Sunday, July 22, 2012

Cleaning TV/Monitor Screens

One thing that really bugs me is when people touch my monitor with their fingers.  You can point at the screen, but don't touch it.  But even if you don't touch the screen, eventually the screen will get dirty and need to be cleaned.  For starters, do not use household cleaners like Windex, they contain ammonia which is bad for electronics.  You can buy dedicated screen cleaners, but they charge a lot of money for a small bottle.  Instead make your own at home for really cheap.  All you need is 1) a spray bottle, 2) rubbing alcohol (the highest percentage you can find), and 3) distilled water.  Pour the water and rubbing alcohol into the spray bottle about 50/50.  For the water, do not use tap, filtered, or even bottled.  It needs to be distilled water.  Anything else will leave streaks.  If you don't have distilled water, pretty much every grocery store and drug store carries it, and it usually costs about $1 for a gallon.

To clean a screen you need a clean cotton T-shirt.  Lightly wad up part of the shirt, spray the cleaner onto the wadded part, then gently wipe the surface of the screen.  You may need to do this several times.  Do not spray directly onto the screen, it may run down and get into the electronics.  Also, do NOT use paper towels, newspaper, tissue, bath towels, etc.  These may feel soft to you and I, but they will leave fine scratches on the screen.  As it turns out a clean cotton T-shirt is one of the softest fabrics out there.  Finally, use very light pressure.  Firm pressure could damage the screen, especially LCD panels.

If you follow these steps you can clean your screen as good as the day you bought it, and with no streaks.

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