How to Clean a Computer Screen

Household cleaners are designed to destroy everything from coffee stains to mildew. They contain strong chemicals just for this purpose.

That's all well and good when you're attacking the kitchen sink, but not when you're faced with the protective coating on LCD screens. 

Anything with acetone, ammonia or alcohol will strip away the veneer on your monitor, making you long wistfully for the days when it was merely dusty.

The upshot will inevitably be you buying a brand new computer monitor. 

There are also secondary issues, involving harmful chemicals and static electricity.  In a worst case scenario, your bathroom cleaner will seep into the electronics itself.  Then the best you can hope for is the entire computer dying.

Naturally I have gone for the extreme possibilities here. It's likely that nothing at all will happen the first few times (unless you're really unlucky). But ruining the protective coating is guaranteed.

It's much better all round to explore the safe and effective ways to remove the grime from your computer monitor.

In all of these methods, it's better to use them when the screen is turned off. That way you're not cleaning through the static too.

When you clean your PC screen, the temptation is to zoom the wipe or cloth straight across. This is incorrect.

Tiny circles is the way forward. Go around and around on the same spot, then move onto the next one.

Be gentle. There are electronics behind that screen which could be damaged with vigorous rubbing.

This concentrates the cleaning, but more to the point, it reduces streaking. You aren't dragging the cleaning solution too far in each wipe.

Of course, that's assuming that there is any LCD cleaner to take anywhere.  In screen wipes, there always will be. In the picture above, there was not.

If your screen is merely dusty, then it's better to knock that off with a cloth.  Cleaner only comes into play, when the grime is a bit deeper.  This is another reason why screen wipes fell out of favor with me.

The yellow dusting cloth is what would be used to polish your desk. Look at how the dust sits on its surface. This is great for just shaking out and reusing.

It's not great when you might be encountering static electricity on your screen. It could well leave the dust right there, not to mention bits of fiber too.

This is where we turn our attention to a proper LCD microfiber cloth. This grips the dust and holds it inside. It is by far the better option for your screen.

If the microfiber cloth isn't too dusty, then it can be whacked to release the grime. If not, then I just shove it in the laundry.  I've used this one for years with no hassle.  It lasts a lot longer than the normal dusting cloth too!

Personally I've found that just running a microfiber cloth occasionally over the screen does the job. But there will be times when more is required.

The rule of thumb is simple. If a dry cloth didn't remove the stain, then reach for the cleaner. But again, make it the right cleaner!  Nothing with chemicals that will harm your screen's protective coating; and nothing that will run.

I should say straight away that I've never used this method, but I have some trusted friends who do.  It's certainly cheaper than buying a screen cleaner, but my little Monster bottle has lasted so long that I've not had to go there.

Never, ever spray water or undiluted vinegar onto your screen.  

This method involves mixing 25% vinegar with 75% water. Then applying a small amount onto a microfiber cloth. This should leave the cloth barely damp. If you can wring it out, that's too much. if it causes the solution to drip, that's too much.

Then continue as above with that cloth, using circular motions on your LCD screen. Remember to dry it off afterwards with a portion of the cloth which is still dry.

Now enjoy your clean monitor!