Computer screens tend to naturally attract dust and easily accumulate all other types of dirt that become visible over time and manage to make it unattractive and sometimes inconvenient to view. It is important to clean your laptop screen with non-aggressive products, as their surface can be easily damaged. The use of microfiber cloths and a simple solution of water and vinegar will suffice if you do not have cleaning products specifically intended for this use.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: dust the screen with a microfiber cloth
Step 1. Shut down your computer and disconnect it from its AC adapter and battery
Cleaning a live screen can cause irreversible damage, so don't take any risks and disconnect it from any power source. Don't just leave it on standby.
Step 2. Look for a microfiber cloth
This accessory is made from a very soft fabric that leaves no fibers behind. If you use a piece of a used T-shirt or other clothing, it can leave lint on the screen surface, or even scratch it in some cases.
- Do not use rags of paper either. Never use facial tissues, toilet paper, or other cellulose-based papers, as they are relatively abrasive and will leave scratches on your screen.
- Microfiber cloths are useful for cleaning all types of screens and lenses used in optics.
Step 3. Gently dust off the screen with the cloth
A pass without pressing with the cloth is enough to sweep away dust particles and anything that does not adhere to the surface of the screen. Wipe without exerting any pressure, as some dust particles can be abrasive enough to scratch the surface of the screen which would be damaged.
- Wiping with a light circular motion will allow you to remove the most important stains.
- Never rub the screen, as you could destroy pixels by electrostatic effect.
Step 4. Then clean the edge of the screen with a non-corrosive solution
If the screen frame surface is dirty, you can wash it with a regular household cleaner and a paper towel. Just be careful not to touch the visible surface of the screen.
Step 5. Store your laptop, leaving a microfiber cloth in it
This is a great way to keep your computer in good condition and to prevent the keyboard from leaving “fingerprints” on the screen. Use a clean microfiber cloth for this that you will carefully place on the keyboard before closing it.
Part 2 of 3: use a cleaning solution
Step 1. Shut down your computer and disconnect it from its AC adapter and battery
As this method uses a cleaning liquid, it is imperative to disconnect the device from any source of electrical energy.
Step 2. Make up a non-aggressive cleaning solution
The ideal solution is to use pure distilled water, which contains no chemicals and is not harsh on the screen surface. If the stains resist you and the cleaning needs to be a little "heavier", a 50% mixture of this water with white vinegar will be effective.
- Make sure you are using pure white vinegar and not apple cider or other vinegar (the most suitable vinegar is known as "alcohol vinegar")
- Distilled water is better suited for this purpose than tap water because it does not contain any chemicals.
- Manufacturers do not recommend the use of alcohol, ammonia, or solvent based cleaners on LCD screens.
Step 3. Pour the solution into a spray bottle
It is a vaporizer model on which you have to press to obtain a small mist of product, resembling certain perfume bottles. Pour the cleaning solution into the bottle and close it. However, do not use it to spray liquid directly onto the screen.
Step 4. Apply a tiny bit of this solution to a microfiber cloth
An anti-static cloth without fibers will be the most appropriate. Remember not to use a regular cleaning cloth, as it may scratch the screen. Above all, do not soak it, just moisten it and that is why we will only use a vaporizer.
- A soaked cloth will drip or run liquid on the surface and may allow some solution to seep between the bezel and the screen, potentially damaging it permanently.
- Try to apply the solution to only part of the laundry to be sure you do not wet it completely.
Step 5. Run your damp cloth over the screen surface in a circular motion
Slightly faster circular movements will allow you to make the trail marks disappear. Lightly press the entire surface of your cloth, just enough so that it is in good contact with the surface of the screen. Be careful not to press on it with your fingers, as too much localized pressure can damage the LCD matrix of the screen and render it unusable.
- In order to prevent liquid from dripping towards the edges of the screen, keep it in a horizontal position and facing upwards during the cleaning process.
- You may have to make several passes on the screen surface to remove all the marks, until the surface appears completely uniform. Depending on the number of passes you need to perform, you may need to dampen your cloth several times.
Part 3 of 3: What to absolutely avoid
Step 1. Never wet the screen directly
Under no circumstances should you spray water or other products directly on the surface of the screen. This would greatly increase the risk of water seeping into the machine and causing short circuits. Use liquid only by dampening a soft cloth and using no other means.
Do not soak the cloth in water. A soaked cloth is more likely to drop its excess water on the screen, which will cause serious damage to the computer. If you accidentally drop your cloth in the water, wring it out well until it's only slightly damp
Step 2. Do not use any conventional cleaning product on your screen
The only cleaners that are sufficiently safe are the mixture of distilled water and vinegar as mentioned above and possibly products purchased for cleaning LCD screens from a retailer of computer hardware. Complete kits are sold there for this purpose. Do not use the following products under any circumstances.
- Glass cleaner. These products could be used for cleaning cathode ray tube screens that were made of glass, but they can attack the surface of LCD screens.
- So-called "universal" cleaners and scouring powders. These are generally abrasive products that can scratch the surface of your screen.
- Dish soap or any other type of soap.
Step 3. Never rub your screen
This would be permanently damaged if you were to press too hard. Lightly rub your screen in a circular motion to clean it. Do not use anything other than a very soft cloth to clean your screen. Especially no brush or any other accessory and even less scouring pads (it has been seen!).
Advice
- Tissues, towels, handkerchiefs, and other paper-based household products will leave cellulose flakes on your monitor. It is strongly recommended not to use them because the wood fibers they contain can scratch polished surfaces.
- NEVER VAPORIZE any product DIRECTLY on your screen! The sides of the LCD and plasma screens are fitted with microscopic connectors. Any liquid dripping or streaking towards these connections can cause short circuits or other irreversible damage to your display. You must ONLY apply your solution to a cleaning cloth!
- Do not use tap water so as not to cause the appearance of mineral stains on your screen. These stains are highly abrasive, very delicate to remove and will always leave a halo.
- If you are a photographer, you can use the non-fiber cloths used to clean the lenses of your cameras instead of a soft cotton cloth.
- If you have eyeglass lens cleaners, check that they do not contain a product called "Isopropanol". If it contains any, do not use it on your LCD monitor, as this will attack the plastic material on the screen surface.
- For hard-to-reach places, such as corners, use cotton swabs lightly moistened with the cleaning solution.
- If you apply too much cleaning solution and you see streaks of liquid appear, wipe it off immediately with a soft, dry cloth and apply less the next time.
- Clean the stains by letting them get a little damp, wipe off and repeat if necessary. Be patient and don't get upset pressing down to make it go away.
Warnings
- If in doubt, test on a small part of the screen.
- Squeeze just enough to hold your cleaning cloth on the screen. Never press too hard, rub, or strip when cleaning an LCD screen because you could permanently damage it.
- Do not use paper towels, as these are made from wood fibers and can scratch the LCD screen.
- Do not use any ammonia or alcohol based cleaners as they can attack the surface of your LCD screen.
- Turn off your laptop, disconnect it from its AC adapter and battery, and in general from any power source before cleaning it, as you may cause short circuits, disappearance of pixels, or permanent local discoloration of the laptop. your LCD screen.
- The disposable wet towels contained in commercially available LCD cleaning kits solve most of the problems mentioned above. Towels are moistened with an adequate amount of cleaning solution and will not leave streaks of liquid on the screen. These towels are guaranteed to be fiber-free and will not leave marks when used according to the directions on their packaging.