Best cheap way to clean an LCD?

E

Eagle156

2[H]4U
Joined
Jan 21, 2006
Messages
2,242
I accidentally got some finger prints on my LCD, so what's the best way to get rid of them? I searched this topic several times but I couldn't fund a definite answer. Would a damp, small, clean towel work? I used to use windex on my old CRT, but that just made the problem 10X worse.
 
You could try using rubbing alcohol. I'm not sure, but I think thats what screen wipes have in them anyways. Just don't over-do the amount.
 
Try to get hold of a microfibre cloth. They're not expensive at all and they work DAMN well.
 
Clean t-shirt with no logos or printing on it, half isopropyl alcohol, half water. Moisten (don't soak it) the t-shirt, not the screen, then using light pressure clean the screen. Yes a microfiber cloth is better but a soft t-shirt works fine.
 
I have found a solution that has been absolutely unbeatable so far:

Buy some Stoners Invisible Glass and some microfiber towels. You can purchase both of these in most local auto parts stores. it's cheap too. like four bucks a can.

I have used this on probably over 100 laptops and lcd monitors, as well as CRT's and of course, my car. It is the cat's pajamas for lcd's.

I have not run into any ill effects yet in over two years of using this stuff.
I hope this helps all of you.
If you are satisfied, you can thank me by buying me a slurpee.
 
I clean my CRT with Windex and Papertowel, same for my HDTV
 
Ladic said:
I clean my CRT with Windex and Papertowel, same for my HDTV
Click to expand...

Do not use Windex, it's ammonia based which can eat off the anti-glare coating if it has one.
 
The manuals for the screens reccommend a damp towel and water. I know that you have to have those around the house so therefore it is definately the cheapest way.
 
How about those little moist cloths they sell to wipe glasses? If it's good enough to wipe glasses it should be good enough to wipe an LCD right?

I'm gonna try that now i think. Been sneezing and coughing on my monitor and now there's a huge rubbed out phlegm stain :)
 
the wet wipes have alcohol in them.. i wouldn't use it.

anywhoo.. how close is your face to the screen in order to get sneeze and cough bits on it? :p
 
I am amazed by the amount of bad information posted here.

1. Alcohol (the rubbing kind) is not bad for the screen surface. Most manufacturers, in fact, recommend a diluted alcohol solution for cleaning (50-50 with H2O).

2. Windex does NOT contain ammonia UNLESS it's a bottle marked "with Ammonia". There's more than 1 type of Windex and if the bottle doesn't say "Ammonia" then there's no ammonia in it.

3. Paper towels contain wood fiber which will scratch the surface ever so slightly. They will build up over time even if you don't notice it right away.
 
this is what i use, the cloth is really tacking it feels like it wants to stick to your hand, and it leaves a streak free display

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=5774879&type=product&id=1069297113224
5774879_sa.jpg
 
Thanks for all the replies guys. I got ScreenDR which supposedly contains no alcohol or ammonia, and comes with a nice microfiber cloth; works nicely. I also got some compressed air cans to kill all the dust bunnies in my case.
 
You do not want to use Windex or other household cleaners!

I recommend either KlearScreen or a similar product from Monster.

I use Micro-Fiber clothes. The Monster product comes with one.

-Larry
 
cold solder said:
I am amazed by the amount of bad information posted here.

1. Alcohol (the rubbing kind) is not bad for the screen surface. Most manufacturers, in fact, recommend a diluted alcohol solution for cleaning (50-50 with H2O).

3. Paper towels contain wood fiber which will scratch the surface ever so slightly. They will build up over time even if you don't notice it right away.
Click to expand...

Yep, I too said #1, that's 2 of us on the same subject, you think someone might agree we're right.
Again #3, that's why I said a soft t-shirt. I don't have a problem with the commercial products, esp if your screen gets messy all the time but ours is used about 12 hours each day and it only needs cleaning about once a month. Just wanted to back up this info for those that may read it in the future. :cool:
 
Javelin3o4 said:
this is what i use, the cloth is really tacking it feels like it wants to stick to your hand, and it leaves a streak free display
Click to expand...

The reason it wants to stick to your hand is because it is micro-fiber. Micro-fiber does that.
 
I use a solution for cleaning digital camera SLR lenses and camera CCDs:

Eclipse Optic Cleaning System by Photographic Solutions (www.photosol.com)

I think if this is approved by Hassablad for cleaning their top grade lenses, and almost everyone uses this to swab their DSLR CCDs, then I think it should be good enough for my LCD. :)

100% methanol.
http://www.photosol.com/documents/msds_ewipe_eclipse.pdf

And the differences betwen standard grade Methanol and Eclipse (from http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/faq.html:)

(Q) Can I use "Methanol - CAS # 67-56-1" instead of Eclipse?
(A) Absolutely yes, but you must take into consideration that standard medical grade methanol isn't nearly as clean as Eclipse. Eclipse is refined Methanol with a specifications of 5ppm (parts per million) or less of contaminants, where as standard medical grade can have a specification of 500ppm or less of contaminants. This
contaminant is what can leave a white film on the surface.

I'm not promoting Eclipse or any sorts, but I think this is a great product.
 
I use an eyeglass cloth with a bit of warm distilled water. Any solvent including alcohol can damage the screen coating. LCDs have a variety of coatings you won't find on eyeglasses or lenses. The glossy coatings are especially sensitive to solvents.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top