How to Clean an LCD Screen
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Want a Clean LCD Screen?
The “L” in LCD stands for “liquid,” and what holds this liquid in is not a glass plate like you remember having on your big, heavy CRT or television. It’s soft plastic, and you’ve got to treat it very delicately.
So, first of all, let’s decide what we don’t use to clean it:
- Anything containing bleach or ammonia, such as Windex. That will react with the plastic and make the plastic screen become cloudy and discolored.
- Anything sharp, pointy or abrasive.
How to Clean an LCD Screen
Your easiest choice is one of those LCD cleaning solutions they sell in places where they sell computers. But they’re expensive, and why bother when you can make your own solution for next to nothing?
What you’ll need:
- Distilled water (available at your supermarket; tap water leaves streaks and minerals).
- White vinegar (you may substitute isopropyl alcohol; either way, make sure these substances are diluted before they come near your screen).
- A clean, soft cloth (never use any kind of paper product).
- A spray bottle.
Directions:
- In the spray bottle, mix the distilled water and alcohol/vinegar, in a 1:1 ratio.
- Turn off the LCD display.
- Spray the mixture onto the cloth, never directly onto the screen.
- Wipe gently – oh, so gently – from top to bottom. Do it horizontally, too, if you think that leaves a cleaner result.
- Let the screen dry before turning it back on.
Hands Off!
Fingers leave dirt and oil smudges that must be cleaned off. Also, every time you touch the screen you risk doing damage to those tiny creatures inside that hold the colored flashlights. Keep your fingers to yourself.
Tips
I appologize for not having a tip, rather i do have a question. I had a lcd tv wich used to look all nice and perfect. All of the sudden a big yellow stain appear on the scree. I came to find out that one day my mother came to visit to my place, she decide to help out with the cleaning and she apply windex to my TV. Ever since we havent been able to remove this stain. Does someone know if there is a way to remove this stain. Or im stuck with it forever?
Thank you kindly
Tony
Some one at Target told me that a little drop od dawn dish soap and water works great. I’ve been cleaning my LCD TV that way for a while now and it looks and works great.
I’m got a problem that few if any others will have encountered: in a modern museum setting, we have several large LCD monitors that are routinely exposed to small quantities of water mist (from a simulated flash flood exhibit). During design, the quantities of water were deemed insignificant, but over time we’ve found the build-up of mineral deposits (”hard water stains”) in the form of droplets on the screens has become a problem. Does anyone have any suggestions? I’m reluctant to try any of the acidic, off-the-shelf hard water stain removers that you might use in your shower, but I’m open to any suggestions.
Sorry all, but I have one related question rater than a tip. I am interested in advice on how to clean the “solid” stuff from the LCD screen. You see, it’s that during all these years, there were many “little dots” of such stuff (like small coagulated pieces of coffe etc.) that I accidentally spilled or whatever, and now they’re spread all over my screen.
Best regards and thanks for any reply in advance!!
Tadej, Ljubljana, Slovenia
I use terrycloth dust cloths that are like magnets for dust and dirt. They are reuseable and environmentally smart. I have seen them in stores but bought mine from a catalog. You can’t go wrong.
I use dryer sheets as well. Yay for recycling! I also use a cloth that is used to clean my eyeglasses.
I buy a product for cleaning sunglasses called Viva, Ive used it for several years and it works great. For dusting the screen, I’ve used the anti-static anti-cling sheets you would otherwise use in a dryer. They also do well with no ill effects.
I’ve used “Glass Plus” on my laptop and my 19″ LCD for about four years now. I also use the brown paper towels that are on a roll. They are used in the dispensers in bathrooms. I get the end of the roll before it is dscarted.
I work in a lab and use 95% ethanol and chemwipes (paper-based) to clean my laptop screen all the time. Works fine and still looks great.