Cleaning the laptop screen

[Willow]

Exactly how do you clean a laptop screen? Do you just get a damp paper towel and wipe off the crap, or is there some kind of cleaning solution I need to buy?

Help is appreciated :3

 

[CaptainCool]

slightly wet microfaber cloths work best in my opinion. everything else just leaves the screen even dirtier that it was XD regular towels or paper towles usually leave a lot of dust on the screen...
there are also cleaning kits for LCD screens available but they arent worth their money imo

 

[ToeClaws]

Windex? Unless the screen has some very special sort of coating on it that specifically forbids the use of normal window cleaners, Windex (or it's many no-name equivalents) works fine. Just use a fine paper towel or microfiber cloth.

 

[TashkentFox]

I just use all-purpose wet wipes.

 

[Aden]

Yeah I just use Windex and a paper towel

 

[CyberFoxx]

Baby wipes. Just good ol' baby wipes is what I use to clean any of my computer/electronic stuff. Hell, damn things will even start taking the nicotine stains out of the old beige PC cases. But they are perfect for screens, they don't leave streaks. Plus, they leave things smelling baby fresh! ^_^

 

[Runefox]

I usually use "gel" screen cleaner so that it doesn't run all over the place when I spray it, but really anything works. I think I can recall at least one or two times when rubbing alcohol was used to clean screens at my old job, but I don't think I ever did that.

On that note, I'm hard-pressed to recall exactly what the mixture is, but liquid fabric softener plus water equals a pretty decent shield for electronics that repels dust.

 

[AshleyAshes]

Windex? Unless the screen has some very special sort of coating on it that specifically forbids the use of normal window cleaners, Windex (or it's many no-name equivalents) works fine. Just use a fine paper towel or microfiber cloth.

Absolutely not. Windex is a glass cleaner and it contains ingerdiants including alcohol that can make plastics on LCD screens yellow or become brittle and fractures to form

You should absolutely not use a glass cleaner on any LCD screen unless it's behind glass.

 

[Willow]

Absolutely not. Windex is a glass cleaner and it contains ingerdiants including alcohol that can make plastics on LCD screens yellow or become brittle and fractures to form

You should absolutely not use a glass cleaner on any LCD screen unless it's behind glass.

I'm pretty sure my screen's not behind glass...but I can't tell..

 

[Runefox]

I'm pretty sure my screen's not behind glass...but I can't tell..

Most LCD screens aren't. Traditional CRT's usually were, though you could easily end up stripping/fouling the anti-glare coatings of those, too, with harsher cleaners. Not to say they won't work (they do), it's just somewhat risky depending on what you're looking at using on what.

 

[AshleyAshes]

Most LCD screens aren't. Traditional CRT's usually were, though you could easily end up stripping/fouling the anti-glare coatings of those, too, with harsher cleaners. Not to say they won't work (they do), it's just somewhat risky depending on what you're looking at using on what.

Did I ever tell you about the guy that tried to clean sticker residue off a CRT screen using steel wool? XD

 

[TIM-ber-wolf]

I use 90% Isopropyl. The great thing is that when the screen is clean, clean the rest of the laptop with it- it cleans off fingerprints and other residues.

 

[hitokage]

Absolutely not. Windex is a glass cleaner and it contains ingerdiants including alcohol that can make plastics on LCD screens yellow or become brittle and fractures to form

You should absolutely not use a glass cleaner on any LCD screen unless it's behind glass.

This is a YMMV thing - some of us have never had a problem, while others have. There are many additional factors that could be the reason for trouble - such as how often it being cleaned, how it's cleaned, the amount of the cleaner being used, the screen itself, the age, other things it's exposed to, etc.

 

[net-cat]

I usually use "gel" screen cleaner so that it doesn't run all over the place when I spray it

This is critical. You can use just about anything on any screen. (My old laptop recommended a very dilute solution of Isopropyl.) Whatever you use, though, it should be sprayed on the towel or rag and not directly onto the screen. Cleaners tend to run after applied and they can get down into the electronics. And no matter what you use, that is a Bad Thing[sup]TM[/sup].

 

[Duality Jack]

microfiber cloth and weak rubbing alcohol (water it down) so it evaporates fast and cleans nicely