What do you clean your monitors with?

[IgoByte]

Well, what exactly do you use to clean your monitors and what's the best?

 

[Markfw]

Windex or genric window cleaner works just fine.

 

[dszd0g]

Endust for Electronics Anti-Static Wipes. I'm typically paranoid about this type of thing. Most newer monitors have an anti-glare coating that is easily damaged by chemicals (and even finger prints).

 

[MasterHoss]

Yeah, you should watch out when using chemicals. It may eat through or at least damage your monitor's anti-glare coating. I like to use a soft cloth (with water if needed).

 

[billyjak]

A product called LCD computer screen cleaner by MiraChem
Safe on LCD,Plastics, Polycarbonate and Polarized screens, lenses and other surfaces.
Non abbrasive, non discoloring, non fuming, and non toxic.
The best
Look here

 

[Utterman]

I use distilled water sprayed across the screen. Then I use an anti-static/particle cloth made by 3M

 

[JoPalm]

Piece of 3M cloth and my breath .
If it's really bad then just a bit of water and the 3M cloth.

 

[boi]

Like JoPalm, I use a 3m Scotch Brite High Performance Cleaning cloth. It works pretty good in getting oil off the screen =)

 

[IgoByte]

Sounds good. Thanks.

 

[dszd0g]

billyjak, I agree that that sounds like a fine product to use, but I am not familiar with it. I just would like to know how you come to the conclusion that it is "the best"? Divine inspiration or are you a chemical engineer and have looked at what the product actually uses? Most of these products do not label their ingredients making it a little difficult for me to compare them. I know that ammonia can damage the screen coating (a common ingredient in window cleaners) and the Endust I use claims to be ammonia free.

I have also heard that some alcohols damage the coating, but I do not know whether Endust is alcohol free or not. I would hope so, but I do not know what other hightly volatile chemical they would use to create the fast dry property. Does the product you are recommending as "the best" claim to be alcohol-free and ammonia-free?

One should not use paper towels as the wood fibers will cause small scratches. I honestly doubt that the Endust I use is any better than taking an anti-static lint-free cloth damped with distilled water.

From the iKlear FAQ:

Q Why can't I use a "glass cleaner" on my laptop's LCD display screen?

A Don't make a $2,000 mistake cleaning your laptop screen with a $2 glass cleaner and a paper towel! LCD display screens are almost universally made of plastic. Plastics and computer manufacturers consistently do not recommend alcohol or ammonia based cleaners. Repeated applications of alcohol on plastic will turn your screen surface "yellow", make it brittle and cause "stress cracking" (hairline scratches) on your screen surface.

I was able to find a number of LCD manufacturers make the claim of ammonia turning the screen yellow, but not alcohol.

Windex that does not use ammonia is supposedly vineger based, which will also cause damage to the screen.

Endust and iKlear are the more popular products used that I've seen. Apple recommends the iKlear KleenScreen stuff for their Powerbooks. IBM supposedly says to use 50% Isopropyl Alcohol and 50% water.

Interesting, is in a search on Endust (I am trying to find someone who knows what is in it). It came up on a list of site hazordous materials (along with most other household cleaners, so I guess it is pretty meaningless):
LIST OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS

Some people seem to believe that Endust is just Isopropyl Alcohol.