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How to Clean Your Laptop Screen Without Streaks
What is the best thing to clean a laptop screen with?
The best way to clean your computer screen is to use a microfiber cloth. Some laptops or video monitors include a small one in fact but if not they’re not hard to find in stores.
Clean dust and other loose residues from your screen with a dry cloth. If there’s tougher residue still on the screen, moisten a cloth with distilled water or 70% isopropyl alcohol.
You can also use a mixture of one part water and one part alcohol or substitute white vinegar for alcohol if you don’t mind the smell.
Be sure not to dampen the cloth too much to avoid liquid getting into your monitor. Also, don’t clean the screen too often for the same reason.
Items you’ll need
- Microfiber cloth
- Distilled water
- 70% isopropyl alcohol
Laptop screen cleaning steps
Follow these simple steps to clean computer screens without leaving streaks:
- Turn off your device and disconnect it from the power
- Take a dry, soft cloth
- Wipe your screen with gentle circular movements to remove dust
- Spray another cloth lightly with water or 70% isopropyl alcohol
- Wipe your screen again with gentle circular movements
- Allow to air dry or repeat steps 2-3
Wiping your screen vertically or horizontally can leave behind streaks. You can also use this method for cleaning your TV screen.
If your device has an LED or LCD screen, you’ll need to be very gentle as you clean. Rough cleaning or using a lot of pressure can cause damage to the display. Use distilled water instead of alcohol on these screens.
Touch screens on most devices and flat-screen TVs are also typically LED or LCD.
Can I use alcohol wipes to clean my laptop screen?
Certain types of alcohol wipes are suitable for cleaning your laptop screen. Be sure to select wipes that contain 70% isopropyl alcohol and use the same gentle circular motions described in the instructions above.
Most computer supply stores offer packets containing dry microfiber cloth and wet alcohol wipes for laptop and phone screens.
Can you use sanitizer to clean your laptop screen?
Hand sanitizer can be used to clean your laptop screen, but only high-quality sanitizer that contains at least 70% alcohol. A cheaper, harsher sanitizer is more likely to damage your screen than clean it.
Also know that moisturizing hand sanitizer is usually a bad idea to use and can leave streaks or residue on the screen.
Follow the steps above and be sure to only use a small amount of sanitizer on a cloth. Never rub it directly onto your screen.
What cleaning items are bad to use on a laptop screen or computer monitor?
There are many cleaning products that you should never use on your screen, including:
- Window or glass cleaner
- Hydrogen peroxide-based cleaners (such as bleach and stain removers)
- Ammonia
- Abrasives (such as feldspar and silica)
- Aerosol sprays
- Solvents
Paper towels are also not suitable for cleaning your screen, as they can not only leave behind streaks, but also lint that will dirty your screen more.
Also, even if a cleaning solution is suitable for use on your screen, be careful not to use it the wrong way. Don’t wipe or spray alcohol, water, or other cleaning fluids directly onto your screen.
Liquid can leak through the screen and cause irreparable damage to the internal components of your device.