One of the first things you need to know about how to clean electronic screens is that glass cleaner can seriously damage them. Those of us who are a certain age (ahem) grew up with glass-screened TVs and, later, computer monitors. Windex was our go-to cleaner, and it worked brilliantly.
Then technology changed, but some of our cleaning habits didn’t. The result, for many, were screens permanently damaged by the ammonia and other solvents in commercial glass cleaners.
Many of us have since been searching for an efficient, screen-safe cleaner ever since. Paper towels, facial tissues, and dish towels don’t cut it because they leave behind lint.
Most of the time, a microfiber cloth very lightly dampened with water is sufficient to get rid of smears and fingerprints. For those times you need something stronger, try the DIY screen cleaning spray below.
How To Clean Electronic Screens
Wipe your screens with a damp lint-free cloth whenever you notice a buildup of fingerprints or smears. Then use the screen cleaning spray once a week to disinfect them. Use it more often during cold and flu season.
Screen Cleaning Spray
Ingredients:
•1/2 cup water
•1/2 cup isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol (surgical spirits in the UK)
•Spray bottle
•Microfiber cloth
Directions:
Mix the water and isopropyl alcohol in the spray bottle. Lightly spray the screen and wipe immediately with the microfiber cloth. These screens are fragile so for stubborn spots spray and repeatedly wipe rather than pressing hard on the screen.
NOTE: You can substitute white distilled vinegar for the isopropyl alcohol, but it may leave streaks behind.
Apple does not recommend using anything but water and a lint-free cloth on their products. Apple forgets how nasty touch screens get… or how Apple salespeople use alcohol-based wipes to clean screens in the store.
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Dave says
September 30, 2016 at 10:48 AMIm not 100% sure, but many screens have anti-glare fils on the surface, and using products like alcohol may cause these films to be removed, which can basically ruin the screen.
I think this is worth exploring for accuracy before recommending screen cleaning solutions with alcohol.
Katie Berry says
September 30, 2016 at 11:54 AMStraight alcohol certainly could damage the anti-glare film. That’s why it’s cut with water in this DIY Screen Cleaning Spray recipe. As I pointed out, even Apple uses alcohol-based wipes at the Apple store — and that includes on iMacs and Macbooks which have antiglare films on their screens.
Don McBain says
February 3, 2016 at 6:24 PMI personally would spay the cloth with the solution rather than the screen. Thanks anyway.
Katie Berry says
February 5, 2016 at 10:39 AMExcellent advice, Don.