How To Clean An LCD TV Screen, Computer Monitor And Laptop At Home

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

How to clean an LCD screen at home: an overview of methods and tools

There are more and more equipment in our homes, including equipment with LCD screens - televisions, monitors, telephones, laptops. Due to static electricity, a lot of dust settles on them, and touchscreens are dirty with fingerprints. All this spoils the picture shown by them and has a bad effect on the operation of the equipment, so it is important to remember to regularly clean the LCD screens.

Content

• 1 How to know when it's time to clean the screen

  1.1 How Often Should You Clean Your LCD Screen

• 2 What not to do if the LCD screen is dirty

• 3 How to clean the LCD screen of a TV, laptop and computer at home

  • 3.1 Methods for surface cleaning with special agents

  • 3.2 Cleaning options in the absence of special products

    • 3.2.1 What fabrics can be used
    • 3.2.2 Video: Cleaning Laptop Screen with Microfiber
    • 3.2.3 What household products can be used
    • 3.2.4 Video: Cleaning the Monitor with Dishwashing Liquid
    • 3.2.5 How to clean stubborn dirt
• 4 Where to go if self-cleaning of the LCD screen is ineffective
• 5 Pollution prevention measures
• 6 Reviews

How to know when it's time to clean the screen

Most people regularly look at the LCD screens of various devices - smartphones, computers, TVs. Not only the perception of information, but also the vision of a person depends on how well the screens transmit the image.

Reasons for the screen getting dirty:

• Dust is actively attracted to LCD screens due to static electricity;
• there are traces of insects;
• even clean fingers leave traces, what can we say about those cases when they are somehow soiled;
• improper cleaning can leave streaks or streaks.

If spots appear on the screen that noticeably spoil the picture, or a layer of dust has accumulated, then it's time to arrange it for cleaning. But the traces are not always so obvious, and sometimes even subtle dirt can degrade the image. To assess the state of the screen, you should look at it from the side or when it is off when it does not emit light.

Dirt and dust on the LCD screen degrades the picture and affects your eyesight

How often to clean the LCD screen

There are two extremes - either arrange a complete cleaning of the monitor when the slightest speck appears, or wave your hand at it and wipe it only when the picture behind a layer of dirt is no longer visible. Both of these paths are wrong if we want to extend the life of the monitor and enjoy its high-quality performance - too frequent cleaning of the screen negatively affects its protective properties, and for long-term contamination, it requires aggressive means to remove.

The best options would be a combination of two types of cleaning:

• as it gets dirty - carefully remove found traces and stains;
• preventively - once a week, completely wipe the monitor.

What not to do if the LCD is dirty

There is a list of actions that should never be done when cleaning a dirty LCD screen:

• clean a working monitor - you do not need to turn it off from the network (and if it is a computer monitor, then do not disconnect the entire computer), but the screen itself must be extinguished;
• turn on the screen immediately after wiping, without waiting for it to dry;
• spray the cleaner directly onto the screen;
• press on the screen during cleaning, try to scrape off dirt.

In no case should you spray a cleaning agent on the screen - liquid can get inside and break the device

In order to remove dirt, the following materials must not be used:

• wet sanitary napkins - they leave streaks;
• paper napkins, towels, newspapers - they can easily scratch the screen;
• any rigid materials.

In addition, there is a list of products that in no case should be used when cleaning the LCD screen, if you want it to continue to work with the same quality after cleaning:

• alcohol-containing products - it is very easy to spoil the monitor matrix with them;
• household chemicals - they are too aggressive to be used for such delicate equipment;
• solvents - acetone, white spirit and other aggressive agents will ruin the screen;
• abrasive powders - they will scratch the screen;
• tap water - it can contain various impurities and contaminants.

How to clean an LCD TV screen, laptop and computer at home

It is difficult to argue with the fact that for cleaning such fragile equipment as LCD screens, it is better to use special products designed specifically for them. But wipes or sprays are far from always at hand at the moment when it becomes necessary to wipe the screen. Then household rags and some liquids available in the house are used.

Methods for surface cleaning with special agents

In electronics stores, you can find special wipes for cleaning LCD screens. They have an antistatic effect (that is, after using them, the screen ceases to attract dust to itself), do not contain substances hazardous to the screen - alcohol and solvents. The wipes will not scratch the monitor and will not leave streaks or streaks on the screen.

Dry, lint-free wipes can remove dust from the screen and remove light dirt. They are usually made of microfiber, which is known for its streak-free properties.

If wipes, dry or soaked with a special composition, cannot cope with dirt, then you can use professional means for cleaning the LCD screen. They are available in various form factors - gel, foam, aerosol. These products allow you to remove contaminants of various origins, of any age and size. In addition to cleaning properties, they are antistatic, which allows you to keep the screen clean for a long time. You can purchase special products at electronics stores or computer departments. A wide range of these tools will allow you to choose what you need for any budget.

It is important to remember that all cleaning products are not applied directly to the screen, but to a cloth used to further clean the screen

Cleaning options in the absence of special products

Even if there are no anti-static wipes or special cleaning products in the house, it is not at all necessary to leave the screen dirty. Cleaning rags and household products, which are usually easy to find in the house, will come to the rescue. It is worth remembering that not every fabric and not every product can be used, since LCD screens require careful handling.

What fabrics can be used

The main difference between fabrics that can be used to clean LCD screens is their softness. Under no circumstances should you wipe the screen with hard or rough materials - they can easily damage the fragile outer coating of the screen.

A regular microfiber cloth is great. These materials can be purchased at any store in the cleaning department, rather than wasting time searching for the right fabric in specialized electronics departments. It can be used to simply wipe off the dust or moisten the screen with a cleaning fluid, removing traces of dirt and stains. In addition to cleaning products, cloths for cleaning glasses are also made of microfiber - they are also suitable for cleaning LCD screens.

Microfiber does not leave streaks and effectively removes various types of dirt

Instead of microfiber, it is perfectly acceptable to use soft flannel or fleece fabric.

Video: Cleaning Laptop Screen with Microfiber

What household products can be used

Plain table vinegar is indispensable in the home cleaning process. It can also be used to clean LCD screens - it will remove grease stains that are difficult to remove with other methods. However, it is undesirable to use vinegar regularly - there is a risk of damaging the screen. The screen is wiped as follows:

1. Mixed in equal parts 3% vinegar and pure distilled water.
2. A suitable cloth is wetted in the resulting solution.
3. The fabric is wrung out so that it remains damp but does not drip off.
4. Wipe the screen in a circular motion.
5. Another cloth is moistened in clean water and wrung out thoroughly.
6. Use this cloth to carefully wipe the screen to remove traces of vinegar.
7. Use a clean, dry cloth to wipe the screen dry.

To get a 3% vinegar solution, you need to mix 2 parts of water and 1 part of table vinegar with a strength of 9%

Using regular soap, you can prepare a soapy solution that will effectively help clean the screen from dirt. It is important to thoroughly remove all liquid after wiping the monitor and wipe the screen dry, otherwise soap streaks may remain. You can make a solution in the following ways:

• mix a small amount of liquid soap and warm water until the resulting mixture feels "soapy";
• "Wash off" baby or toilet solid soap in warm water to a similar result.

Apply this solution in the same way as vinegar:

1. Soak a cloth in the solution.
2. Wipe the screen.
3. Remove traces of solution with a clean, damp cloth.
4. Wipe the screen dry.

Soap can be found in any home, and soap solution quickly and efficiently removes dirt

Another option for do-it-yourself household chemicals is the use of isopropyl alcohol, usually used for disinfection purposes. Despite the fact that alcohol is on the list of liquids prohibited for use for wiping screens, isopropyl alcohol can be used - but with extreme caution. To do this, follow these steps:

1. A mixture of isopropyl alcohol and pure water is created in a 1: 1 ratio.
2. A clean cloth is slightly moistened with the resulting solution.
3. The screen is gently wiped with this cloth.
4. The screen is wiped again with a damp, clean cloth.
5. Remains of moisture are removed with a dry cloth.

Isopropyl alcohol is usually used for disinfection, but it can also be useful in cleaning

It is important to create the solution correctly. If it is not possible to accurately measure the proportions, then it is better to make a less saturated solution, since with an excess of alcohol in it, there is a risk of damaging the anti-reflective coating of the screen.

Video: Cleaning the Monitor with Dishwashing Liquid

How to clean heavy dirt

If the contamination is so extensive or stubborn that regular cleaning of the monitor cannot cope with it, then there are two ways to remove it at home:

• use specialized screen cleaning products;
• repeat cleaning the screen with the available means until the desired result is achieved.

Once I did not keep track of my daughter, and she left on the TV the print of her palm smeared with baby puree. I did not notice this immediately, but by the time the hooliganism was discovered, the puree had already dried on, and it was not possible to remove it with a damp cloth. They had to use heavy artillery in the form of a soapy solution. I had to wipe the screen three times - each time performing the entire sequence of actions from the very beginning, and restraining myself in the desire to press on the stain as it should, as I would have done if the stain was on a stronger surface. But the result justified all my efforts - the TV in this place shone with pristine purity. So bright that I had to wipe it for the fourth time - now the entire screen.

Where to go if self-cleaning of the LCD screen is ineffective

If the contamination is too large and cannot be removed in the usual way, then it is worth contacting a certified service center. The specialists of the centers face various problems, including the problem of dirty screens, and have at their disposal professional tools and rich experience in putting equipment in order.

Pollution prevention measures

In order not to engage in daily cleaning of the LCD screen from dirt, it is worth adhering to the following simple rules:

• do not touch the screen with your fingers (unless it is, of course, a touchscreen) - even if there is no dirt on your fingers, they leave sweat marks that look unaesthetic and accumulate dust on themselves;
• do not eat near the screen - there is always a risk of accidental splashing of liquid or food particles, this not only stains the screen, but may also cause it to break;
• regularly use anti-static wipes - they prevent a layer of dust from appearing on the screen;
• clean not only the screen from dust, but also the case of the device, since otherwise dust from the case very quickly moves to the screen.

For a long time, I did not pay attention to the dirt of the monitor, just from time to time, about once a month or two, I wiped it with a microfiber cloth. And then one day she looked at him from the side and was horrified at how dusty and stained he was. After that, I made it a rule to use antistatic wipes once a week, and once a month to arrange a general cleaning using special cleaning agents. The result was amazing - firstly, dust no longer accumulates on the monitor and streaks do not appear, and secondly, the picture has become much brighter and clearer. It turns out that before, behind a layer of dirt, I simply did not see all the colors and shades of color rendering.

Reviews

There are special tools for cleaning LCD screens, but if they are absent, you can also cope with dirt using improvised means. The main thing is to remember the rules for cleaning screens and use only suitable liquids and materials. And do not forget about the prevention of dirt, this will extend the life of the screen and save cleaning time.