sounds too much work, there are some good LCD screen protectors available on OfficeWorld but I am not sure if they are available in India.
BTW, someone suggested that you can use a dilute solution of mild soap or even baby shampoo if isopropyl alcohol is not available. Even Colin should do but don't spray directly on the LCD panel.
Thanks!!! Now, I know the reason behind those white dots on my laptop screen lol
Very helpful.
Thanks
Deep
Thanks Amit. That was very useful.
@Aish, Deep - Glad you enjoyed this tip. Happy clean computing :)
Absolut for cleaning!! Can we cheaper brands than Absolut? :p
Useful Tip Amit
this tip should get my laptop clean from now on
Thanks Amit. As always, you're the best.
Thanks for this.I've tried so many cleaners and they all leave streaks.
Heh heh.. Absolute Vodka!.. Nice one Amit :) Our family is Muslim, so we don't quite drink alcohols..but we bought some of those empty bottles once to keep flowers and stuff like that. I guess, we should buy a real bottle full of vodka just to clean our LCDs.
NO no no no... Vodka is ETHYL Alcohol, not isopropal alcohol. That is specifically what you don't recommened. It might dissolve the anitglare coating.
Plain clean water works just fine and is the safest solvent. It doesn't dissolve finger oil, but you should be able to rub that off fairly easily.
I used an eyeglass cleaner sprayed on a very very very soft cloth, dabbed very gently on a couple of spots that were on the screen, and it left streaks.
How do I get rid of these streaks?
...A good start.
A colleague highly recommended a few Shaggymac products.
The Shaggy screen protector and Optimist Prime lcd cleaner are excellent...
http://www.shaggymac.com
Article updated with inputs from Jim:
"To prepare the solution for cleaning LCD monitors, you will need deionized or distilled water and vinegar or iso-propyl alcohol [a bottle of vodka should do]..."
but then later write:
"Do not use any solutions that contain Acetone, ethyl alcohol, toluene, ethyl acid, ammonia, or methyl chloride."
As noted in a comment to your article, vodka (and other alcoholic beverages) contain ethyl alcohol (ethanol).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol
So which is it? Should the screen cleaner use ethyl alcohol or avoid it?
You really ought to correct that article!
for anyone who doesn't know how to cough or sneeze without covering their computer or laptop screen with body fluids, check out my how to sneeze page (with video)
http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sneeze.html
db
Hi there! I learnt a lot about blogging from your site, a lot of the tips have been very helpful. My blog is all setup now, but I have to say, that my specialty is HD displays, and you should not use any solution to clean an LCD. You actually shouldn't use just any cloth material either as the plastic or glass can get minute scratches or blemishes. You should use specific LCD cleaning clothes, they are made out of the same material of the cleaning cloth your get when you buy reading glasses (microfiber). Please feel free to take a look at my Blog:
http://easyhdtv.blogspot.com/
Cheers!
Hey Mr. Amit these are really nice tips to clean LCD Tv. Thanks Man!
That's a pretty good article - except I'd like to add some of my own tips.
I've found that buying LCD cleaning kits like MonsterCleaner that come with an LCD cleaning solution and micro-fiber cloth work really well on LCDs with the glossy coating on them. I don't think, however, that you should be 'gentle' when cleaning the screens. I've had to put a lot of force to clean my LCDs and that's never caused a problem as long as you spread the force with you're entire hand (i.e. don't poke the screen with your finger too hard, that will cause problems). Otherwise if you're gentle, you just spread the cleaning solution around and it dries all streaky.
For LCDs with the anti-glare coating, no matter what cleaning solution I use, it leaves streaks. Even cleaners specifically for flat-panels. If I spray the solution on and rub with a lot of force - in one direction like up and down - that seams to leave less residue but there's still some left near the corners and such where it's hard to get to.
If anyone has a solution that will not leave streaks on LCDs with anti-glare coatings at all, I'd be really greatful.
-Cody 7
Ok people, last and best suggestion is a square of soft toilet tissue or kleenex moistened w/vinegar. Wipe lightly over the entire laptop surface than dry with a dry piece of toilet tissue or soft kleenex. Charmin is the softest TP and least likely to scratch. Removes any fingerprints and is safe. Do -not- use -any- solvents at all! Do not even chance it and you're wasting your money w/the LCD wipes.
Guys, here is what you should do to get your high-gloss LCD computer screen to SHINE LIKE A MIRROR with 0 streaks. I use Isoprophyl(70%) and dilute it with 50% water. First, get 2 microfiber cloths handy or at least 1 big one. Don't even dream of using tissue xxxxx or paper towel. Make sure the microfiber cloths are reasonably clean. Fold the cloths into small 3x2 inch squares. Mist the clothes very lightly unless you have some heavy grime on them. Of course, make sure the screen is off or very near black. Wipe in a circular motion in ZONES. Only do about 2 square inches at a time. DO NOT put pressure on the screen. The weight of your hand should be plenty. Next, do the same thing to the "wet" zone with the dry cloth. The key is to do it lightly with small circular buffing dividing the screen up into zones. Don't try to clean the whole thing at once. It is good if you spend 40 minutes doing this.
Good tips. Thinking of it, I have never cleaned my LCD screen before.
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