The now-defunct and archaic CRT screens used large tubes made out of glass. So they could be cleaned in pretty much the same way as you would clean other glass items. However, flat screen televisions, monitors, and other displays such as LCD, LED-backlit LCDs, and touchscreen devices require special attention when cleaning. They are much more sensitive and can be easily scratched and damaged during cleaning. This applies to your laptop, tablet screen, smartphone or even eBook readers. While Plasma TVs are made of glass, they have a sensitive anti-glare coating applied. Needless to say, special care is required either way.
At Ooberpad, many of our customers are often confused about taking care of their precious home theatre electronics, especially in a country like India where dust pollution is in abundance and air-conditioned environments are limited. Here, we share a few tips and guidelines to clean your flat screen TVs and displays the right way.
The Cleaning Process: Do’s & Don’ts
- Firstly, turn off the device. When the screen is dark, it is easier to see the areas that are dirty or which sport oil or dirt marks. Turning the device off also prevents you from accidentally pushing unwanted buttons. This happens a lot when cleaning touchscreen devices such as tablets, smartphones, and iPads, etc.
- Always use a dry, soft cloth and gently wipe the screen with a microfiber cloth or dry eraser. Microfiber cloth is generally preferred as it does not introduce minute scratches that are invisible to the naked eye. Avoid synthetic material at all costs.
- If the dry cloth did not completely remove the oil or dirt, do not try to press harder in an attempt to scrub it off. Pushing directly against the screen can often cause pixels to burn out. This is especially true for laptop displays, desktop monitors, and LCD/LED TV screens. Remember to be gentle while scrubbing stubborn stains.
- If required, dampen the cloth with distilled water or with an equal ratio of distilled water to white vinegar. Many companies also sell small spray bottles of special cleaner for flat screens. Never spray these liquids directly on to the panel. Always dilute it or spray it on the cloth first.
- The plastic edge or bezel s around the screen can be wiped with any multipurpose cleaner. However, take care to avoid contact with the screen itself. It's best to spray the cleaning liquid on the cloth to avoid any spillage on to the flat-panel of the display device.
- Avoid using toilet paper, paper towels, tissue paper, or etc. to wipe the screen. These materials can scratch the display and these scratch marks are not repairable.
- Avoid using strong cleaning products that contain ammonia, ethyl alcohol, toluene, paint solvents, acetone or ethyl acetate to clean the display. This can severely damage the sensitive anti-glare coating. These chemicals can react with the materials that the display is made of or coated wit. This could permanently discolour the screen or cause other kinds of damage.
- Never spray liquid directly onto the screen. It could leak into the device and cause damage. Always apply the cleaning solution directly onto the cloth and then wipe from there.
- Wipe in one direction. Using circular motion could spread the stain to areas that weren't stained in the first place. Use a single motion in the same direction.
- Never use your fingernail or a sharp object to remove stubborn stains. This could scratch the surface of the screen.
We hope you find these tips useful. Did we miss anything? Or, do you have any tips cleaning new-age displays? If so, please use the comment section below to share your tips, tricks, and ideas.
