Computer Monitor Cleaning Tips and Recipes – How to Clean a Laptop Screen

Dirt, dust, and fingerprint smudges aren't going to do any long-term damage to your monitor, but they certainly might distract you while trying to headshot Tracer in Overwatch. Let's face it, your monitor is filthy—it's time to clean it.

 

You might think that cleaning your monitor is easy, and you're right. But the process is slightly more complicated than just wiping it with the corner of your t-shirt—or even worse, a paper towel. Here are a few do's and don'ts:

How not to damage your monitor

PC Gamer is going back to the basics with a series of guides, how-tos, and deep dives into PC gaming's core concepts that we're calling The Complete Guide to PC Gaming. There's much more to come, and it's all being made possible by Razer, which stepped up to support this months-long project. Thanks, Razer!

Before we start, let's go over a few big no-no's, as accidentally damaging your monitor is a pricey mistake we want to avoid. 

First off, avoid corrosive substances! That means no alcohol- or ammonia-based cleaners (like diluted rubbing alcohol or Windex). These cleaners can damage your screen by stripping anti-reflective coatings, cause clouding, or worse. Monitors have come a long way from the giant glass bulbs of old-school CRT screens, but that means they're a lot more sensitive too. 

Next, be careful what you use to wipe the screen. Paper towels might seem like a good option, but at a microscopic level, they're actually quite abrasive. Ditto to t-shirts or other household rags, which might be harboring a stowaway spec of sand, metal, or something else that could scratch up your display in a single wipe. 

Finally, you never want to spray your cleaning agent directly onto your monitor. Excess liquid runs the risk of pooling in the corner of your screen, seeping in through tiny weak spots and wreaking havoc on the sensitive materials inside. 

How to clean your PC monitor

With those words of warning aside, let's get down to the business of cleaning that monitor. For simple dustings, a blast of compressed air (the same stuff you use to knock dust out of your case fans) should do the trick, possibly followed up by a quick dry wipe-down.

As for what you wipe with, microfiber cloth is your best friend. Microfiber is extremely soft (at a microscopic level) and known for attracting dust and absorbing oils. Most importantly, it won't damage your screen. We like these, or these if you want to step up to a more plush option.

Of course, make sure the cloth is clean before you use it, and be particularly careful of any grit getting on the fibers. A single speck of dirt or sand could do more harm than all your careful preparation. Depending on your environment, you might be able to use the same cloth for weeks, or it might need to be swapped out after just a few uses.

For a little bit of extra cleaning power, slightly dampen your cloth with distilled water (no impurities to cause accidental damage), but not so much that water can be wrung out of it. Remember, we don't want liquid to run down the screen and collect in the edges and corners. If water alone isn't doing the trick, mix a cleaning solution of 50 percent distilled water, 50 percent white household vinegar. Same deal as before—apply liquid to the cloth, not the screen.

When wiping your screen, try to avoid circular motions or buffing a single particular spot. Instead, use light pressure and wide, sweeping motions from side to side or top to bottom. It might seem trivial, but again these are sensitive electronics we're cleaning, and better to be mindful of your technique than buff in a costly repair.

7 Computer Monitor Cleaning Tips and Recipes – How to Clean a Laptop Screen

When it comes to your weekly house cleaning chores, it probably doesn’t occur to you that your laptop screen could use some attention. If you tend to leave it open too long, you may notice a layer of dust clouding your display, or your keyboard may have transferred some gunk and oil directly to the center of the screen.

When it comes time to clean your laptop screen, you may think it’s okay to spray Windex on your monitor, but this can cause irreparable damage to your LCD screen. Learn how to clean laptop screen and keep it free of dirt and dust particles.  

It doesn’t take long for a laptop to start looking old and tired, from the smudged screen to a filthy keyboard to dusty, dirty vents and ports. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can use the same multi-purpose cleaner that you use to clean your mirrors and windows.

Many of these products contain ammonia, which can cause damage to the screen. Here’s what to use to clean computer screen. You can make a homemade laptop screen cleaner that will banish dust and remove oily fingerprints without damaging the screen.

How to Clean a Computer Screen – How to Clean a Laptop Screen

When it comes to knowing how to clean LCD monitor, the process is relatively easy to complete. The first thing that you need to do is to turn the computer off and unplug the monitor to eliminate the risk of getting shocked or causing electrical damage during the cleaning process.

1. DIY Laptop Screen Cleaner

In a spray bottle, mix the white vinegar and distilled water. It is essential that you use the right kind of water to avoid leaving mineral markings on your screen. Then follow the steps for how best to clean computer screen that is outlined below.

2. Try Dry-Wiping First

The first step to clean a laptop or MacBook screen is to dry-wipe the monitor with a soft, lint-free cloth. You never want to use paper towels, tissue paper, toilet paper or old rags.

These items can end up scratching the screen or leaving grooves in the screen that can’t be fixed. Carefully wipe down the screen, being sure to get along the sides and in the corners.

3. Don’t Press Too Hard

If the dirt doesn’t lift right off while you are dry wiping, don’t try to apply more pressure to wipe the screen clean. LCD monitors, big screen TVs, and laptop screens are extremely sensitive and applying too much pressure when cleaning them could result in irreparable damage being done to the screen.

When you use too much pressure on these sensitive screens, you can destroy the pixels.

4. Don’t Use Chemicals

When it comes to cleaning solutions for your computer screen, you don’t want to use ammonia, like Windex, rubbing alcohol, or anything that contains acetone or ethyl alcohol. These chemicals will adversely affect the coating that is used on LCD screens and flat-screen TVs.

If you decide to use a solution to clean the screen, the DIY laptop screen cleaner mentioned at the beginning of the article, or the one found below is your best bet.

5. Homemade LCD Monitor Cleaner

In a spray bottle, pour the distilled water and isopropyl alcohol. Replace the top and shake to combine. Spray the cleaning solution directly onto a clean, microfiber cloth.

Gently rub the cloth, using a circular motion over the affected area.

6. Don’t Spray Directly onto the Screen

When you spray your cleaning solution directly onto the screen, the liquid will run down the screen and get into the bezels, giving the liquid direct access to the inside of your TV or monitor.

While you might be quick enough to catch it before it does more damage, it’s better to spray your cleaning solution on a microfiber cloth and wipe the screen down instead of directly applying the screen. This is especially true when cleaning the screen of your laptop.

7. Always Unplug the Device First

You always want to unplug the device before you begin the process of cleaning it, for two reasons. The first is that when the device is unplugged, it’s easier to see the dust and dirt on the black background of the screen and secondly if you do use a liquid cleaning solution, you want to reduce the chances of getting shocked.

How to Wipe a Laptop Down

If your laptop sees a lot of use, you may need to clean more than just the screen. The dirt, dust, oil, and crumbs that can get into your laptop can start to cause performance problems for your laptop. The best way to keep your computer running smoothly is to clean it on a regular basis.

There are five general areas on a computer that you need to clean, the case, the screen, the keyboard, the ports, and the cooling vents.

The first thing that you need to do is turn your laptop off and unplug it from the wall outlet. You can start by cleaning the laptop case using a damp cloth to wipe down the exterior. Then open the laptop up and gently wipe down the sides and the area around the keyboard.

Using a clean microfiber cloth and one of the cleaning solutions mentioned above, clean the LCD screen using gentle motions starting at the top and working your way down.

You can use a can of compressed air to clean the dirt, dust, and crumbs, from the keyboard and around the touchpad. If you don’t have a can of compressed air, you can turn your laptop over and gently shake out any loose dirt, running your fingers over the keys to dislodge any dirt or crumbs stuck underneath. Dip a cloth in isopropyl alcohol and gently wipe down the key surfaces to remove any oil and other substances that may have built-up on the keys.

Using the compressed can of air, clean the case openings, including the ports and cooling vents. To avoid the debris blowing into the computer, spray from an angle. When spraying the fans, be careful not to spray too hard to avoid hard liquid getting into the fan blades.

Finally, allow the laptop to air dry. Ensure that it is completely dry before you plug it back in and turn it on. If you feel comfortable enough, open your laptop up to expose the fan and heatsink. Cleaning the cooling system with a can of compressed air can help solve problems with the laptop overheating and related issues like your laptop having issues shutting down or freezing.

Cleaning your computer’s monitor on a regular basis will help you see the display more clearly. Whether you’re trying to get rid of the dust that has accumulated on the screen or eliminate the fingerprint smudges that are taking over the display, cleaning your laptop screen and computer monitor requires the right tools and the right touch.

If you don’t know the proper procedure for cleaning your screen, it will only be a matter of time before you damage it. Following the appropriate steps and using the right materials will help you to avoid damage, scratches, and clouding that will send your monitor to an early grave.

https://computersolutiontools.blogspot.com/2018/12/computer-monitor-cleaning-tips-and.html