How to clean oil off LCD?

[zmzhang]

I was video taping on my digital camcorder when my friend wanted to point something out. His finger accidently touched the lcd and he was eating chips. Now the lcd has a slight oil mark. What is the best way to remove this?

Thanks

 

[mechBgon]

Maybe a bit of rubbing alcohol diluted in distilled water, and just sort of dab at it gently to lift the oil without rubbing?

 

[zmzhang]

I tried dabing it and it didn't go off. Perhaps i diluted it too much or something? I'm using 75% alcohol.

 

[mechBgon]

I haven't tried it myself (yet) so I'm not sure what to expect. The alcohol should help remove oil but it may take a while. You just don't want to rub the surface smooth and make a glossy spot or something, is my way of thinking.

I do have an LCD at work and I know the feeling... I'm going to print out a huge banner in 1-inch-tall letters saying DO NOT TOUCH SCREEN SURFACE !!

 

[dejitaru]

Don't dilute the alcohol. Or try glass cleaner.

 

[bruincal]

In my opinion, alcohol on any kind of glass or plastic surface is very risky. This is because once I used rubbing alcohol on a plastic PDA screen and the screen turned completely white. It seemed as if the alcohol had somehow either deformed the plastic or "melted" it.

I recommend that you get a paper towel, wet it, and mix in some hand soap. Squeeze out the excess water, with the paper still soapy. Wipe/rub your screen with it. Then just get another paper towel and wet it to dilute the soap on the screen and use a dry towel to wipe up the water. The soap cleans up the oil nicely and doesn't damage the screen.

 

[dzt]

take it to the distributor, or special repairement shop for LCD. since it's made of very verrrryyyyyyy sensitive material. I'm afraid you'll scratch the surfaces.

 

[amdskip]

While on this topic, what is the best and proper way to clean lcds. I hate people who put finger prints on them!

 

[dejitaru]

In my opinion, alcohol on any kind of glass or plastic surface is very risky. This is because once I used rubbing alcohol on a plastic PDA screen and the screen turned completely white. It seemed as if the alcohol had somehow either deformed the plastic or "melted" it.

It was probably acetone, isopropanol won't do that.

 

[dude]

Just use glass cleaner. The screens are tougher than you would think. Don't be shy!

Alternatively, you can use a soft towel or paper napkin to use to rub it. It won't scratch the coating on the glass. The only thing is a you should worry about is the towel or napkin might leave some lint.

 

[mechBgon]

I wish my LCD were glass, but it's plastic with a textured anti-glare surface (Planar 17.4").

 

[Gosharkss]

Dawn dish cleaner on a soft damp cloth.

 

[zmzhang]

Thanks, i managed to clean off the oil. They sell the plastic protector screens for pdas. i was wondering if i can cut it to fit the camcorder and put it on so the lcd stays clean?

 

[zmzhang]

^bump

 

[PowerMacG5]

I know you already got your answer, But I personally use 91 % (non-diluted) isopropyl alcohol to clean it. I do not apply directly, but I take a tissue, soak it, wring out the excess, wip it on, then use a microfibre clothe to buff it. Works very well, and have not noticed any bad things to come from it.

 

[prosaic]

I agree with KraziKid. When cleaning oils off one of these screens stick with pure or slightly diluted isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth with the cloth slightly dampened so that you don't get rivulets of liquid trying to run down the face of the screen. The microfibre cloth is nice, but not absolutely necessary. NEVER use a paper towel. They will put microscratches on the screen. I know this for a fact. I've examined a newly unwrapped LCD screen under a loupe right after a store manager cleaned it with a dampened paper towel. Clean by stroking GENTLY across the surface from top to bottom in overlapping strokes. Turn the cloth frequently (at the end of each stroke) so that dirt picked up on one pass isn't carried over to the next stroke to potentially scratch the screen surface.

Someone recommended "glass cleaner". That wasn't very specific, and following that advice could cause problems with some LCD screens. Glass cleaners vary considerably in composition. The ones that contain amonia, among other chemicals, are NOT recommended by manufacturers for use in cleaning most of these screens. Every LCD monitor I've investigated came with a manual that included instructions on how to clean the screen.

- prosaic

Oh yes, I forgot to mention the most important and final step to take in cleaning an LCD screen after someone has put his greasy fingerprints on it. Kill the perp, then nail his carcass to a nearby wall. Place a sign around his neck which explains why he has been placed in such an embarrassing position. The cleaning job is not done until you have performed this final step.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I just use a lint free cloth and purified water for regular cleaning and since if you tried to touch my LCD you'd pull back a stump where your hand was before you touched it the finger oil thang is not an issue