Monitor Maintenance: Spotting Dirt And Grime On Your Screen

It's easy to tell when your monitor is dirty. You'll see dust, dirt, fingerprints, dried mucus, and food stains. Even if you don't touch your monitor, it can get dirty from dust in the air, or from talking, eating, or sneezing near it. To clean your monitor, turn it off and use a microfiber cloth to gently wipe the screen. You can dampen the cloth with distilled water or a mixture of distilled water and white vinegar. Avoid using paper towels, rags, or t-shirts, as these can be abrasive and scratch your screen.

Turn off your monitor

Before you start cleaning your monitor, it is important to turn it off. This is because it is easier to see smudges and dust on a black screen, so turning off your monitor makes it easier to see what you are doing. It is also safer for you and your computer. Cleaning your monitor while it is on could damage your screen or potentially give you an unpleasant electrical shock.

If you are cleaning a plasma TV, make sure you let the screen cool down before you start.

Once you have finished cleaning, it is important to dry your monitor with a clean, soft, microfiber cloth or let it air dry. Then, to avoid moisture-caused electrical damage, ensure your screen is completely dry before turning your computer back on.

Use a microfiber cloth

To clean your monitor, you should use a microfiber cloth. Microfiber cloths are extremely soft and are known for attracting dust and absorbing oils. They are also inexpensive, so you can stock up on a few and rotate them while you wash the others.

Before you start cleaning, ensure that your cloth is clean and free of any grit or dirt. You can hand-wash your microfiber cloths in warm water with no detergent and hang them to dry. If your cloth is particularly greasy, you can add a pea-sized drop of dish soap to the water. Be sure to rinse the cloth thoroughly to remove any traces of soap.

Next, turn off your monitor and unplug it. Shine a light on the screen or tilt the monitor to spot any smudges or fingerprints.

If your screen is dusty, you can use a dry microfiber cloth to gently wipe away the dust. Be careful not to press down too hard on the screen, especially if it is an LCD or OLED display, as this could damage the screen.

For smudges or fingerprints, you can dampen your microfiber cloth with distilled water. Do not use tap water, as it may contain minerals or impurities that can leave residue or streaks on the screen. You can also use a specific cleaning spray designed for cleaning monitors or screens. However, avoid using large amounts of liquid, and never spray the screen directly. The cloth should be damp, but not dripping wet.

Gently wipe the screen with the damp cloth, using tight, overlapping "Z" strokes from the top to the bottom of the screen. You can also try using light pressure and wide, sweeping motions from side to side or top to bottom. Be sure to avoid using circular motions or buffing a single spot, as this could damage the sensitive electronics.

Finally, use the dry side of the microfiber cloth to make another pass over the screen, again using "Z" strokes. This will help to buff away any lint or residue.

It is important to allow the screen to dry completely before turning your monitor back on. Wait for at least 10-15 minutes to ensure that the screen is completely dry and to prevent any potential electrical issues or damage.

Avoid corrosive substances

When cleaning your monitor, it is important to avoid corrosive substances. This includes alcohol- or ammonia-based cleaners such as diluted rubbing alcohol or Windex. These types of cleaners can damage your screen by stripping anti-reflective coatings, causing clouding, or worse. Instead, use a slightly damp microfiber cloth to wipe down your screen gently.

Corrosive substances can cause serious damage to your monitor and your health. Corrosive substances are dangerous as they attack and destroy body tissue almost immediately, and accidents can be incredibly painful and dangerous. For example, swallowing a corrosive chemical will burn the lining of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, and stomach. Corrosive vapours can irritate the tissues in your nose, throat, and lungs, and some corrosive gases, like chlorine, ammonia, and hydrofluoric acid, will cause severe burning to the eyes, nose, throat, windpipe, and large airways within minutes of exposure.

In addition, corrosive liquids (e.g. mineral acids, alkali solutions, and some oxidizers) represent a significant hazard because skin or eye contact can readily occur from splashes, and their effect on human tissue generally takes place very rapidly. Examples of highly corrosive liquids include bromine, sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid, and hydrogen peroxide.

Therefore, it is crucial to avoid using corrosive substances when cleaning your monitor to prevent damage to both your screen and your health.

Don't spray directly onto the screen

It is important to never spray cleaning products directly onto your monitor. Excess liquid can pool in the corners of the screen and seep through tiny weak spots, wreaking havoc on the sensitive materials inside. The liquid can also drip inside the device and cause irreparable damage.

Instead, spray your cleaning agent of choice onto a cloth, preferably a microfiber cloth, and then gently wipe down the screen. Make sure the cloth is not dripping wet, but rather, slightly damp. This will prevent liquid from running down the screen and collecting in the edges and corners.

If you are using a cleaning solution, it is important to ensure that it is suitable for your type of screen. Most LCD screens are very sensitive to compounds such as acetone, ammonia, or propylene glycol, which are often found in window cleaners. These compounds will corrode the surface of your screen, resulting in scratches or smudges.

If you are unsure, distilled water is a good option, as it does not contain any added chemicals. You can also mix a 1:1 solution of distilled water and white vinegar, or distilled water and rubbing alcohol if you do not have vinegar.

Use distilled water

If you're going to use water to clean your monitor, it's best to use distilled water. This is because tap water can contain minerals that may scratch the screen.

• Add a tiny amount of distilled water to the tip of your finger and apply it to a microfiber cloth.
• Gently scrub the monitor, being careful not to apply too much force as LCD screens are fragile.
• Make another pass with the dry part of the cloth to remove any remaining water.
• Repeat this process as needed until the screen is clean.
• If your monitor is very dirty, you can mix a cleaning solution of equal parts distilled water and white vinegar, or distilled water and rubbing alcohol (for non-LCD screens only). Apply this solution to the cloth, not directly to the screen.
• When wiping your screen, use light pressure and wide, sweeping motions from side to side or top to bottom. Avoid using circular motions or buffing a single spot, as this could damage the sensitive electronics.
• It's important to ensure that your microfiber cloth is clean before using it to wipe your monitor. Even a single speck of dirt or sand could cause scratches or other damage.

By following these steps, you can safely and effectively use distilled water to clean your dirty monitor.

Frequently asked questions