How to Clean a Computer Screen

Your computer screen needs maintenance from time to time, and cleaning it is one of the essential tasks you have. This guide offers what you must know about the subject, including everything you should avoid.

What to Avoid

Even though using a wet rag, cleaning fluid, or rubbing your monitor might sound like tempting options at first, there are some things you should avoid to preserve your screen’s integrity. Here is what you shouldn’t do:

Never Spray Cleaning Fluid Directly onto the Monitor

Most people use different types of cleaning fluid to take the dirt off various surfaces. It’s very efficient, and it helps you both guarantee great results and make sure you save time.

However, you should never do that when you’re cleaning your computer screen. Since most of today’s monitors are so thin, the fluid is probably going to get under the top layer and damage your display.

Sometimes, you might think that just because water or cleaning fluid dries out, you can use it on your monitor. Nonetheless, you should keep in mind that by the time that happens, the damage is already done, and there’s no going back.

Avoid Rags and Paper Towels

Abrasions are likely to happen if you use paper towels or common rags. None of these items are designed to clean your computer monitor, and they can do serious damage.

To clean your monitor properly, avoid rags, general-purpose cloths, and similar items. They might be too harsh on your screen.

Never Use Rubbing Alcohol or Window Cleaning Fluid

One of the worst mistakes you could make when cleaning your monitor is using window cleaning fluid or rubbing alcohol.

Using either rubbing alcohol or window cleaning fluid actually damages your screen’s reflective layer, stripping it off the monitor. If you continue to repeat the process, you might strip more and more layers away, causing irreversible damage.

What to Do

Although it may seem like cleaning your computer screen is a very challenging process, it’s something you can do at home if you know the correct steps to follow. Take a look at what you should do:

Consider the Type of Screen You Have

The first aspect to keep in mind is the type of screen you have. There are many different options, and you should be aware of your monitor’s characteristics if you want to guarantee that your actions don’t damage it.

Overall, you shouldn’t use alcohol, rags, paper towels, general-purpose cloths, or cleaning fluid on any screen type. However, to properly take the dirt off the specific kind of monitor you have, you need to check the manufacturer’s manual or do some research.

Turn the Computer Off

This might sound like an obvious tip to many people, but others are not aware of its importance. Cleaning a computer screen while it’s still in use might cause you to damage the monitor forever.

Therefore, putting your computer to sleep is not the best idea. You need to turn it off and unplug it from the power source.

Use a Microfiber Cloth

A microfiber cloth is a tool you need to properly clean your screen. It’s not abrasive nor harsh, and it can help you quickly get rid of all the dirt on your monitor.

At the same time, there are many microfiber cloth options available and a lot of them are very cheap, which is immensely convenient if you are looking for a budget-friendly alternative.

Microfiber cloths have a positive charge, so when you use them on your monitor, they attract dust and dirt and get rid of them. However, they are not abrasive, which is why they are the ideal tool to clean screens.

Gently Wipe the Screen

Just because microfiber cloths are safe to use when you’re cleaning your computer screen doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful. After all, monitors are still delicate devices, especially if you have a touchscreen laptop, for example.

Therefore, gently wipe your monitor with it without applying too much pressure. If there’s only dust on your screen, it should be enough.

On some occasions, your monitor might have a few stains that don’t come off after you wipe it. When that occurs, you have to dampen your microfiber cloth.

Being confused is expected at this stage since you are probably wondering why you should use a damp cloth to clean your monitor if that’s supposed to damage it. Nonetheless, you should consider that your microfiber cloth should never be dripping wet – the key is to add a bit of water to help dissolve the stains your screen has.

Clean the Frame

Now that you’ve taken care of the screen itself, you can relax for some time and work on the frame, which is much easier.

Since the frame’s composition does not include the same materials as your monitor, there is less risk of damaging the screen. Thus, you can use the same slightly-wet microfiber cloth to take all the debris or dust off it.

Use Compressed Air

Compressed air is many people’s favorite option to clean computers because using it means you don’t need to apply any potentially harmful substances.

To properly use compressed air, you need to make sure you are at least a foot away from your screen. Otherwise, the force of the air might cause damage to your monitor, which can be as bad as applying abrasive substances to it.

When in Doubt, Check the Manufacturer’s Guidelines

If you’re not sure whether or not you should try a specific method to clean your monitor, there is a simple solution: check the manufacturer’s guidelines.

As the guide previously stated, each screen is unique, and cleaning it correctly depends on the model and the monitor’s specific characteristics.

Conclusion

Cleaning your computer screen is essential, especially if you want to guarantee your device lasts a long time. However, you need to know what you should use and what you must avoid. Otherwise, you might cause irreversible damage. Fortunately, you can properly get rid of the dust, debris, and stains on your monitor at home!

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