What is the best way to clean a monitor screen?

[RaNDoMMAI]

Hi

i did a quick search for monitor and for clean and i didnt see any topic for cleaning a monitor's screen.

Right now i have these wipes at got at bestbuy but they leave some spots.

So what is the best way to clean a monitors screen?

btw a CRT

~RaNDoM

 

[mechBgon]

If the surface has no coating, just plain glass, then ordinary rubbing alcohol and some tissue works well. I use the alcohol-soaked tissue in my right hand and dry tissue in my left hand (to mop up the alcohol after it's dissolved the dirt & oil, otherwise you're just spreading it around more evenly).

 

[clicknext]

If your monitor has an anti-glare coating (when the surface doesn't look shiny like glass, but rather dull in texture), I wouldn't recommend using any chemicals such as alcohol. I just wipe with a damp cloth (not wet) and then dry it with a soft dry cloth or paper towel. Do this a few times to get stuff off, as long as you don't have an LCD it shouldnt hurt to use a bit of force on the tough spots.

 

[RaNDoMMAI]

I have a mitsubishi Diamond Pro 930SB

I think it has some kind of special coating.

So i should just use a good cloth and then some kind of soft paper towel.

sounds good to me

thx
~RaNDoM

 

[John]

How do I clean my monitor?

replace the word LCD with CRT

Dear Pigpen:
If that wonderfully sleek, space-saving flat-screen monitor adorning the top of your desk or workstation is blurry with fingerprints and smudges, there is hope. LCD (liquid crystal display) screens are especially susceptible to scratches and require a little special care, but you can have yours shining like new in no time. Apparently, every manufacturer has their own recommendations on how to best clean their particular model of LCD, but there are some general guidelines.

You don't have to turn the monitor off before cleaning it, but this will help you see the smudges and smears. If your screen is merely dusty, you can wipe gently with a soft, cotton cloth or try a can of compressed air. But if your screen is downright grungy, you might have to resort to some tougher tactics.

Though some people recommend using Windex, ethyl alcohol and ammonia-based cleaners can yellow your flat-screen or laptop monitor over time, so it is best to avoid such products. You can find an array of commercial products specifically designed to clean LCD screens, but you may prefer to just head to your kitchen and mix up your own solution. Plain old water can do the trick, or you can concoct a solution of vinegar and water or isopropyl alcohol and water.

Always use a soft cotton cloth, rather than a rag or paper towel to wipe the screen. Some people recommend special electrostatic cloths, like those used to clean eyeglasses treated with anti-glare finish, or even dryer sheets. Apply the cleaning solution to your cloth rather than directly to the screen and wipe in one direction -- from the top of the screen to the bottom.

One final word of warning, never touch or press on your LCD screen with your fingers as this can cause the pixels to burn out.

 

[RaNDoMMAI]

u can use water on a monitor???

i did not know this. i have killed several keyboards when i have droped water on them.

thx for the help
~RaNDoM

 

[arcenite]

windex + paper towel.

Bill

 

[John]

Originally posted by: RaNDoMMAI
u can use water on a monitor???

Sure, get an 8oz. glass of water and dump it on the screen. Use Bounty? (the quicker picker upper) to clean up the mess you just made. Polish the screen to perfection afterwards.

 

[ponyo]

I usually use eyeglass moisture wipes. I have like 100 pack that I bought at Sams and I use it to clean my glasses and monitors. Works great.

 

[sharq]

Why stop there, get a Super Soaker
Yes you can use water, I use a damp piece of bounty (or equivalent). By damp I mean I turn on the tap and just move it under the water such that it is just barely moist. Ofcourse, squeeze it remove any excess water. The rest is just how well you can polish.

 

[beatle]

Originally posted by: Naustica
I usually use eyeglass moisture wipes. I have like 100 pack that I bought at Sams and I use it to clean my glasses and monitors. Works great.

Took the words right outta my mouth! I use the same.

 

[NokiaDude]

Originally posted by: aRCeNiTe
windex + paper towel.

Bill

25/75 Windex-Water does an awesome job of cleaning with NO streaks!

 

[JohnPaul]

Originally posted by: NokiaDude

Originally posted by: aRCeNiTe
windex + paper towel.

Bill

25/75 Windex-Water does an awesome job of cleaning with NO streaks!

You guys do realize that almost all newer monitors have an anti-glare coating which is disolved by windex and most glass cleaners, and so should never be used on these monitors? Use windex and you will have a nice mess which cannot be fixed, other that totally removing the anti-glare coating, which should not need to be an option, unless someone happens to give someone misinformation, ruining the screen on an expensive monitor.

 

[Huma]

it's scary how many people recommend windex when it's really best at causing your anti-glare coating to streak really nastily.

I just take a lint free cloth, dab a wet finger against it, and rub my monitor in a circular motion and try with the other end of the cloth. all clean, no streaks, no chemicals eating my coating.

if you need more than a dab of water to clean your monitor, you need to stop eating spaghetti in front of it.

 

[NokiaDude]

Originally posted by: JohnPaul

Originally posted by: NokiaDude

Originally posted by: aRCeNiTe
windex + paper towel.

Bill

25/75 Windex-Water does an awesome job of cleaning with NO streaks!

You guys do realize that almost all newer monitors have an anti-glare coating which is disolved by windex and most glass cleaners, and so should never be used on these monitors? Use windex and you will have a nice mess which cannot be fixed, other that totally removing the anti-glare coating, which should not need to be an option, unless someone happens to give someone misinformation, ruining the screen on an expensive monitor.

In all my years of experience with Anti-Glare coating, a diluted solution like mine, 25/75 windex-water, will still clean the monitor and give it a strak free finish. I use clear colored Windex All-Purpose, which uses Vinegar as it's active ingredient, not Ammonia, which is sort of bad for your monitor at full strength like blue colored Windex.

 

[ssanches]

Actually I was going to post a thread asking the same question "what is the best way to clean a monitor" I think there should be a FAQ on this... (Where's Andy??)

Personally, I use a damp cloth followed by a dry and soft cloth.

 

[WobbleWobble]

I've had good experiences with Endust for Electronics on both LCD and CRT monitors. You can find it at your local office supply or chain electronics store.

 

[Bucksnort]

You guys do realize that almost all newer monitors have an anti-glare coating which is disolved by windex and most glass cleaners, and so should never be used on these monitors? Use windex and you will have a nice mess which cannot be fixed, other that totally removing the anti-glare coating, which should not need to be an option, unless someone happens to give someone misinformation, ruining the screen on an expensive monitor

Thats a load of bs. Windex will not damage crt antiglare. And i have used it on my $1000.00 sony ps monitor for years and several nec's, samsung and viewsonic. Soft papertowel lightly sprayed with windex is perfectly safe and never streaks so long as the monitor has been on a while and is warm.

 

[beatle]

Originally posted by: Bucksnort
Thats a load of bs. Windex will not damage crt antiglare. And i have used it on my $1000.00 sony ps monitor for years and several nec's, samsung and viewsonic. Soft papertowel lightly sprayed with windex is perfectly safe and never streaks so long as the monitor has been on a while and is warm.

Not according to this representative from Monitors Direct. I'll stick with my lens wipes.

 

[Gstanfor]

Go to an Optometrists and get a spray bottle of Spectacle cleaner.

Wipe the monitor first with a clean cotton cloth slightly dampened with water.

Sparingly apply some of the spectacle cleaner to the cloth and wipe the monitor down.

Using a clean water dampened portion of the cloth, wipe down again.

Using another clean cotton cloth, lightly (very lightly!) dry the monitor surface off by rubbing in small circles to avoid streaks while drying.

 

[CJP]

Also, if you want to avoid water streaks, clean the monitor in small sections wiping up the water from the wet cloth/paer towel with the dry cloth/paper towel right away before moving on to the next section.

 

[ssanches]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Go to an Optometrists and get a spray bottle of Spectacle cleaner.

Wipe the monitor first with a clean cotton cloth slightly dampened with water.

Sparingly apply some of the spectacle cleaner to the cloth and wipe the monitor down.

Using a clean water dampened portion of the cloth, wipe down again.

Using another clean cotton cloth, lightly (very lightly!) dry the monitor surface off by rubbing in small circles to avoid streaks while drying.

Hehe Looking at all these posts, it seems that cleaning a monitor screen is really really complicated :evil:

 

[CelBloK]

so many ways to clean a screen..... i'd just do what the manufacturer recommends, since they built the stinkin things and know what the antiglare coating is made of and the sensitivity of the screen.

 

[elkinm]

I first use windex or equivilent glass cleaner but that leaves streeks. Then I take some plain water and carefuly wipe my spreen with paper towels, or softer toilet paper or better yet some soft cloth. It takes some time to get all the streeks even from clean water but eventualy the display is perfectly clean.

 

[0roo0roo]

light mist of water on an off monitor... go over it with a damp then dry towel. or get some screen cleaner solution. ingredients on mine say water, 2-butoxyethanol. i guess u could use isopropyl alch u can get cheap at the drug store if u don't have anti glare coating.

btw, can i put iso propyl alch in a spray bottle safely? or is that just asking for trouble?

i did not know this. i have killed several keyboards when i have droped water on them.

thx for the help
~RaNDoM

i'm guessing you did way more then a light mist...