Cleaning LCD Screens?

Proud owner of an iBook, not even six months old and already the screen is marked in places. Also, I was working on a project with someone and they kept pointing at things on my screen with the business end of their pencil. Endless frustration!

So I'm in the same boat, looking for stuff to clean LCDs. Once in the Apple Store I saw some "Apple Wipes" for cleaning your tre-chic computer. Buying those would make me a massive tool and I figure they're only for cleaning the glossy parts, not the shiny parts.

So I'm all ears too!

I use a cleaner from Kensington (http://www.kensington.com/html/1081.html) on my monitor _and_ my LCDs and it works great. It comes in a little spray bottle, and I use these neat little 3M 'electronics' microfiber cloths to buff off the spray. Works like a charm.

I'm pretty sure you can get both of them at your local Office Depot/Max.

I tried those cloths that were already pre-moistened with cleaner (don't remember the brand name), and they left a ton of streaks...I don't recommend them.

The official word on LCD cleaning in Apple manuals is to use a solution of diluted isopropyl alcohol, no more than a 50% solution. Usually the rubbing alcohol you buy at a drugstore that is either 90% or 98% pure but 98% is pretty hard to get (you don't need it anyway). I mix 1 part water and 1 part 90% isopropyl alcohol, which works out to... um.. something just under a 50% solution.
Be absolutely sure to use a very VERY soft cloth. I use a piece of soft flannel. Do NOT use paper towels or anything more abrasive than an old worn out cotton Tshirt. Absolutely do NOT use windex or anything with ammonia in it, it can etch the screen surface and can cause the plastic to go cloudy. You don't want that to happen!
BTW, there is a commercial cleaning solution called something like Klear-Screen, it's pretty expensive. It is merely a 50% solution of isopropyl alcohol and water. Just like I make, for a fraction of the cost.

Just read the ingredients list on my bottle of Kensington 'Screen Guardian', and it's the exact recipe that you have...It was $3, so I guess I was just being lazy :)

The 3M cloths are really nice for the wiping part, though, as they are softer than an old t-shirt, and because of their design, if they do happen to pick up some grit, it doesn't get trapped on the surface, so you're less likely to scratch that nice screen. You can also throw them in the laundry every once and awhile, and they come out like new.

Eyeglass cleaner.. works pretty well.

Hmm. I use dish soap to clean my glasses.

Seriously. It works great. But it's probably not right for an LCD.

I use damp towels to clean my screens. Just enough to grab the dust. Shoudln't be able to wring any water out of them.

I use a microfiber cleaning cloth that my wife found at a camera store.

I've been using Klear Screen for a while now and really like it. The disposable packages make it easy to toss a couple in my bag so I have them with me whenever I need them. Each of the packages has a moistened clean pad and a dry polishing cloth.

At just over $1 per package, it's somewhat expensive but very handy.

I take a clean sock, turn it inside out, spray Windex on it and it works like a charm on my laptop and flat screen.

PS-These are new socks and I never wear them after I clean the screen.

I use dish soap to clean my glasses.

I do that too; it's the best. Where I buy them the staff all run around with dish towels on their shoulder; ready to dry glasses after cleaning them.

My contacts are cleaned in insanely overpriced salt water.

For my CRT I use dish soap too. For the LCD on my powerbook I use some little LCD cleaning pads i bought at Frys. Except when I can't find them, then I just use a dish towel and a bit of water. Or no water. But my Powerbook is falling really badly apart anyway. :-)

- ask

Dish soap isn't soap, it's almost always detergent. I recommend against it. Soap is a pretty safe cleaner for most surfaces, it's even used in some circumstances for art conservation etc. but I sure wouldn't put it on an LCD.
BTW, lens cleaner and eyeglass cleaner is the same 50/50 formula I described. And most better CRT monitors have an antiglare optical coating almost identical to the coating on camera lenses and eyeglasses, the antireflective coating will be degraded over time with paper towels and windex, I use the 50/50/flannel solution on my expensive Sony 20" CRT too.
I spend a lot of time cleaning my optics. I had the antiglare optical coating put on my eyeglasses and boy did I regret it, it was much harder to clean without streaks, showed fingerprints more than uncoated lenses, and I felt like my glasses were constantly dirty and blurry. My optician gave me a new cool microfiber polymer cloth that is extremely soft and will lift fingerprints and gunk from eyeglasses without using any liquids, it's amazing. Might be worth checking out this cloth for CRT and LCD cleaning, it's only like $3 at your local eyeglass shop.

i use a commercial solution its name is nice'n clean you can get it at wallmart also there is clean safe monitor cleaner another option got it from best buy

i use a commercial solution its name is nice'n clean you can get it at wallmart also there is clean safe monitor cleaner another option got it from best buy

Water + demakeup' ;)

2 parts distilled water, 1 part isopropyl alcohol on a used dryer sheet (no static!).

I'm the proud owner of the dirtiest LCD screen in the world :-)

Use Klear Screen. The product has been around a long time, and I used to think it was silly, but then I tried it. It's amazingly good and worth the cash.

More about my experience with it here:

http://radio.weblogs.com/0100524/2003/02/22.html

I have portbale dvd player that has a LCD screen that needs cleaning! i am afraid to use anyhting because peopel tell me that certain things ruin the screen. What should I use to clean it?

what if my lcd turns yelow is theere anythin to cure it

i just use a damp cloth just enough to get the dust out too, windex and other stuff will kill the lcd's after a while so i just wipe it most of the time with a dry paper towel straight across or horizontally and that does the trick

i just use a damp cloth just enough to get the dust out too, windex and other stuff will kill the lcd's after a while so i just wipe it most of the time with a dry paper towel straight across or horizontally and that does the trick

i just use a damp cloth just enough to get the dust out too, windex and other stuff will kill the lcd's after a while so i just wipe it most of the time with a dry paper towel straight across or horizontally and that does the trick

Great suggestion by Charles on the use of 50/50 alcohol and water. I just used it to clean those fingerprints from my coworkers and water drops/spray.

Great suggestion by Charles on the use of 50/50 alcohol and water. I just used it to clean those fingerprints from my coworkers and water drops/spray. It worked great !

Thanks Charles !

the isopropyl/water mix worked like a charm!
I accidently squashed a bug on my new Acer 17" LCD monitor trying to flick it away and I first used a monitor wipe.

I was not impressed with the results. At first it seemed like the solution didn't work, but I looked again at the bottle of rubbing alchool and it turns out it was a %70 concentrate, so I added a bit more to the solution and it worked like a charm. A mirco fiber cloth for glasses is what I used.

I just used endust for electronic it worked great.

Everybody seems to accept the 45%-50% isopropyl alcohol solution. So that is what I'll do. I am sure that later I'll put another message saying: "It worked like a charm". So there.

Thank you Charles.

I use Comet and a belt sander to clean my laptop. I get somewhat less than stellar results though, I suppose.

1. very sheer silk scarf
2. water
3. circular motion, not straight

Well, I learned that putting it in the dish washer is a bad idea... heh, just kidding.

I've found that 1 part rubbing alchohol to 1 part water works well with a soft cloth.

I used a 2 horsepower pressure washer on my LCD screen. It came clean, however it left a hole in my screen. Wouldn't recommend it.

I used a 2 horsepower pressure washer on my LCD screen. It came clean, however it left a hole in my screen. Wouldn't recommend it.

I used a 2 horsepower pressure washer on my LCD screen. It came clean, however it left a hole in my screen. Wouldn't recommend it.

I used a combination of sulfuric acid and grain alchohol to clean my screen..worked pretty good till my screen melted and caught on fire...oops :(

I used a soft cloth slightly dampened in a diluted solution of soap dertergent on my LCD screen and am now left with a cloudy film cover.
Any suggestions?

All those recommending products containing alcohol should
consult Apple:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60446

who advise against it.

Charels...great suggestion....my screen cleans great with that recipie! It won't make my screen yellow like the other solutions people mentioned though?

Eyeglass cleaning wipe works perfectly fine.

First time I've made a comment on a blog. Just did a search for "clean LCD screen" and Jeremy's page came up. I read all the comments with interest (and amusement on some). The chemical mixes etc sounded like too much effort, so I went for the "very, slightly damp cloth" approach. Importantly the cloth is one of those MICRO-FIBRE ones which are marketed as smear free. It worked an absolute treat. It's a Vileda one. Either my web connection is slow or their site is crap (wanted to post a link) but you should be able to get them from your regular supermarket.

Seemed to me the less chemicals, the better. I read this page, got a soft washcloth from the bathroom, wet it, wrung it out extremely well and simply wiped the screen off. It's now as clean as the day I bought it. Sold!

I used Walmard no glare lens cleaner that came with my glasses and it works fine. It is a non-alcohol product. I also used the microfiber cloth that came with it in a little package. I didn't realize how dirty my monitor was.

ALL YOU GUYS ARE NERDS!!!!!!!!!!!!

From the dell Premier Website:

Cleaning Your LCD or Flat Panel Monitor:

CAUTION:
Isopropyl Alcohol is a flammable liquid.

Never spray or pour any liquid directly on the LCD panel.

Do not clean the screen while the system is on.

1. Shut down the computer.

2. Disconnect power to the system or monitor.

3. Wipe the LCD or flat panel screen gently with a soft dry cloth. If any marks remain, moisten the cloth with LCD cleaner, and then gently stroke the cloth across the display in one direction, moving from the top of the display to the bottom.

NOTICE: Do not use any of the following chemicals or any solutions that contain them: Acetone, ethyl alcohol, toluene, ethyl acid, ammonia, or methyl chloride. If you have a different chemical or solution and are not sure whether it is suitable, do not use it. Using any of the chemicals in the previous list may cause permanent damage to the LCD or flat panel screen. Some commercial window cleaners contain ammonia and are therefore unacceptable.

4. Be sure the LCD or flat panel screen is dry before closing it or using the computer.

There are many cleaning solutions sold specifically as LCD cleaners. You can use these to clean LCD screens on Dell notebooks. Alternately, you may use a 50/50 isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and water mixture. Microfiber cloths such as those used to clean eyeglasses are excellent for use with LCDs.

Cloth: Kimberly-Clark Kimwipes
LCD cleaner: Staples Screen Cleaning

Related to the topic is how to avoid the marks that the keyboard actually leaves on the screen after a (long) while of utilization. A friend of mine has come up with the idea to place a tiny mouse mat inbetween the screen and the keyboard before closing the notebook. Each time. Takes some practice, but actually works pretty well.

I wipe mine with a piece of steak, medium rare - never overcook it - then take a walk down to the store and make a concoction of chutney and mild antipasto. After watching Dr. Strangelove and enjoying a Monte Cristo #1 with a nice Remy I get a cloth and wipe it all off with pure rainwater (so as to not to sap and impurify my precious bodily fluids.). . . or sometimes I just use alchohol and water with a soft cloth.

Thank you so much to everyone here who posted. I got my husband a brand new LCD monitor for his birthday about a week ago and today our two year old wrote on it with a ball point pen. After calling the company twice I was pretty convinced that the monitor was ruined, but the alchol took almost all the pen off and there are just a couple places that were damaged. Thank you so much.

i use straight olive oil and peel of orange for my screen. it keeps the screen 'new' and fragrant! and the oil keeps dust sticking OFF it!

I have tried several things, and have found that Endust for electronics works best

No one has said this yet... Make sure to turn your monitor OFF before tuching!

I didn't read the Knowledge Base for my Sony Vaio until after using windex on the screen. Now that I have these streaks what can I do? I ask because the sony site specifically says not to use alcohol and Isopropyl is alcohol???

WARNING: There is a risk of hardware damage. Do not scratch or exert pressure on the LCD. Do not use any type of window cleaner, abrasive pad, scouring powder or solvents (such as alcohol or benzine). Do not leave the LCD facing the sun. Doing any of these things could cause the LCD to become damaged or to malfunction.

Thanks guys! I scrawled a wiggly line with a permanent black marker on my lovely new 19" LCD screen (yeah, they breed 'em pretty stupid Down Under). But I read your advice about 50/50 isopropyl alcohol/water, shot off to the chemist to get 50 ml of the magic potion and now it's as good as new. Brilliant!

I'm wondering if any of you could help me. My youngest thought my Hp omnibook XE3's screen looked dirt and used something with ammonia in it to wipe the screen down while it was running. At the same time it was starting to overheat so I shut it down. When I turned it back on, the screen is black and I can barely seen anything. Is the screen fubared or do I just need to clean it again?

There are many products out there, but some are better than others. iKlear Apple Polish & Monster Screen Clean Kit are tested and proven to work. **Both products DO NOT contain any alcohol or ammonia and have anti-static properties. Their formulas are engineered for LCD screens and their special coatings.

http://www.shaggymac.com/cleaners

I use Windex. I used to spray the screen and wipe it with a paper towel until I ruined my first display (Windex behind the screen's bezel). Now, I spray the paper towel and wipe the screen.

This has worked flawlessly for every screen since.

I have a Dell Latitude CSx. I was given a product to clean my laptop screen. It was Kensington Surface Guardian Model 50795E.

After cleaning, I noticed a film left behind and it seemed the antiglare quality was greatly diminished

I looked at the product and it warns against using the product on laptops and notebooks with antiglare or polarized screens

I called the company and they confirmed that the product would remove the antiglare coating.

The main ingredient is propanol.

The question is: Can the antiglare coating be reapplied either with a commercial product or by the manufacturer or will the monitor need to be replaced.

This is an important issue to me due to an eye problem that makes me susceptable to glare. I cannot use standard monitors without a glare screen or other glare retardant

To the person whose child decorated their LCD with a Ball Point pen...

I have to say you had balls buying an LCD having a child in the house. Glad to hear you got the pen marks off.

Now for another great horror story, how about a 3 year old drawing a picture and coloring it on a brand new 19" FP LCD. Yes it happen, then this same child managed to dock a PBNJ sandwich into the DVD player.

Ok, now some people may have a REALLY hard time cleanign their LCD monitors and televisions, but i was born to make it even harder. Now this is so difficult it may cause extremely bad headaches.
First I will tell you what happened to me. My little brother and me were painting a room for my mom, and i took my eyes off him for one second and he went into MY room and had COVERED my entire computer system including tower, LCD, and printer with PINK paint!!!!!!!!! And also let me mention that i had just bought this computer. I wanted to put him through osmosis. So what did i do? I cleaned it. Here's how to clean an LCD monitor (even with pink paint on it.)

Listen Carefully:
Step 1 Go to Kitchen
Step 2 Get CLEAN dish cloth
Step 3 Wet dish cloth
Step 4 Wring out cloth well
Step 5 Go back to LCD
Step 6 Start cleaning
Step 7 Rub so lightly that its almost like dust you dont wanna move, like only as hard as the weight of the damp cloth.
Step 8 Clean Monitor

Sorry that was sooo hard

Pink LATEX paint is one thing, but how's this -- I had my laptop on my clean garage workbench, when an aerosol can of grey oil-based paint rolls off the bench and impales itself on a sharp metal contraption I was working on. It proceeds to spew a fine mist of paint on everything within a 10 foot circle. Now I have a fine mist of grey oil-based paint on my laptop LCD. I can use the laptop, but these little dots are annoying, and NOTHING gets them off.

i take 500 grit sand paper and some tire cleaner to my laptop. works like a dream...

Working for an isp has its advantages, we all use Windex (our side of the world, Zimbabwe...we call it Windoleen!) We spray on a kitchen cloth and then wipe gently. Being greek of course you can use Windex on just about anything!!!!

I read this page with great amusment (the yello screen, grey paint, todler with the ball point pen and the rest). However the fourth last reply (by John Collier) seamed the logical and that is exactly what i did, looks as new as the day i bought it.

THANKS John Collier

unplug mild soap damp cloth rinse cloth wipe dry armour all soft cloth

unplug mild soap damp cloth rinse cloth wipe dry armour all soft cloth

You guys are sissies!!! I prefer licking my LCD. I don't mind the dust so much...it's just a bummer when my tongue gets stuck in the keys!

I usually just replace the monitor when it gets dirty. I know it's expensive, but hey...

I used a naked girl's butt and had her rub around on the LCD. It didn't help clean the screen, but it's the best thing you can do in this list.

Two spots on a Dell Inspiron 1100 notebook. I've tried to remove them with every possible substance known to man -- but to no avail.

The spots seem to be on the inside of the LCD -- does anyone have any ideas? I don't know what else to do -- I've even tried "elbow grease" with the traditional substances -- but no success with these either.

Can someone perhaps email me with some ideas?

Thanks folks -- those two spots on a white background can sometimes be the most annoying little things -- anyone know what I mean?

-- Adam

I just used water on a t-shirt and my screen turned out clean as new, I had a screen cleaner at home but I didn’t want to use it just to see what happens haha.

I use some insanely expensive screen wipes that I got at best buy, they come in a container much like baby wipes. They cost around $10 for I think 50, I treat them like gold and use them maybe twice a month.

If anyone tries to touch my screen they get yelled at, that and I keep my laptop closed when it is not in use, it keeps the dust down.

I just use my wifes underwear, just gotta watch the skid marks...

I have been using Klear Screen as recommended by Apple for a few years now. It come in a bulk spray bottle or individual packets that you can keep in your laptop bag for cleaning on the go. It works great for CRT as well as LCD screens. For as little as $10 + shipping you can't go wrong.

Brilliant indeed. Cleaned the finger prints off the laptop and the crayon off the desktop monitor.

thanks

razor scraper works well,gets all the food off

Thank you all for your suggestions, even the silly ones. :-) The big thing I got out of it is that ammonia (didn't know this) and acetone (a no-brainer) would be bad ideas. The 50/50 isopropyl alcohol and water sounds like a good idea, and I'm surprised that some maufacturers discourage it. I'm legally blind, and when I got these glasses (8X telsescope mounted to right lens) in '79, I was given a bottle of Look-Lite and a box of Kimwipes. The Look-Lite contains isopropyl alcohol, but the label didn't say how much at the time. I've used just plain water, mostly, but I think I'll see about finding a small bottle that will produce a fine mist and mix up the 50/50 solution for the glasses *and* my LCD flat panel and laptop screen.

My mother, God bless her, got me a microfiber cloth by Fellowes for Christmas that I just used to clean the LCD. Looks pretty good, as far as I can tell. B-) While cleaning the TV with it, though, I found some nasty scratches that have apparently been there for a while. I couldn't see them, so I guess they don't matter. It's only a $200 flat-screen Philips, anyway. But, the $600 LCD is a different matter. Again, thanks for the suggestions, All.

Tom

I use sos pads

I got a '05 NEC MultiSync LCD1935NXM, i had one greasy finger as someone was trying to move the mouse pointer with their fingers... anyway...

water and soap did the job for me... and after that just dry it out in the sun... Works like a charm.

Cheers all,
me

I've been using PDA wipes. Only because they are around. I clean the screen before meeting with a client...then they touch the screen!

thanx 4 the good info , just dropped 450 on a 19 b4 xmas and still havent cleaned it for fear of the horror stories (makes me half wish i got a monster crt lol)

I use sandpaper on the real tuff spots...Works great getting them off

I use Shield lens cleaner...It works really well, and a bit of soft toilet paper. Just rub gently and voila, no more spots and dust.

hey...i had the same problem until i came across a high performace cloth my dad had bought for his computer. Its made by 3M technology and it's super soft. I use it all the time to dust off my screen and buff off any smears or prints on the screen. If something is resisting your cleaning use water.

well i usualy take the sock im wearing... (its usualy already sweaty) spit on it and smudge it around a bit, then use it to clean my LCD ;)
JK!

50/50 alc and water, thanks guys, that was easy. As for you other knuckle draggers who've posted here, you are hilarious, dont let anybody tell you different. Just dont quit the day job.

You are NOT SUPPOSED TO USE ALCOHOL ON LCDs. That, and ammonium.

Why do you think the good bottled cleaners meant for LCDs say alcohol-free and ammonium-free?

And DON'T USE PAPER TOWELS.. the wood fibers will damage your screen.

Save yourself some brain activity. Just go buy the Apple polish or Monster Screen Clean. It's a no brainer.

I just used a mixture of approx. 50 % Isopropyl Alocohol and 50% water (mixed very inprecisely) and used a clean cloth diaper. It worked great! The fingerprints and unidentified smudged disappeared from my laptop screen, the 15" LCD screen with my desktop looks brand new, and the 7" fold down screen in the minivan never looked better. In fact, the 1/4 cup solution that I made was enough to clean the CRT screen on my 36" TV, a bathroom mirror, and a hallway mirror. I may never buy Window cleaner again!

Isopropyl, at least on optics, leave an undesired film... is denatured that difficult to get a hold of? I'm surprised Isopropyl is used at all in lens cleaning. I would only use it on electronics, i.e., solder joints...

My three year old took a good ol' ball point pen to my 19" ViewSonic LCD. I took care of him with a spankin' and the monitor with 70% alcohol. Both worked like a charm.

does anyone know where i can buy some of these products, such as the klear screen?

I have a laptop and would also like to get it clean as whenit was new. Unfortunately, some of the products you recommend are not available where i live (south america).

I read with attention the recomendations about not using alcohol, ammonia, etc. So probably some water and a damp cloth would be enough, unless you need a more serious cleaning. So I would pls, ask you some others home based solutions.

Another vote for Klear Screen. You can get it at expansys.com if you're in the uk.

How about this all natural LCD screen cleaner? :-)

(This is supposed to be humorous, not SPAM!)

I use my old underwear. The only problem is the brown skid marks they leave.

I use my arse. It sticks a bit when I try and wipe across the screen but it is certainly an improvement.

Somehow my LCD managed to get a smear of AstroGlide personal lubricant on it (go figure)... this is proving IMPOSSIBLE to remove... I've tried a moistened cotton towel, than some $20 a bottle Monster ScreenClean to no avail. Help?

Clean LCD screen is a more popular search than i expected. The alcohol solution on my old nightshirt worked beautifully. I poured some alcohol through the slot on the floppy drive and it updated my BIOS! Excellent!

I use http://www.lens-cleaners.co.uk/ but then I did get some for free...

It's neat though. No smears and I get to smell of apples.

I just read the above responses and after ready the remidies you all suggested, I decided to get brave and use my own favorite "get anything out" solution. It is called "Lickity Split" by Kirby home care prducts. It cleaned the LCD screen to look new. I strongly suggest it for anything. (Lipstick, crayon, glue, oil, tar, permanent marker, and more. You should check it out.

_Roxanne

My brother got mad and put nail polish all over
my screen. I got a knife and scraped it clean...

then i dumped it in windex
then i dumped it in alcohol
then i dumped it in red wine...

I have an Elvis thing going with my laptop. Every time I log into my DMOZ editors dashboard I reach for my gun and threaten the screen. Hard to wipe away a bullet hole.
:P

When I purchase a new LCD the first thing I do is cover it with Saran wrap to prevent any dust. If I am in a dust storm then I store it in a plastic bubble to protect it from debris. Okay. Thanks very much.

mr clean magic eraser

try it...trust me...

although naked girl's butt sounds good too

The 50% *isopropyl* alcohol (IPA) solution seems to be endorsed by IBM too: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-4A2P54

As for the Apple site (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60446), it does not really warn against IPA, but against regular alcohol, a.k.a. ethyl alcohol a.k.a. ethanol.

See the differences in the Wikipedia.

If you use an aerosol can to spray a mist over a lighter flame it produces a huge flame. Perfect for burning off dust and smears from lcd screens. If that doesn't work I usually cut a hole in my car battery and wipe the screen down with battery acid applied to a VERY SOFT cloth, not papertowels or anything like that. It has to be a soft cloth and battery acid. It works

With regard to the posted IBM link by jlmarin: That link seems to imply that only the OUTSIDE of a laptop can be cleaned with an alcohol-based product. In that same paragraph, it reiterates the LCD cleaning cloth should be DRY (capital letters are IBM's emphasis, not mine). While isopropyl alcohol may make for a good "occasional" cleaner, sites elsewhere mention that long-term use of it can lead to yellowing and stiffening (ie, brittle) of the LCD plastic covering (screen). Personally, I use Klear Screen (ordered directly from their USA on-line store, and no, I'm not affiliated with them). The Klear Screen product is 83% water and 17% proprietary ingredients (the latter including methyl paraben) according to their MSDS.

Oops, should have added that Methyl Paraben (CAS No.: 99-76-3) is an antibacterial, mold inhibitor, preservative. Data from http://bulkpharm.mallinckrodt.com/_attachments/msds/MPARA.htm and other sites.

And looking back over the prior posts, Charles' post of April 2003 suggests that Klean Screen uses alcohol. I'm not sure if they once did, but they not specifically state their product is alcohol and ammonia free. The Apple web page I saw, referred to by another poster here, states that alcohol products should not be used.

I use acetone on my glasses.

Like a few others on this topic, I had my 3 year-old draw a masterpiece on my LCD screen with a ball point pen. In a few places it almost looked like the screen was damaged from the sharpness of the pen. I tried the glasses cleaner from my optometrist, no luck. I tried 50/50 isopropyl alcohol and it made a small dent, but not much. I added more alcohol to the mix and got slightly better results, but the final trick that got that pen off was straight 70% isopropyl alcohol. It all came clean, thank you for the posts! We'll probably get a small yellow spot from the windex my wife first applied to a corner of the screen to "test" it. We may get an entire yellow screen someday from the straight rubbing alcohol, but at least it bought me a little time.

Ok all you crazy and nutty scardy cats! Soft washcloth with just a touch of water is the best. Forget all that malarky about 50% alcohol. Rock it old school with water and a towel. My screen is as see through as the Bush Administration's lies ;-)

From a "scardy cat". Water is fine for water-soluble contaminants such as dust and common everyday dirt, however it does nothing for wax/oil-based smudges such as some inks, finger prints, food products, etc. In these cases, another non-water-based solvent needs to be used. Whether one uses alcohol or a commercial product is typically based on experience and word of mouth. The alcohol-based and other very similar products will "eventually" ruin a LCD or optically coated screen. Therefore, my preference is for a commercial non-alcohol, non-ammonia based products (already mentioned here) and the softest towels available.

Thats why I brought LCD screen with cover over screen mines by NEC

The 50/50 solution works beautifully! Thanks!

Sticky stuff, not just ordinary cleaning!!
In case this may help someone else: I was looking for some help cleaning off something sticky (maybe gum??) from an open box item I purchased for a reduced price. It is a Sharp aquos tv - I couldn't find anything related to this, so since I knew I could return the item if it didn't work - I used WD-40. It worked like a charm, then used a very mild solution of water and dishsoap (couple of drops) to clean again and walah - no more sticky screen and a TV for quite a reduced price.

My three year old poured purple nail polish on my flat screen lcd monitor, would appreciate any help!!!

I prefer to cover my LCD in tobasco sauce and bake it in the sun. The acids eat the dirt away. Baking it in the sun allows for those acids to soak into the plastic and when the hardened tobasco sauce is chipped off, offers future protection from dirt and grime. Oh yeah, the other thing I do to clean my monitor is to tie a rope to it, bring it in the car with me to the top of our local bridge over the root river. I then toss the monitor over the bridge and yank it up and down in the water a few times. Works like a charm.

I'm in the "slightly dampened soft cloth" camp, although I haven't had to deal with cleaning off anything more than a light coating of dust so far.

As for the escalating gag responses: didn't Monty Python definitively cover this ground already?

First I don't know how people can stand dirt on the screen. Or how they can keep from getting dirt etc on there but anyway. John Collier knows what he's talking about. Soft wet (with water) really takes care of everything. And it's streak free, I've tried the cloths and the endust stuff they all leave streaks. I hate streaks. Also I have three children,ages 2-7 and two lovely 19 inch flat screens. My children have never hurt them or the computers. Which are sitting in the living room I would suggest proper supervision for that. Honestly children are not animals they can respect your possesions!
P.S. All of my children can and do use the computers.

Just thought it was interesting that I stumbled upon this while trying to figure out how to clean my lcd screen on easter sunday, also. Only 2 years later.

I'm looking for some tips. I recently purchased a Compaq Presario R3000. I use it at school and home. I wanted to know what I can buy to clean the outside with (I assume it's plastic) and what to clean my LCD screen with. I'm looking for a product that is already made...I don't trust myself with diluting alcohol. And also, I cleaned my touchpad with rubbing alcohol, and it didn't seem to do much good. I keep the screen down when my computer's not in use, but it STILL gets dust on it. Is there anything out there that will help prevent dust buildup? (I'm new at cleaning laptops...it's my first one!)

2 words...Duct Tape!!

I ejaculate on my screen and let the dog lick it off..havent had to clean it for 2 years but i still let my dog have a treat now and then

the non-glare coating will dissolve after a while using any type of alcohol solution. either dont use or use and live without antiglare. there are antiglare screen covers that can be used or use polarizing soft films(gels).

I have an LCD TV in my kitchin, the place you would expect a screen to pick up grease - nasty. So guess what . . . I never clean the screen . . . and How can that be? . . . Well you don't have to if you replace the cling-film often enough.

Something that may be helpful if anyone has lazy pizels on their lcd's ie. the pixel remains one colour. (not for dead pixels) If you run some fast graphics it something with alot of colour changes quickly and GENTLY massage the display in a circular motion (note use a lint free cleaning cloth to do this) it may revive. Now I must be 100% sure you have the GENTLE bit. This will not work on all lazy pixels and definatly not on dead ones but is definatly worth a try.

I use 70% Isopryl Alcohol @50% mixed with water and a chamois cloth. I actually DO spray it on the screen from a micro-sprayer, then wipe. The chamois is perfect. About the softest thing you can find and it doesn't leave streaks.

I found that a damp wash cloth works really well.

I have found that toilet roll and a small quantity of Bacardi works wonders. In terms of convenience, I'm sure there are far more of us with Bacardi in store that a isopropyl alcohol solution!

Wont rubbing alchol ruin the screen? SHould I always mix it with hot or cold water?

I used a wet kleenex that I squeezed out. It works

test

I always an industrial floor buffer to clean my laptop screen. Open out your laptop screen to the max(180 degrees), lie it face up on a hard gravel surface...perhaps on your driveway and away you go!!!
If you wrap some nice soft microfiber cloth over the cleaning disk of the machine then it shouldn't damage the screen.

P.s. Always use a circuit breaker when using the industrial buffer outdoors!

Vineger also works well for cleaning everything. I have been searching cleaning LCD screens and found this, has anyone tried vineger on their LCD?

YOU GODDAMN NERDS!

The 50/50 achohol and water works very well! However it left white dust stuffs on the edges of my monitor.

new one! Try using a sock dipped in most solutions listed . But after dipping hold the sock above the wet tip and using very light
pressure rub the sock over the stain. this will prevent damage to the lcd tft's. repeat using a dry sock. Then wash the sock as normal. yes a was
able to remove a bug without rubbing. Note if the spot does not come out continue cleaning the screen and then repeat. the spot should be soft
by now.

I use a pair of my underwear and some Finlandia vodka. Or at least that's what I assumed waking up with an empty bottle and my underwear in my hand, with my head on the keyboard. I must have been cleaning SOMETHING, although my LCD screen has a few white spots. (dead pixels?) I can still make out the impression of the keys on my forehead, and my girlfriend wont shut up about the email that I sent her that was full of the letter 'h'.

i shot my lcd monitors with a silver plated desert eagle that had my name enscribed in it... then i shot my self in the head

I just used the 1 to 1 mixture on both my notebook and my lcd, I also used the sock method to wipe on and dry off. Worked amazingly.

Thanks guys

use a cotton ball soaked in a little bit of alcohol and water. It worked very well.

i use a wet handerchief, but i'm going to use Endust for Electronics next time i clean it. i wasn't so trusting of it, even though it says on it "Use On: (bunch of stuff), non-glare and laptop computer screens", but i just looked at the ingredients online and it looks to be good (and i know a little chemistry if you're worried i missed something)

Every time I clean my screen,I usually use the same process they used on Linda Blair In the movie the Exorcist....I Bring In two catholic priests,both with bottles of the 50/50 solution.
The 50/50 mix is 50% holly water 50% achohol.
Then you can only Imagine the rest of the Story.
If Im having a really bad day,I stop at the 99 cent store and pick up about 10 Plastic crosses and use these as added Insurance....

We have an LCD tv and my son got crayon on it, i'm so nervous to use anything on it and i'm looking for something to dissolve it so it will wipe off??? Any suggestions?

We have an LCD tv and my son got crayon on it, i'm so nervous to use anything on it and i'm looking for something to dissolve it so it will wipe off??? Any suggestions?

I can't believe it. Some folks actually researched and took the time to document that: Yes, acohol and water (1:1) will clean a screen, but it WILL disolve anti-glare coatings, make LCD screens turn very yellow and hard with continued use, leave a white film if allowed to dry, disolve lubricating components if it seeps down into the hinges of a laptop. For CASUAL or ONE-TIME use only, the alcohol:water treatment is probably okay, but NOT FOR LONG-TERM/MULTIPLE use. Absolutely, under no circumstances, should company employ this technique in their normal practice.

Some of the alternative cleaners by brand name already mentioned are best, period. Even water by itself on a moistened, very soft cloth is okay.

It's surprising how many people use the alcohol or ammonia based cleans once, have a good result, and tell all their friens about it. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

I use a combination of diesel fuel and 97octane gasoline, dip a piece of 80grit sand paper in it and then scrub the screen vertically only.
results are fantastic.

How many IDIOTS* are using the wrong technique?
First thing you should do is of course TURN OFF the monitor so you are working with a black screen.

*QUITE A FEW apparently since alchohol is NOT good, as noted previously: Yes, alcohol and water (1:1) will clean a screen, but it WILL disolve anti-glare coatings, make LCD screens turn very yellow and hard with continued use.

Fellowes makes some of the best products for this purpose......WITH NO STREAKING !!!!!

AFter trying every every product I had on hand for plastics (all left streaks) I found a "Surface Cleaning Wipe" by Fellowes and followed that with a microfiber cloth (3M) but any soft, lint free cloth should work. Fellowes also makes a product for the screen but I suspect it is a similar/identical formula.

I used a normal wet wipe/wet tissue and dried with a soft tissue/cloth it its quite clean wit no stains or finger marks.

Just to say I used Johnsons Baby Oil. I got the idea from cleaning my stainless steel cooker with it. It leaves the screen nice and streak free, it's not abrasive, no alcohol so should be fine on anti-glare screens, and seems to to prevent more dust appearing. Ace!

Why is everything so complicated? Screw the alcohol, or water, or buying extra crap. I just toss mine in the washing machine and use the delicates setting. A little extra softener really makes it smell WONDERFUL. However, I highly recommend that you not use the drier. If you do, use it on the delicates mode, and only run it for fifteen minutes. Then, pull it out and let it air dry. It should be good to go in a couple of hours.

**Please, oh God, please, don't really try this... unless you are, of course, attempting to win the World's Worst Idiot award.**

Eveybody forgot to mention: How many cups per day do you have to drink of the 50/50 mix water + isopropyl?

Thanks

Nop... evry one is wrong!!!!!
The best thing to do when your screen is dirty, is throw it away and buy a new one. That gives the best result.

The best way to clean LCD screens is to use a coarse steel wool pad with a circular rubbing motion... works like a charm!

Theres only one way to clean off a lcd screen, use a wire brush and a bucket of petrol its the best beleive me .Also if you have some old tatoos your fed up with you can scrub them off at the same time and it woks a treat on bird poo if you have any on the car.

koj gi vam je be?

on my crt screens I have always used water with soft sponge, wiped streak free clean with newspaper. That's a throwback to my windshield cleaning days. i don't know, seems to be ok. I have one lcd monitor, getting another and wondering how i'll clean that. i like water and soft cloth till someone has a divine inspiration.

First, I take a boxcutter and scrape out sections of the screen with stains. Then you can rinse the monitor off with your garden hose after peeing on it. Also, make sure you pee into the vents on the back of the montor. Then to dry it, use a low grit sandpaper followed by smooth, circular motions with a banana peel dipped in diesel fuel and dog shit. (Make sure you use circular motions). When you're done, if you didn't eat that banana, you can shove it up your ass.

P.S. I opened my computer and poured water onto the motherboard, and now my sound card problem is gone!

First, I take a boxcutter and scrape out sections of the screen with stains. Then you can rinse the monitor off with your garden hose after peeing on it. Also, make sure you pee into the vents on the back of the montor. Then to dry it, use a low grit sandpaper followed by smooth, circular motions with a banana peel dipped in diesel fuel and dog shit. (Make sure you use circular motions). When you're done, if you didn't eat that banana, you can shove it up your ass.

P.S. I opened my computer and poured water onto the motherboard, and now my sound card problem is gone!

My screen is so dirty the dirt comes up in screenshots

i go down to the local college's particle accelerator and climb inside of a giant solenoid with my laptop and ask the janitor to turn it on. then i hold on for dear life to the laptop as the magnetic field tries to pull it out of my hands. this generally removes the dust particles which can also respond to the magnetic field. sometimes i forget that i have my keys in my pocket so they rip through my shorts and go flying.

if there is a pesky spot, i ask an experimenter if i can borrow some accelerated particles. i then proceed to zap the monitor with protons moving at near the speed of light. thanks to my wonderful theory of special relativity, the lcd screen takes no damage from the protons moving so fast and exploding into smaller particles upon impact.

Yes! rubbing alcohol/water does the trick very nicely. Save yourself alot of coin. Just make sure to use a nice soft cotton cloth :)-----+

I use my Mom to clean my screen.
It's free and invisible too!
I just leave the room for a few moments and Voila! Just like new.

Hi I saw the coolest thing today at radio shack. Its a piece of thin plastic that goes over your screen. It comes in multiple sizes too. Its fantastic when your screen gets dirty just wipe the plastic with windex or replace it. COOL! Oh by the way our radio Shack became a The Source by Circuit city you can get these here too.

Zac

i have a laptop and i have cleaned it many times. The best solution for it is to mix about a 1:1 ratio of Sherry Wine and Sprite. The wine takes all the grease and grime off the screen and the sprite gives a little sparkle to the screen.

I use my screen protector with a dap of water. Works every time.

http://www.laptopscreenprotector.com

peeing on it really works...find it hard to beleive? I hear urine does have good cleaning properties...maybe i will try it

peeing on it really works...find it hard to beleive? I hear urine does have good cleaning properties...maybe i will try it

I use lesbians.
They lick plastic good.
(Especially grape flavored)

Dishwasher, top rack.

Isopropyl is not alcohol

I used 'ambersil NO1' LCD Cleaner ambersil is the only LCD Cleaning product recommended by P.C.S to safely clean all LCD /Notebook/Laptop disply and also CDs
Spray Over sourface and wipe it with a clean peace of eyeglass cloth
It worked nice and charm but you know any cleaners or even 50/50 water/isoprypl or any other things blur your screen !!!!!!!!!!!
you can't seen a sharp black screen like the new one! because All LCDs have problem still! my panasonic GS150 LCD have blured very badly after cleaning with fiber cloth and with any product i can't return that's new sharp and nice screen!!!
I tested about 102 different products on the world no one worked and no one is good ! therefore don't touch your screen even with micro fibers!!!!or use only ambersil NO1 with swiss formula but you can't gain better results with any other products...!

Alcohol is the key ;) used it not one minute ago and my screen looks beautiful

I just bought a brand new 19" LCD monitor from DELL. A week after I bought it there were a few smudges that I wanted to get out. I tried using a computer screen solution from APPLE(mother fuckers obviously dont have a clue what they're doing) that made my screen look like someone sneezed on it. I then got a damp paper towel and wiped it down three times and dried it off with an inside-out sock. It looks brand new again:)

Wow. that worked well. I used the alcohol mixture and an old tshirt, and it looks just like new. Thanks guys.

Can someone help me getting rid of the anti-glare film on my glasses? As it so just happened it started happening after the warrenty. The film has bubbled leaving obvious marks behind.

Help! My friend got latex house paint on my screen! Yipes!! Any suggestions?

Help! My friend got latex house paint on my screen! Yipes!! Any suggestions?

Scrubbing brush and metho works fine for me, if you have not metho, then replace it with turps.

You can buy 70% alcohol/water saturated two-ply cotton pads at any drug store. "Alcohol Swabs" are used by diabetics (like me) to prepare an injection site. Relion (WalMart) pads are $1/100.

I rinse them in water, squeeze the excess, apply, then dry with soft cloth.

Ok, seriously, alcohol is bad for laptop screens. I used the half water half isopropel solution once a week for about a year on my last laptop. Little by little, the screen yellowed and dried, leaving a fog over the whole damn thing.

A damp microfiber cloth works best for weekly use. Alcohol solution can be used ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE for tough jobs, but make sure you wipe with a damp cloth with just water after applying the alcohol solution.

As far as wipes are concerned, the only premade wipes I purchased were "Screen Cleaning Wipes" by Fellowes. I DO NOT recommend them, they a film over the screen and really bad streaks. Stick to the damp microfiber cloth. It works.

Peanut butter and honey,,,with a papertowel works well...and makes a tasty snack~!~

someone used something on this monitor that took off some of the antiglare coating. How do I remove the rest?

The cheap, easy painless way.

Go to supermarket. Get "dusting cloths". Found in about
every supermarket nowadays. Get the DRY, UNSCENTED cloths.
ie the ones with no chemicals at all.

The cloths obviously pick up "dust" and such. Plus most
when wetted with a little water don't seem to "soak" up
water like a paper towel, etc would. So just dampen a
little corner and apply the damp area to problem areas on
the screen.

Use the rest/dry part of the cloth to finish up. Works
great, no chemicals, no yellowing, etc.etc.etc. Plus the
cloths are alot softer than what I've seen listed here.
The cloths are usually cheap and you can use em for other
home projects as well.

happy wiping....

this is a silly question, but how do i clean the part of my ibook where my hands are placed? i guess the oils in my hands are turning it a funny blue/grey color. just two weird spots. and the keys i touch the most, too!

First off, NEVER use Windex. It'll yellow and fog up the plastic. I don't trust the alcohol-water mix either. All you need to do is get a microfiber cloth (like the ones that you use for cleaning eye glasses) and soak it in water, then wring out the excess water until it's damp. Wipe the screen moving from top to bottom. It works perfect every time, and you don't have to worry about screwing up your screen, especially if you just spent hundreds of dollars on the damn thing.

THANK-YOU! THANK-YOU! THANK-YOU!

My 3 year old mangaged to write all over my laptop screen with pen. I work in a hospital, so I used alchool wipes and it removed it all!!

Thanks so much!!

I simply dunk my ibook in a basin full of water and then throw it into the freezer and a few hours later, I take it out and chip the ice off of it wih a hammer and crowbar ! Simple and time consuming! it works wonders!

just deep fry it.

Lint free anti-static wipes? Will they be ok to clean with.

I use Vodka in a 1 to 3 ration with water, then add Orange juice when i'm done

My IT professor swears by these and just a dab of water. We use them in our lab full of pristine IBM TP T43's.

http://www.shaggymac.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=13

(QUESTION)
How do I maintain and clean the LCD screen on my Dell™ portable computer?

(Overview)

For information about cleaning and maintaining your LCD screen or flat panel monitor you can do the following:

------------------------------------------------------------

Clean Your LCD or Flat Panel Monitor

CAUTION:
Isopropyl Alcohol is a flammable liquid.

Never spray or pour any liquid directly on the LCD panel.

Do not clean the screen while the system is on.

Shut down the computer.

Disconnect power to the system or monitor.

Wipe the LCD or flat panel screen gently with a soft dry cloth.
If any marks remain, moisten the cloth with LCD cleaner, and then gently stroke the cloth across the display in one direction, moving from the top of the display to the bottom.

NOTICE: Do not use any of the following chemicals or any solutions that contain them: Acetone, ethyl alcohol, toluene, ethyl acid, ammonia, or methyl chloride. If you have a different chemical or solution and are not sure whether it is suitable, do not use it. Using any of the chemicals in the previous list may cause permanent damage to the LCD or flat panel screen. Some commercial window cleaners contain ammonia and are therefore unacceptable.

Be sure the LCD or flat panel screen is dry before closing it or using the computer.

There are many cleaning solutions sold specifically as LCD cleaners. You can use these to clean LCD screens on Dell notebooks. Alternately, you may use a 50/50 isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and water mixture. Microfiber cloths such as those used to clean eyeglasses are excellent for use with LCDs.

My LCD screen contains a line made by a pen , how could I remove this safely

HEY, don't ask but if you need to know, non-acetone instant polish remover made by "Pretty Nails" and a few DAMPENED, not saturated q-tips works great for nail polish on the laptop screen. Quick swipe of polish remover on a q-tip, quick swipe over it with a dry cloth. After all polish remover, clean as usual. You'd never know it even happened. It was like magic, and a godsend.. lol

HEY, don't ask but if you need to know, non-acetone instant polish remover made by "Pretty Nails" and a few DAMPENED, not saturated q-tips works great for nail polish on the laptop screen. Quick swipe of polish remover on a q-tip, quick swipe over it with a dry cloth. After all polish removed, clean as usual. You'd never know it even happened. It was like magic, and a godsend.. lol

i use toilet bowl cleaner, it works the best. dont use windex.

Water on an old cotton t-shirt is all u need. dont waste your $$$ on ANY *miracle* products.

Just grab one of those cloth things that have little zigzag lines running horizontally and wet it a little, the wring it out and get some kitchen roll (bounty and shit) and use the damp cloth in a circular motion then use kitchen roll to wipe off the smears of water ! Easy as Pi.

dell's answer to this question, as posted above

http://premiersupport.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?c=us&DN=FA1011125

We manufacture here in Nokia, Finland MiracleOne and other cleaning wipes. Take a look.

Wow this thread has been going for more than 2 years. I just got a 19 inch hp f1905 flat panel monitor last Saturday. It's my first LCD, and I'm very afraid to touch it because it was $404.20, and I'm not getting another if I break it. Will the 3M microfiber glasses cleaning cloth with water work good enough for dust and god forbid finger prints?

--Steve--

I just got a brand new LCD screen like 2 days ago, and I alerady see a very light SCRATCH at the bottom right corner (several people use the computer, i have no idea where the scratch came from). . and i dont know if I could get it off or not with the klear screen stuff though, should i spend 20 bucks and try?

I just used the alcohol/water mix and it worked great -- I had some old 1-time use moist eye glass wipes that I realized last time I tried to use one that they had dried out, so I just re-wet one those w/ the mix. My screen is used as a tv in my kitchen and it was grubby.

My 2-year old son just decorated my flat screen with a ball point pen. I used a baby wipe wetted with isopropyl alcohol and it worked.

Yes, I slit my arm with an exacto, then dribble the blood onto a leather jacket. Rub the screen. Works great and has a neat effect!

anyone know how to make a 50% alcohol/water solution from 70% alcohol?

Steel wool and Jose Cuervo works great

Sarita: are you kidding? Isn't that a 6th grade math problem?

I use my wifes silk panties to clean my LCD, but she gets a bit shirty having to take them off frequently when my friends come around to do a group assignment(why is that?.

Yeah you all have a lot of great plans to clean the screen. Yet I've most all of them on my 21" LCD and they just doen't get it as clean as I would like. One method I think seems to work best is to carefuly slide the entire screen up your ass and then walk a mile. May not clean like soap, but feels a hell of alot better though!

I have an older Compaq laptop, running Winodws XP. Anyways the LCD screen is a 14.1" Active Matrix. I have been using just water and cotton balls to clean the screen, and I use cotton swabs to clean the edges and corners. The screen has no scra