Posted on September 19, 2024 in Technology

How Do I Clean My Screen?

Firstly, it’s a good idea to consider your method and supplies. CRTs were resilient – modern screens are often paper-thin and not tolerant to being sprayed directly with fluid. If liquid gets under the bezel, it can damage or even totally short the screen, which would suck. So don’t spray it directly!

Secondly, while paper towels are convenient, soft/low-glare screens can be scratched by them, so ideally you’ll have a soft, clean cloth (like a microfiber towel) you can spray and gently wipe with. Note that you spray your cloth, not the screen! If you’re just doing a little dusting, a microfiber cloth won’t even need liquid to pick dust particles up.

Thirdly, speaking of spray, not every chemical is suitable for every screen. You probably already know this – your monitor box may have even warned you that Windex could permanently damage your screen. Rubbing alcohol and numerous other cleaning supplies fall in that category too. The types of cleaner you can use on each type of screen is different, because each type of screen uses a different kind of plastic, which can and will react! The safest option is water. Just a little bit of water on a microfiber cloth will take care of most messes, unless you’re dealing with something like Sharpie on the screen (to be fair, Windex isn’t particularly effective on Sharpie either). For that, you’ll need to look at your specific manufacturer’s directions.

If you’re hesitant to touch the screen or don’t have a suitable cloth handy, PC Mag recommends canned air used at a distance. If you live somewhere humid, this likely won’t get everything, but it also won’t do catastrophic damage to your device as long as you use it correctly.

https://www.pcguide.com/monitor/how-to/clean-screen