Cleaning Your Notebook Guide Part 3: Cleaning the Screen Discussion

Part three of our four-part notebook cleaning guide continues. This time, we focus on the screen, the whole screen, and nothing but the screen. Who wants to use a notebook with a dirty screen? See how you can restore that crystal-clear view your notebook had back when it was new.

Read the full content of this Article: Cleaning Your Notebook Guide Part 3: Cleaning the Screen

 

I just use a moist paper towel, wipe it down, and then dry it up with another one.

Thats the same method I use to clean the outside of my laptop as well. Works great.

 

For light smears/smudges I usually just use a microfiber cloth. If that doesn't do it I use a damp microfiber cloth followed by a dry microfiber cloth. For really tough cleaning I use a very mild dish soap water.. preferably Dawn (it has surfactants). Wiping in circles follow by a clean water damp microfiber cloth and then a dry one. If I'm away from home Isoprophyll alcohol is nice to have specially the ones that comes in a hospital swab. Followed of course with a dry microfiber cloth. It is usually recommended just a damp microfiber cloth and followed by a dry one would suffice. Microfiber traps those nasties in between their fibers and won't leave lint. They are so cheap to get. But just remember if you wash microfibers don't use a fabric softener rinse.. it will leave a residual in your screen.

 

Great article, but it's unfortunate that you haven't included Monster's iClean Screen Cleaner product in your tests. I've used that, the iKlear pack that came with my ShaggyMac, and many other cleaning solutions, I've found that iClean and its included microfiber cloth does a significantly better job.

 

I will have to find and try the iClean. As for the other suggestions, I think the pictures are enough response. The final thing so far, I do not recommend paper towels in the least, they can scratch your screen and damage it, especially it is coated, such as glossy screens.

 

Well my S96Jm must be a M1A1 Abrams tank because I have yet to see any damage whatsoever.

You guys exaggerate the sensitivity of modern notebook displays screens, they are coated very well.

Well you guys can keep spending money to keep your notebook clean but I'll keep using moist paper towels and a occasional use of an air spray can.

 

Thanks for the tips... Went ahead and bought the Monster's iClean Screen Cleaner from amazon for my trip in a few days. I know my little girl will have fingerprints all over the screen.

 

Nice guide. That was a little bit more over-the-top than I was expecting . Anyways, I've always just used a microfiber cloth with some of my eyeglass cleaner (the stuff purchased from walmart with free refills). I actually use this to clean the whole laptop. Works great.

 

Don`t overdo with this negligible screen-cleaning thing guys :laugh: I am using the simplest wet napkins and a cotton cloth and its really fine:wink:

 

Very interesting article. I never though lotion would turn black on an LCD screen! I may have to try some of the recommended methods in the article when cleaning my screen

Here's how I currently clean non-glossy LCD screens (This won't work for those glossy "BrightView" type screens):

1. Get a soft washcloth and dampen with water.
2. Wipe screen with dampened cloth.
3. Quickly take a microfiber lens cloth and wipe the screen dry, making sure the cloth is perfectly flat on the screen.

Step 3 is crucial. If you wait too long to dry the screen or bunch up the cloth on the surface when drying, you will leave streaks.

 

I tend to use microfiber cloth with Isopropyl Alcohol/deionised water combination.

No idea who (or what) ShaggyMac are but a great name nonetheless.

 

ShaggyMac is a brand. They make Microfiber cloths and sell all sorts of screen cleaning products. I highly recommend them, despite others claims that they are unnecessary. Check out www.shaggymac.com.

 

They haven't made it this side of the pond..though I notice they ship internationally.

 

Two words: Radtech OmniCleanz. Costs like caviar by the ounce, but it really works, and works safely.

 

Few things, first off I think it would have made more sense to use a glossy LCD since not only are they more and more popular, they pick up more and are harder to clean.

Any why not try windex? it's what I use, paper towel and windex!

 

I didn't use Windex because I want to use my LCD still. Windex is far too harsh to be safe on an LCD.

As for RadTech - I haven't used many of their products, but I have been less than impressed by the ones I have used.

 

I don't use windex because it might harm the coating on the LCD, a moist paper towel and a dry one afterwards to dry it up works great.

 

Excellent guide ... I was sick two weeks ago and hacking up a storm, so there are little spots of gunk all over my LCD monitor. A microfiber cloth and a bit of water cleaned off most of it to my satisfaction, but I'll definitely look at these products for the future.

 

i use Monster Cleanscreen (comes with microfiber cloth)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=5774879&type=product&id=1069297113224

 

So amonia = bad idea... but wood particles = good idea?

Why not just use a cotton rag?

I take 2 rags. Get one soaked in INCREDIBLY hot water, and squeeze out the excess water. Then, while its still hot, wipe off my screen. Then i take the other dry rag, and use it to take off any excess water left on the screen. Since the water is really hot, the water is still steaming and evaporates quickly, leaving no water marks behind.

Cheap, easy, safe... As long as you dont have oil marks on your screen(which would req. something like alcohol to break down) its the best option.

 

I could've gone without reading that ... really.

 

Hmmm... nice writting.
Personaly I never ever touch my screens with anything wet. I use only something similar to this:

Only I can't tell from the picture how soft and big it is, but mine is unable to scrach anything And screen is constantly just as new - from the box.

Well if someone touches my screen with fingers or sneezes on it... first microfiber and if it doesn't work, only then I use somthing moist

 

Forget any special products! They're just taking your hard earned money.

We have a natural, safe, biodegradable product that's been with us since the beginning:

Spit & polish

Spit is a natural de-greaser (ever had greasy teeth?), so it's ideal for getting rid of all those greasy fingerprints off the screen.
All you need is some clean bog-roll, tissue, kleenex, whatever... Then either put a little bit of spit on the tissue, or, if no one is watching, spit on the screen... you get much better coverage ;-) Then get polishing...
Finish off with a fresh, clean tissue, with maybe a little bit of breathing on the screen, to add some condensation/moisture, and your done!

I've been doing this for ever, and my screens are alway 100% clean.

It's amazingly effective, and always free!

Oh and for all of you that are scared of germs, you leave the screen practically dry, so any germs left on the screen won't be multiplying much... and there were probably magnitudes more germs feeding on the greasy fingerprints you have just cleaned off... and we all know that the human body harbours about 1000 Trillion bacteria, most of which are good mates of ours!

And if you have any colleagues that go around licking your screen, I'd get a new job if i was you.

R.

 

Is there a coupon code for free shipping from ShaggyMac on orders of less than $45? I'm looking to buy two of the microfiber screen protectors and it only comes out to about $26.