How do "you" clean "your" laptop screen?

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Baiting Guru Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 11857 Location: UK

Has anyone got any tips for cleaning laptop TFT/LCD screens? I have been reading about it on Google and some say only to use alcohol etc, others say to use proper TFT/LCD screen wipes, or a couple of drops of washing up liquid in warm water, then buff with a dry lint free cloth after wiping.

I was thinking about using baby wipes, I saw a quite a few people who posted saying that's what they use, although I think I would soak them in water first for a while to get rid of any lotion residue in them, they work a treat on the glass CRT monitor screens, body and keyboards etc, and whilst I know TFT/LCD screens are quite delicate and might have a special coating on them, I think baby wipes might be ok to use, have you used them, or what else do you use?

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:40 pm

May I ask which fluids you want to remove from the screen? Shocked

Baiting Guru Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 11857 Location: UK

^^^^^ No bodily fluids Laughing

The laptop has not been used much yet, but I notice they seem to attract a lot of dust on the screen compared to this glass CRT monitor, and a little git who touched the screen with his greasy little fingers Mad

Baiting Guru Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 2163

you really need your own tech support forum

Baiting Guru Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 11857 Location: UK

^^^^^ This is not a tech support topic, it's cleaning support, and I know what you need ya bloody wind up Twisted Evil

Baiting Guru Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 3551

^^^^^^ Ha, ha! Laughing

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:58 pm

I use those little wipes they make for cleaning eye glasses and find they work well.

However, I would recommend sending a pm to Leccy as this is really his area of expertise.

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:06 pm

Quote:

it's cleaning support,

So you should have written the correct topic then: "Question for our women here:......" *runs and hides from the females here* Wink

On the serious side: I use a common computer surface cleaning spray and normal hankies to clean the screen of my laptop Smile

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:14 pm

^^ Breadcrumb. Running and hiding will not help. You will be found and punished (and not in a good way). Twisted Evil

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:21 pm

I actually use unscented baby wipes for sensitive skin. They don't have any lotion in them, and the do a great job (I've been using them for almost 3 years).

The best thing I ever used, though, were specially-made LCD-cleaning cloths that I found in the storeroom at work. There was one wet cloth, and then a separate cloth for drying the screen. They smelled awful, but did an amazing job. Don't remember what they're called, though.

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:23 pm

http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Laptop-Screen-With-Household-Products Wink

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:43 pm

Follow the recommendations of the manufacturer. If you ruin the screen with homemade cleaners you will void the warranty. And many cleaners will remove the coating on the plastic screen. I use a very slightly damp cloth with water only and wipe dry while still wet.

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:47 pm

I use this Lens Cleaner that you can pick up at the Wal-Mart vision centers.

Works great on my HP notebook

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:58 pm

Whatever you do, don't try to lick your screen clean. Your laptop won't respect you in the morning, and it doesn't work anyway.

Baiting Guru Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 11857 Location: UK

^^^^^ Thanks MC, what would I do without your help Laughing

Going to get some of those unscented wipes tomorrow and do a small test clean in the corner of the screen, failing that, it might clean up better with a sanding belt and some dettol Laughing

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:14 am

Oh, wait... You're running Vista, right SP? I don't think you can clean the screens on a Vista laptop. You need Microsoft Vista Ultimate Pro Business Screen-Cleaning Edition SP2 for that Wink

Baiting Guru Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 11857 Location: UK

Quote:

You're running Vista, right SP?

^^^^^ Sort of, I can use it, but I am now banned from using it for baiting purposes, it's for Open University study only Rolling Eyes

Still using my ME machine at the moment, but I have ordered another laptop, the very latest delivery date is March 29th and will probably be here sooner than that, that one is a HP Pavillion with Windows XP on it.

Master Baiter Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 193

I use the cheap wipes from our local �1 shop. It smells of orange and cleans the keyboard too. I also use them for the wide screen tv, microwave, car, mirrors and anything else that seems suitable.
I'm tempted to say that none of them work anymore but to be honest, no ill effects whatsoever.
I suspect that anything (within reason) is suitable as long as it contains a mild detergent (which most do) and you dry it off with a soft cloth.
Baby wipes? yep...used them too but the smell was rather off putting Very Happy

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:42 am

Baldrick wrote:

Baby wipes? yep...used them too but the smell was rather off putting Very Happy

The crucial part of my recommendation was unscented baby wipes for exactly that reason.

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:02 am

Dammit, I get enough of these questions at work.

If you really must know though, LCD screens are worth actually buying the stupid dedicated wipes for. You don't want anything that can dissolve or damage or scratch the screen. Or heck, a damp eyeglasses cloth or something.

So your best bet is to use steel wool, or a small blowtorch to "cook" the screen clean. Twisted Evil

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:33 am

Baldrick wrote:

...Baby wipes? yep...used them too but the smell was rather off putting Very Happy

You're suppose to use them on the laptop screen BEFORE you use them on baby.

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:41 am

I'm surprised that no one posted up the real answer. You take your mouse and click and hold anything you don't want on the screen. Just move it to your recycle bin and release. Tah.

If its deeper cleaning, I turn the screen sideways so the the surface is horizontal and any eyeglass cleaning liquids I squirt on it will not drain down the screen. I use microfiber cloths in a rolling motion so that dirt will get picked up and not scratch. I always move across. Never in circles to avoid swirls in the soft plastic.

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:43 am

When you're done cleaning, SP, don't forget the hot wax.

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:55 am

In earlier times it was quite easy to clean the screen: format c:\
But on vista Confused

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 11:22 am

I've used .001 lapping film in past to remove nasty scratches from CRT screens. These days spit and polish will do you best just remember don't spit to hard or you might crack one of those very very thin layers of glass behind the protective outer layer.
The layer you touch is plastic treat it that way. (and why were you touching it anyway pervert ) Smile

Dust every so often, wipe of the spittle marks when you see them.
I like to leave the beer bubbles until they are no longer required. They add a real life sensation when using flight sims Smile

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