How To Clean Your Laptop and Computer Screen

After a prolonged period of use, a laptop screen is likely to accumulate all sorts of dirt. This could be in the form of dust, oil or other types of soil.

A laptop screen that’s all dirty will not be appealing to look at. That’s why you must find the best way to clean your laptop screen. While at it, you should avoid causing damage of any kind to the screen.

No need to worry. Modern laptop screens with touch capability are made using designs that better withstand pressure. Unlike their counterparts in the past, these screens are more durable.

But as you keep using your fingers on the screen, they will accumulate dirt and require cleaning.

In this write-up, we show you a great way to clean a laptop screen.

Using a Microfiber Cloth

One of the reasons to clean your laptop screen using a microfiber cloth is that it helps prevent unwanted scratches. Apart from cleaning laptop screens, a microfiber cloth is also used to clean camera lens and glasses, for the same reason.

While other cloth types can also help you with the cleaning, they can cause scratches to the screen. As for using a tissue and paper towel, that’s not a good idea.

Their smooth texture is only deceptive, and these paper-based materials can cause scratches to the laptop screen. Do your cleaning in the following simple procedure:

Step 1. Get yourself a microfiber cloth. You will find them in different sizes, depending on what they have been designed to clean. Those for wiping glasses and lens are usually tiny, but they can be useful when it comes to cleaning a laptop screen.

Step 2. Shut down the laptop. Having a black, blank screen makes it easier for you to see the dirt that might have accumulated on it. It is also safer to clean your laptop screen that way.

Step 3. Gently wipe the laptop screen using the microfiber cloth. Move from one direction to the other, ensuring you get rid of the loose dust particles. Apply only minimal pressure since too much of it could damage the screen. You risk causing pixel burnout if you scrub the screen.

Step 4. Use a gentle cleaning solution to remove dirt on the laptop frame. A standard household cleaning solution works well when used together with a paper towel. Take care that it doesn’t touch any part of the screen.

Using a Cleaning Solution

The microfiber method may not work perfectly well. A cleaning solution is a great solution to clean a laptop screen with sticky stuff such as oil.

You will find a screen-cleaning spray in a store near you. It is also possible to make your cleaning solution by mixing vinegar and water in equal ratios. The alternative is to combine isopropyl alcohol and water in the same proportions.

Mix your cleaning solution using distilled water. Tap water could contain other chemicals, which could make the answer harsher than expected.

What you should avoid is anything labeled as a ‘glass cleaning fluid.’ No matter the cleaning solution you use, do not spray it directly onto the screen.

Step 1. After shutting down the laptop, unplug it from a source of power. Follow it up by removing the battery, to avoid short-circuiting any of the internal components.

Step 2. Put the cleaning solution into a small atomizer bottle. If you have ever used a spray bottle, which you have to push the top to produce a fine mist, that’s what we are talking about. After pouring some solution in the bottle, screw it closed. You shouldn’t use it to spray the screen itself.

Step 3. Apply a little cleaning solution on a static-free microfiber cloth. A regular fabric is a no-no, given that it could end up scratching the screen. The material only needs to be moist and not wet. Apply the solution moving from one corner to the next.

Step 4. Using the cloth, wipe the screen in circular motions. Put some speed to the actions to get rid of any streaks of dirt. You don’t need to apply too much pressure. Press the cloth only enough to maintain contact with the screen.

Use too much, and you will end up permanently damaging the screen’s LCD matrix. You don’t want to spend money on a screen replacement, do you? As you clean, hold your screen from the very top or bottom. If you don’t, you could end up making it dirty it all over again.

Step 5. Keep cleaning the screen over and over again until it is all clean. That would mean dampening the cloth multiple times. Be careful that the cleaning solution does not drip on the screen or laptop’s keyboard.

Step 6. Go through the entire laptop screen until you finish. Wait for it completely dry, replace the battery, and power on the laptop. If you do not need the computer, close the lid.

Using a Damp Cloth

Apart from dust and oil, your laptop screen could also accumulate dirt and grime. Wiping with a microfiber cloth may not be enough to clean it. Instead, you will only end up with an overly dirty material.

Why don’t you wipe the laptop screen using a damp sponge? This is a great way to clean a laptop screen with grime and other kinds of dirt.

For the best results, get a brand new household sponge and some deionized or distilled water. Only ensure that you use appropriately filtered water. Standard tap water contains minerals and could leave unwanted marks on the screen.

Step 1. After shutting down the laptop, unplug it from the source of power. To prevent further damage to the internal parts, remove the battery.

Step 2. Use distilled water to wet the sponge. Wring it until it stops dripping water.

Step 3. Look for the dirty areas of the screen and gently wipe them using the sponge. Clean out any drips of water immediately to avoid causing permanent damage.

Step 4. If the screen is immaculate, wait for it to dry completely. The closed the lid or power the machine on in readiness for use.

General Laptop Cleaning Tips

To ensure you do not damage your laptop screen, there are some things you should avoid. They include the following:

· Avoid directly wetting the filter. Spraying water or other liquids on your laptop screen could cause damage to the machine.

When water gets into contact with some of the internal parts, it is likely to cause additional short circuits. When using water, apply it using a sponge or cloth which are only damp enough but not wet.

· Do not use regular cleaning detergents. For enhanced safety to your laptop, only use vinegar mixed with water in the same ratio. If not, then use a particular screen cleaner bought from a store near you.

Products to avoid include window cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, dish soap or any other detergent.

· Avoid scrubbing the laptop screen. Scrubbing will expose the laptop screen to a lot of pressure and even end up damaging it.

When cleaning the filter, do it in gentle, circular motions. Use a very soft cloth and not a brush.

· Always unplug the laptop and remove the battery first. After turning off the laptop and unplugging it, you will be able to see all the dirt that needs to be cleaned. Also, you will be able to prevent possible electric short circuits.

With these laptop cleaning methods and tips, you should be able to take good care of your screen. Don’t do anything that can cause an internal short circuit or damage your laptop screen.

As much as you want a clean laptop screen, you want a machine that will remain in good working condition for a long time to come.