Cleaning equipment and electronics around your home office are pretty much more accessible with the use of general cleaners like soap, index, and other commercial cleaners.
But, knowing what to use to clean Laptop/Computer screen is essential to keep your screen protected during clean-up as it is very delicate.
Users can clean glass-protected Laptops and Computer screens using household products like isopropyl alcohol, baking soda, white vinegar, etc., and commercial cleaners like disinfecting wipes, eyeglass cleaner, etc. Meanwhile, we can clean LCD Laptops and Computer screens using distilled water or specific LCD cleaners.
Not every General-purpose commercial cleaner is suitable for your Laptop screen as it is susceptible.
Harsh chemicals present in them might damage your screen’s outer coating layer.
Read on to find out what to use to clean Laptop and Computer screens with details of suitable household and commercial products and safety equipment for cleaning.
Table of Contents Show
What to Know Before Cleaning Laptop/Computer Screens?
Before you clean your Laptop or Monitor screens with household products, you first need to know the screen types and their sensitivity.
Glass-covered LCD screens are more resistant and can even tolerate some moisture levels. Meanwhile, non-glass-covered LCD screens need extra care for cleaning.
For detailed information, let’s break it down to the screen types and their cleaning needs.
1. Glass Protected Screens
Glass-protected screens like Mac Laptops are more resistant to cleaning products and can be cleaned using products with less percentage of alcohol.
However, it should be noted that abrasive cleaning equipment should not be used as the glass can be scratched.
2. LCD Screens
LCD screens are present in most touch screen Laptops and Monitors.
They are susceptible to chemicals in general cleaning solutions and require delicate care.
LCD screens are easily damaged, and chemicals remove their glare-protecting layer. They can easily stain and cloud too.
3. LED Screens
LED touchscreens are very sensitive and require extra care while cleaning.
They have an oleophobic coating that can be removed from oils in cleaning components.
Moreover, liquids can easily damage the screen since LED screens do not have an outer protection layer like glass.
What to Use to Clean Laptop/Computer Screen?
When we consider cleaning the laptops and Monitors, we believe in keeping their exterior dust-free.
However, Laptop screens need attention, too, as dust, dirt, and germs can build up on the net.
The dusty layer or smudge marks can be pretty distracting while using your Laptop or Computer.
Moreover, keeping your appliances germ-free has been more of a concern since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Safe Household Products to Clean Laptop/Computer Screens
It would help if you were extra careful while using any products on your Laptop or Computer screen, as they can be easily damaged when the wrong chemicals come in contact with it.
If you prefer to stick to household products to clean your screen, you should know which products work well with screen cleaning.
1. Isopropyl Alcohol
Dilute the Isopropyl alcohol using 50% distilled water and 50% Isopropyl alcohol. This formula works for glass-protected screens like Mac screens.
Mix the solution and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on a microfibre cloth and wipe down your screen.
Do not use rubbing alcohol instead of Isopropyl alcohol, as it may contain perfume oils.
Oils do not dry up quickly, so they can get inside your Laptop or Computer through cracks and damage your screen.
In addition, you should never use alcohol to clean your LCD screen. Diluted isopropyl alcohol can be used to clean LED screens.
2. White Vinegar
White Vinegar is acidic, so it can only be used in diluted amounts on glass-protected screens.
Mix one part each of Distilled water and Distilled white Vinegar. Fill a spray bottle with the mixture and spray on a microfiber cloth.
Wipe down your screen with the wet cloth.
3. Baking soda
Baking soda has a mild abrasive that rubs away minor scratches without damaging the surrounding plastic.
Combine two tablespoons of baking soda with one tablespoon of water to form a paste.
Use a microfiber cloth to apply the paste to any spots on the screen gently. Take another piece of microfiber cloth to wipe the paste away.
This works for glass-protected screens but is not recommended for LCD screens as they are susceptible.
However, test it on a tiny space before applying this repair to significant areas.
What to do when Milk is spilled on the laptop?
Safe Commercial Products to Clean Laptop/Computer Screens
We use cleaning products like Lysol, rubbing alcohol, and other disinfectants to clean most of our furniture and equipment.
So, what to use to clean the Laptop or Computer screen?
Commercial products like cleaners can also be used to clean your Laptop screen. However, you must only use these products if you have a glass-protected screen.
1. Disinfecting Wipes
Disinfecting wipes like Lysol wipes are safe on electronics like Apple Laptops with glass protection.
Apple Support says it is safe to use a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe, 75% ethyl alcohol wipe, and Clorox wipes on Apple products with gentle use.
Disinfecting alcohol wipes cannot be used on LCD screens as their chemical components can remove the antiglare layer, damage the anti-reflective coating, and potentially leave marks on the LCD screen.
Baby wipes or facial wipes should not be used for LCD screen cleaning as they may contain alcohol and even oils. Oil can cloud your LCD screen permanently.
Oils in baby wipes can also remove the oleophobic coating on touchscreen LED screens used to repel oils.
2. Cleaning Solutions
You can only use cleaning solutions like Windex with a glass Laptop screen. Use a microfiber cloth to clean with Windex sprayed on it.
Cinch Glass Cleaner, Colin, and other cleaning solutions for glass-protected screen cleaning.
Windex and other cleaning solutions are made for cleaning glass and may contain ammonia and alcohol, harmful to the screen.
Bryson Screen Cleaner, WHOOSH! Screen Cleaner and other specially formulated products can clean LED and LCD screens.
3. Eyeglasses Cleaner
Most eyeglass cleaners are safe on glass surfaces, making them suitable for cleaning glass-protected surfaces.
However, this would not be a good choice for LCD screens due to their chemical composition.
Also read: How to properly clean a webcam?
Equipment for Cleaning Laptop/Computer Screen
Equipment for cleaning Laptops or Computer screens should be non-abrasive and delicate.
Microfiber cloth, non-abrasive sponges, and dusters can routinely clean your Computer screens.
1. Microfiber Cloth
You can use a microfiber cloth to wipe down your glass-protected LCD and LED Computer screens to remove layers of dust.
They have more surface area, which traps dust, dirt, and germs from your Laptop or Computer screen.
A polishing cloth is handy for Apple Pro Display XDR, with Nano-texture glass screens. You can only use the polishing cloth by Apple to clean them.
The nano texture is etched on this special glass for its enhanced contrast display, which is very sensitive and can be easily damaged by using other cloths to clean it.
However, you can use other polishing cloths for general Laptops and Computer screens.
| Microfiber cloths | Features |
|---|---|
| Progo Microfiber Cleaning Cloths | Removes dirt, grease, dust and grime Reusable |
| Camkix Cleaning Cloth | Compact carry case Wipe away dirt and smudges Antistatic |
| Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths | Soft non abrasive surface streak-free and lint-free Very absorbant |
| Buff Pro Multi-Surface Microfiber Cloths | Soft cloth Non abrasive |
| Care Touch Microfiber Cleaning Cloths | Lint free Cleaning for glass surfaces |
2. Non-abrasive Sponge
The smooth surface of non-abrasive sponges ensures that your screen is not scratched while cleaning.
An abrasive sponge made of plastic is too harsh on the delicate Laptop screen. The non-abrasive sponge can be used for cleaning all kinds of screens.
3. Duster
Feather dusters can scratch your screen and leave behind feather particles that can be abrasive on the screen when rubbed.
However, dusters like Swiffer 360 Dusters are soft enough to dust the screen and screen edges lightly.
Equipment to Avoid While Cleaning Laptop/Computer Screen
- Using pieces of cloth to wipe the screen can lead to scratching due to lint and amounts of cloth residue left behind.
- Paper towels and newspapers are too coarse for your screen and can scratch them easily. It can also damage the antiglare coating on the net.
- Toothbrushes have abrasive bristles, which can leave scratch marks on the screen.
- Never use cloths with polyester composition while cleaning screens. Polyester contains abrasive filaments which can scratch your delicate Laptop or Computer screen.
- Never use regular clothes to clean the LED touch screens. Lint from the cloth residue can interfere with the touch command.
Read more: about cleaning the motherboard.
Products to Avoid for Cleaning Laptop/Computer Screens
Commercial cleaners can contain chemicals that are not suitable for cleaning your screen. Using the wrong products can harm your screen’s display and cause clouding, marks, etc.
1. Soap and Water
Soap and water should not be used to clean your non-glass-protected Laptop or Computer screens. Some soaps may contain harmful ingredients like; alcohol, benzene, ammonia, or acetone.
2. Cleaning Products
You should not use cleaning products like Windex to clean LCD screens.
These cleaning products can have ingredients like Acetone, Ethyl alcohol, Toulene, Ammonia, etc., which can damage your Laptop or Computer screen.
These solutions can corrode your screen or leave streaks that are hard to remove.
| Harmful ingredients | Effect on screen |
|---|---|
| Ammonia | Leaves a glare-causing film |
| Propylene glycol | Upper layer of screen is sensitive to its high acidity |
| Acetone | Dissolves plastic components and glue inside the electrical parts |
| Ethyl Alcohol | Smudges due to high acidity |
3. Tap water
You should never use tap water on an LCD screen to clean them. It contains minerals that can coat and damage the screen display.
It can also have strong chemicals which are harmful to your screen. You need to use deionized or distilled water to clean.
4. Bleach
Bleach can leave stains on your Computer or Laptop screen, which is irreversible damage. The plastic layer of the LCD screen can quickly react with components in bleach and become cloudy.
Avoid using bleach to clean your Apple products as well.
5. Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizers have higher percentages of alcohol with glycerin which dries up very fast when applied on screens which can damage the LCD and LED screens.
They can not be used on glass-protected screens like Apple products as well. It is not the recommended method for screen disinfection.
Tips to Clean Laptop/Computer Screens
- Turn off your Computer or Laptop before cleaning the screen.
- Never spray cleaning agents directly on the screen, as they might trickle down and reach through edges and gaps inside the screen.
- Do not apply excess pressure on the screen, as it may damage the display.
- Read the manufacturer’s guide before cleaning electronic devices like Laptops or Computers.
- Firstly, unplug your Laptop or Monitors before cleaning the screen and turning them off.
- Never use excess liquids or water on your screen.
- Allow your screen to air dry after cleaning; never use air blowers and dryers to dry them more quickly.
- Place something over your keyboard for protection against potential drips.
While on the topic, you might be interested in reading about; How to Clean PC and Laptop Without Compressed Air?
Best Laptop/Computer Screen Cleaners
There are specific products for cleaning your Laptop or Computer screens that are free of chemicals and gentle cleaners.
Refer to the table below for the best-recommended products.
| Products | Best Features | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Bryson Screen Cleaner Kit-Computer $16 | Specially Formulated To Clean Fingerprints Will Not Leave Streaks On Screens Alcohol-Free, Ammonia-Free, And Phosphate-Free |  |
| GreatShield Universal Screen Cleaning Kit $9.99 | Soft and durable cloth Alcohol-Free, Ammonia-Free solution |  |
| 3-Pack Touch Screen Cleaner $14 | Microfiber side of the screen cleaner ball for marks. Terry cloth side for dust, fingerprints and smudges. Free of chemicals |  |
| Oxo Good Grips cleaning brush $7.99 | Soft bristles Useful for reaching the crevices |  |
| Weiman Anti-Static E-Tronic Electronic Cleaning Wipes $7.99 | Anti-static formula Useful for LED, LCD, plasma screens |  |
FAQs About Cleaning Laptop Screens
How do we Disinfect the Laptop Screen for Protection Against Coronavirus?
According to studies, SARS-CoV-2 can survive four days on grass surfaces and six days on plastic and steel surfaces.
So, it is imperative to disinfect your Laptop and Computer’s screens. But do we use sanitizers on them like we sanitize our hands?
Not! You can disinfect your Laptop or Computer screen with wipes, or products made explicitly for screens and LCD screens, like Screen Cleaner Spray Kit.
Read about fixing scratched trackpad/touchpad.
How do I Remove Stains and Fingerprints from the Laptop or Computer Screen?
Laptop or Computer screens can stain easily, especially if you touch them with oily or greasy fingers.
Using eyeglass cleaner or diluted commercial glass cleaners, you can remove the stains and fingerprints on glass-protected screens.
For LCD screens, you should use distilled water to wipe the stain. If water can’t remove the color, try Screen Cleaning Kit.
Final Verdict
Laptop or Computer screens are sensitive and require careful cleaning supplies. You should always check the composition of any cleaners before you use them on the net.
Routine dust removal and cleaning up can make your screen look as good as new. Also, don’t forget to disinfect your screen with wipes to be safe from covid-19.
Read about; How Often should you Clean your Computer?
