Proper Way to Clean a Laptop Screen

An LCD (liquid crystal display) consists of a soft film that is very prone to damage from scratches, smudging, and clouding caused by the use of harsh cloths and improper cleaning agents. Don’t make the mistake of cleaning your laptop screen or LCD TV as you would clean a glass monitor or TV.

Don’t you miss that shiny new laptop look? Here's how to clean your own laptop screen using simple household ingredients. Most laptop manufacturers no longer recommend using products that contain alcohol, ammonia, or other strong solvents on LCD screens. Review the warnings in the section below before attempting to clean any LCD screen!

Take great care in the selection of the ingredients for your solution, the containers you are going to mix your solution in, and your choice of cleaning cloths. If you are unsure about any of the pieces mentioned above, then your safest path is to purchase a package of single use wet/dry commercially available wipes that are specifically for cleaning LCD and Plasma screens.

Things you will need

• Distilled water.
• A soft cotton cloth (a microfiber cloth is best).
• Use a Microfiber Cloth to remove any obvious dust and gently brush off any dirt particulars.
• An old cotton T-shirt, handkerchief or lint free cloth.
• It is recommended that you acquire the proper cleaning solutions and cloths to clean your LCDs.

Cross contamination

This happens when a wipe or cloth is used on more than one device or is reused multiple times. If the cloth used for cleaning becomes contaminated between cleanings, you can do permanent damage to a very expensive LCD or Plasma TV!

To eliminate the risk, be sure that the cloth that you select is clean.
Shut down your laptop before starting the cleaning process.
Shut down your laptop, unplug it from the power adapter, and remove the battery before cleaning it or you risk damaging the pixels in the LCD display.

Create a gentle cleaning solution

The ideal solution is plain distilled water. If more heavy cleaning is needed a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and distilled water can also be effective.
Note: Manufacturers no longer recommend using any cleaners with alcohol, ammonia or any strong solvents on LCD screens.

Put the solution in a small atomizer bottle, the type that you push from the top to get a fine mist. Never spray wet solutions directly on the screen itself.
Apply a minimal amount of the solution to a cotton cloth, such as an old T-shirt, lint-free microfiber or a very soft cloth. A fairly large cloth will help to reduce the risk of leaving streaks across the screen from finger pressure. Make the cloth moist, never wet. A wet cloth can drip or run and the solution can get behind the bezel and permanently damage your screen!

Apply a gentle and even pressure to the cloth and wipe against the screen in a circular, consistent motion. Use only enough pressure to keep the cloth in contact with the screen. Take care not to press your fingers into the cloth or screen. Too much force can permanently damage and render your screen unusable.

Tips to remember

NEVER spray ANY solution directly onto your screen!. Any solution that drips or runs down the screen can short out or otherwise permanently damage your screen! ALWAYS apply your solution only to your cleaning cloth! Never spray solution directly on the screen.

Immediately, wipe off any excess solution with a soft cloth.
Never use paper tissues, napkins, and other paper products; they will leave flakes of paper on your monitor and may even scratch the soft film.
Tap water can leave mineral spots on your screen.
Isopropyl alcohol free lens cleaner for eyeglasses, is safe to clean your LCD monitor. Check the label to see if it contains “Isopropyl alcohol" first.

Caution

Avoid using products such as Windex because these contain ammonia, alcohol, or both and they can degrade the LCD panel.

Shut down your laptop, unplug it from the power adapter, and remove the battery before cleaning it or you risk damaging the pixels in the LCD display.

Use only enough pressure to hold your cleaning wipe on the screen. NEVER press hard, scrub, or scour when cleaning an LCD screen. This can cause permanent damage to the screen.

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