Cleaning LCD screen

On Thu, 01 Feb 2007 19:48:26 +0000, Peter Twydell Has Frothed:

I've been using a window cleaner (sprayed on the cloth only) on my flat panel monitors for years.

I've never had a problem using windex and paper towels on LCD screens. Andy Cuffe

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com

They recommend NOT using glass cleaners and NOT using paper towels. A 50/50 mix of water and isopropyl alcohol along with a micro-fiber cloth are recommended. Do not apply the liquid directly to the screen.

It's the ammonia in glass cleaners that's the problem.

Also, some paper towels can create scratches when wiping some surfaces.

In message , Peter Twydell writes

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll have a look around and try to find an IPA-based product.

BTW, Windex appears to be a left-pondian product, unavailable here AFAIK. Is there a UK equivalent?

I'm assuming that this method would also apply to DLP based rear projection TVs?

Peter,

I use a soft tissue moistened with 'Windowlene' spray on my TFT screens and it has never damaged one yet. It may take you a couple of goes to get all the sticky marks off and shift all the smears but it does work well. I wet the tissue for badly contaminated screens, but never drench it so much the liquid can run into the display surround.

Never use kitchen towels though- they can and do cause scratching! Use the softest tissues you can find, or a soft cotton cloth. Don't push firmly as LCD screens are easy to crack!

Morse

I used Windowlene on my Mitsubishi CRT monitor and the anti reflective coating started to come off! Ooops!

Ron(UK)

and

Had the same problem with my last CRT, even though had been using Windex(ammonia) for years on other monitors. Once you see a problem it's too late.

Since starting to use LCD monitors have been using individually wrapped 3M notebook screen wipes. Seemed expensive when buying them but flat panels don't attract nearly as much crap as a CRTs with it's high voltage. One does a TV and 3 monitors . Use < 4 wipes a year. Way less than $1 a year.

Ouch! AR coating can detach itself for reasons other than solvent damage though, I inherited some Sony 300SF monitors from a company which I know used proper wipes to clean them, and one had signs of coating damage. I understand the coating can be removed completely on some monitors if it starts to flake.

Morse

Well, One day I`ll strip the lot off - when I get a round tuit - It`s a lot brighter where the coating is missing, luckily just in one lower corner

Ron(UK)

yeh, paper towels can be loaded with micro fine chunks of any kind of abrasion material. wire, process machine wear debris, and worse yet, sand and grit from factory process locations.

many 'green' products fomulated from recycled paper from god knows wherever, may contain unknowns also

i use nice old soft and well used face cloths that have been through laundry enough times to make them really fluffy and absorbent when dry.

have used that orange grease cutting cleaner concentrate in a 1oz to a spray container (abt 32 oz?) of filtered h2O as my cleaning solvent. claims to have no caustic or other elements. and has worked well for last 6 yrs. fingerprints with food grease and skin oils are misery., but disssaper with this.

static is always a problem, but a plain fine soft 12 inche cleaning handbrush takes most of that dust off in a few swipes.

old real glass used for older units will fare better, but the newer units with composite acrylic and newer polymer specialty coverings demand special care. follow the manufactureres recs for the new ones.

yeh, paper towels can be loaded with micro fine chunks of any kind of abrasion material. wire, process machine wear debris, and worse yet, sand and grit from factory process locations.

many 'green' products fomulated from recycled paper from god knows wherever, may contain unknowns also

i use nice old soft and well used face cloths that have been through laundry enough times to make them really fluffy and absorbent when dry.

have used that orange grease cutting cleaner concentrate in a 1oz to a spray container (abt 32 oz?) of filtered h2O as my cleaning solvent. claims to have no caustic or other elements. and has worked well for last 6 yrs. fingerprints with food grease and skin oils are misery., but disssaper with this.

static is always a problem, but a plain fine soft 12 inche cleaning handbrush takes most of that dust off in a few swipes.

old real glass used for older units will fare better, but the newer units with composite acrylic and newer polymer specialty coverings demand special care. follow the manufactureres recs for the new ones.

yeh, paper towels can be loaded with micro fine chunks of any kind of abrasion material. wire, process machine wear debris, and worse yet, sand and grit from factory process locations.

many 'green' products fomulated from recycled paper from god knows wherever, may contain unknowns also

i use nice old soft and well used face cloths that have been through laundry enough times to make them really fluffy and absorbent when dry.

have used that orange grease cutting cleaner concentrate in a 1oz to a spray container (abt 32 oz?) of filtered h2O as my cleaning solvent. claims to have no caustic or other elements. and has worked well for last 6 yrs. fingerprints with food grease and skin oils are misery., but disssaper with this.

static is always a problem, but a plain fine soft 12 inche cleaning handbrush takes most of that dust off in a few swipes.

old real glass used for older units will fare better, but the newer units with composite acrylic and newer polymer specialty coverings demand special care. follow the manufactureres recs for the new ones.