Buzz
Your laptop screen tends to gather dust, food particles, and other debris over time, which can make it look unattractive. It's important to use a gentle cleaning solution to wipe your screen, as the LCD surface is quite delicate. If you prefer not to purchase a specialized screen cleaner, you can use a microfiber cloth and a vinegar-water solution to clean it.
Steps
Clean the Screen Using a Microfiber Cloth
Turn off your laptop, and unplug both the power cord and the battery. Cleaning a powered-on screen can cause permanent damage, so make sure to power off the device completely instead of leaving it in sleep mode.
Prepare a microfiber cloth. This type of cloth is made from a material that doesn't shed fibers and is incredibly soft. If you use a regular towel, t-shirt, or another type of cloth, it might leave fibers on the screen or scratch its surface.
- Avoid using paper products. Do not use napkins, tissues, toilet paper, or other types of paper as they may scratch and damage the screen.
- Microfiber cloths are ideal for cleaning all types of screens and lenses.
Wipe the screen gently. A gentle swipe will help remove dirt and debris from the screen. Be careful not to apply too much pressure, as pressing too hard could damage the screen.
- By wiping in circular motions, you can reach difficult areas that may be hard to clean.
- Avoid rubbing the screen too harshly, as this could overheat the pixels and cause damage.
Clean the laptop frame with a mild cleaning solution. If the edges of the screen are dirty, you can use a regular household cleaning solution and a paper towel. Just be careful not to touch the screen itself.
Use a cleaning solution.
Turn off the screen and unplug the power and battery. Since this method involves using liquids to clean the screen, it is essential to turn off your device and unplug the power cord.
Mix a gentle cleaning solution. The ideal solution is distilled water, free of chemicals and gentle on screens. If you need a stronger solution, you can mix 50/50 white vinegar and distilled water for an effective result.
- Only use pure white vinegar, not apple cider vinegar or other types of vinegar.
- Distilled water is better than tap water because it doesn't contain chemicals.
- Manufacturers no longer recommend using solutions that contain alcohol, ammonia, or other strong solvents for LCD screens.
Pour the solution into a small spray bottle. This type of spray bottle dispenses the solution in a mist, similar to a perfume sprayer. Fill the bottle with the solution and close the cap. However, do not spray directly onto the screen.
Apply a small amount of solution to a microfiber cloth. The cloth should be non-static and fabric-free for the best results. Avoid using regular cloths as they may scratch the screen. Do not soak the cloth, just moisten it with the spray bottle.
- A wet cloth can drip water or slide when cleaning, and the solution might seep into the bezel and cause permanent screen damage.
- Each time, try spraying the solution into a corner of the cloth to avoid it becoming too wet.
Wipe the screen with the cloth in a circular motion. Quick circular movements can generally eliminate streaks. Apply light, even pressure to the cloth. Only use enough force for the cloth to make contact with the screen. Be careful not to press your fingers onto the cloth or the screen, as excessive pressure during cleaning could permanently damage the LCD matrix, rendering it unusable.
- Hold the screen by the top or bottom to avoid smudging while cleaning.
- You may need to wipe several times to remove all the dirt. Also, remember to re-moisten the cloth as necessary depending on how many times you need to clean the screen.
Identify things to avoid
Never dampen the screen directly. Under no circumstances should you spray water directly onto your laptop screen. This can cause water to seep into the device, so it should be avoided as much as possible. Only use water applied to a soft cloth.
- Do not dip the cloth into water. A soaking wet cloth could drip onto the device, causing potential damage. If you accidentally use too much water, be sure to wring it out thoroughly until dry.
Do not use regular cleaning solutions to wipe the screen. The safest solution for screens is water and vinegar or a dedicated LCD screen cleaning solution. Avoid using the following substances:
- Window cleaner
- Multipurpose cleaners
- Dish soap or any other type of soap
Never rub the screen. Pressing too hard could permanently damage the laptop. Instead, gently wipe in a circular motion when cleaning the screen. Do not use brushes or any objects other than a soft cloth for cleaning.
Advice
- Paper towels, napkins, or other paper products will leave paper fragments on the screen. It's best to avoid using them, as they can contain wood fibers and may scratch the smooth surface.
- Do not use tap water on the screen.
- If you're a photographer, consider using a lint-free lens cloth instead of a cotton cloth for cleaning.
- If you have eyeglass cleaning solution, check if it contains "Isopropanol." If it does, it should not be used on LCD screens.
- Use a cotton swab soaked in the solution to clean hard-to-reach areas.
- If you've accidentally spilled too much solution and the cloth is dripping or soaked, you can use a soft cloth to wipe it off and reduce the solution amount.
- After cleaning, dip the cotton swab into the solution again and continue cleaning. Be persistent with hard-to-reach spots.
- If you're unsure, you can test the solution on a corner of the screen first.
Warning
- Disposable wet/dry LCD cleaning wipes available in the market can address the aforementioned issues and more. These wipes are dampened with the exact amount of cleaning solution, ensuring no leakage or sliding on the screen. This type of wipe is lint-free and leaves no streaks when used as instructed.
- Turn off the laptop, unplug it, and remove the battery before cleaning, as failure to do so may damage the LCD pixels.
What You Need
- Distilled water
- Soft cotton cloth (microfiber is the best option)
- White vinegar
- Spray bottle
