windex for lcd screen manufacturer

Screens can scratch easily, and even paper towels and tissues contain fibers that can do damage. “Your best bet is to use a soft, anti-static microfiber cloth—the kind used to clean eyeglasses and camera lenses—and wipe in a circular motion,” says John Walsh, who cleans more than 250 TVs a year in his role as a CR photographer. (Some TV manufacturers will include a cloth for this purpose.) “Gently wipe the screen with a dry cloth to remove dust and other debris, but don’t press too hard,” he says.

You may also want to wipe down the TV’s cabinet, and make sure dust isn’t clogging the vents that help dissipate heat. If the TV is on a stand and not tethered to the wall, Walsh suggests cleaning with one hand while supporting the TV with the other to prevent the set from tipping over. However, CR strongly recommends anchoring all stand-mounted TVs using anti-tipping straps designed for this purpose.

If there are hard-to-remove stains, you can dampen the cloth slightly with distilled water and gently clean the screen. Don’t spray water directly onto the screen; that could cause a shock or component failure if water seeps into the inner workings of the set.

For the most stubborn stains, you can try using a solution of very mild dish soap highly diluted with water, once again applied to the cloth and not to the TV itself. (As a guideline, Panasonic used to recommend a 100:1 ratio of water to soap.) LCD screens, in particular, are very sensitive to pressure and can scratch easily, so don’t press hard.

As the weather warms, it"s time for everyone"s "favorite" pastime: spring cleaning. While you"re dusting off the shelves and shoveling out a winter"s worth of detritus, spare a moment to check your TV. Dust and grime can accumulate there, and over time it can become more and more noticeable. And if you have children, there may be an array of fingerprints and other smears on the screen.

The short version? Don"t use liquids, don"t press too hard, don"t use any traditional cleaners. Microfiber cloths are good, but be gentle. Modern TVs are predominantly plastic and therefore far easier to scratch than windows or your phone.

Want the longer version? Here"s what the top TV manufacturers say about cleaning their screens:Cleaning your 4K, OLED, or LED TV screen with a soft, dry cloth is recommended. The goal here is to avoid scratching the screen. Gentle, circular motions tend to give better results, since the circular motion hits each area from several angles in a single swipe.

Caution: Don"t spray water or other liquids directly on the TV, as electric shock could occur.Turn the TV off and let it cool down for a few minutes before unplugging it.

To clean the frame and screen, gently wipe it with a microfiber cleaning cloth. Make sure to wipe the TV frame and screen as gently as possible. TV screens are fragile and can be damaged when pressed too hard.

Important: Never use any type of window cleaner, soap, scouring powder, wax, or any cleanser with solvents such as alcohol, benzene, ammonia, or acetone. Never use abrasive pads or paper towels. If you do, you can scratch the screen or strip the anti-glare coating off the screen and cause permanent damage. Never spray water directly onto the TV. Make sure to wipe the TV as gently as possible. TV screens are fragile and can be damaged when pressed too hard.Gently wipe the screen or the exterior with a dry, soft cloth, such as an eyeglass cleaner.

For inks from oil markers on the screen, soak a cloth in a non-soap synthetic cleanser diluted (by less than 1% ) with water. Squeeze the cloth tightly to eliminate excess liquid, then wipe gently to remove the ink. Use non-soap cleansers cautiously because it may cause environmental problems when disposed improperly.

So why not Windex? Regular Windex is formulated for glass windows, plus a few other surfaces. It contains ammonia and alcohol, not the friendliest of chemicals. S. C. Johnson doesn"t explicitly say not to use Windex on TVs, but it offers Windex Electronics wipes and cleaners, so infer what you will. The better screen cleaners will clearly state that they do not contain alcohol or ammonia.

At last count, I found a billion companies making TV screen cleaners. Almost all of these are something like 99 percent water, 1 percent other stuff. Years ago I tested a handful and found them, on average, to work well enough. If you don"t have luck with a simple cloth and possibly distilled water, a screen cleaner is worth a try, and as a bonus you can also use it for your laptop, tablet and cell phone screens. Plus, they come with a microfiber cloth. If they don"t clearly state they don"t contain alcohol and ammonia, however, I would skip them.

So yeah, cleaning your TV is a good idea. But just remember that they"re exceptionally fragile. Why risk marring their surface by using cleaning methods the companies themselves don"t advise? If you damage your screen with cleaners, you won"t be able to fix it.

Screen cleaning kits are fine, though most people won"t need them. Remember, like all TV accessories, the store is selling them because they probably make more profit on that $20 kit than on a $500 TV.

As well as covering TV and other display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000 mile road trips, and more. Check out Tech Treks for all his tours and adventures.

Before the turn of the millennium, a question like this had a universal answer. Windex could be used on the glass screens of televisions of yore; however, many modern HD television screens are much different and require alternate maintenance.

You cannot use Windex on a TV screen if it is a modern HDTV with plasma, LED, or LCD screen. Only older TVs with glass screens can tolerate this cleaner. Instead,

If you’re wondering if it is safe or not to use Windex to clean your TV screen, this article will help you make that determination and provide you with alternative cleaning methods for those screens that cannot have Windex applied.

Unless you still have an old and boxy CRT television dating back to the twentieth century, then odds are you should not be using Windex to clean your TV screen. Those kinds of older TVs had glass screens that could tolerate Windex, hence why this question even lingers today.

However, today’s plasma, LCD, and LED screens are far too delicate to handle harsh chemicals in common cleaning products. You may have an older plasma screen, in which case, it may be made of glass. If this is the case, then Windex, or a similar glass cleaner, will work just fine so long as there is no protective coating on the screen. Otherwise, it absolutely should be avoided by any means necessary.

It’s important to note here that we are not picking on Windex brand cleaner specifically. Like Kleenex is to tissues, Windex is to glass cleaner; many people use these brand names to refer to the generic item it represents. And it shouldn’t be overlooked that it is the ingredients in glass cleaners, such as Windex, that will cause you to have issues.

Avoid any cleaner that has ingredients like ammonia, acetone, or alcohols of any kind. Most flat-screen HDTVs have a protective layer that can be damaged when it comes in contact with such chemicals.

To avoid not only a negative chemical reaction but scratching the screen as well, most TV manufacturers suggest using a soft cloth to wipe away any smudges or dust on your TV screen. Many TVs will have come with an appropriate option when you purchased it; however, if you have since thrown that away or lost it, they are similar to an eye-glass cloth or microfiber cloth and can easily be replaced.

Some screens can tolerate a soft cloth that has been dampened with water to encourage streaks or smudges off the screen. Others may be able to handle some vinegar-based cleaner, but many will just suggest a dry cloth and nothing else. You will want to check with your owner’s manual or go online to the manufacturer’s website to confirm what is recommended for your particular television.

It is suggested to turn off your TV and remove any layers of dust before wiping at streaks and smudges. Rub the cloth in a circular motion to remove fingerprints and other markings. Check out our article on how to

Maybe you found this article because you already have used Windex on your TV screen to some adverse side-effects, and now are trying to determine your mistake. Well, using Windex was indeed where you went wrong. This may have left some streaks or odd markings on your screen. Provided a chemical burn didn’t cause it, then you may be able to remove this damage.

Try using a soft cloth with a little water to rub away any streaks or marks gently. Follow with a dry cloth to remove water and further polish. If this doesn’t do the trick, then it is likely that the ammonia or general chemical concoction has reacted with the screen, essentially burning the protective coating. Unfortunately, this damage is permanent.

Clean your flat-screen TV with a soft cloth. Avoid using Windex or other such cleaning products as their chemicals are too harsh for many LED and other HDTV screens. Some cleaning solutions may be used, though you should verify that such products are safe before using them by checking your owner’s manual.

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Every movie looks outstanding when you purchase a quality TV. Sometimes, it feels like watching it in real-time. However, to keep the screen quality, you need to clean it. Can Windex help in this situation? We have the answers for you!

Windex is reliable when you want to keep glass squeaky clean. Unfortunately, it does more damage than cleaning regarding TVs. Cleaners like Windex contain alcohol and ammonia. When you use it on a TV screen, it leaves smears because of its acidity.

Since you can"t use Windex, it raises the question of what you can use to clean a TV. There"s a lot that goes on on TV screens. Some manufacturers use protective coatings. And, if you use Windex, it wipes them off. To learn more on this topic, keep reading.

TV screens are more delicate than you think they are. It doesn"t take much to make a quality screen look like a trainwreck. You will read most of the warnings in the user manual.

Most manufacturers will recommend against using any cleaners. The reason is that they can"t account for the chemicals the cleaners will use. Cleaners can contain ingredients that aren"t friendly to the screen.

As a result, you"ll have to deal with a screen containing dull spots. Alcohol and ammonia are two ingredients that aren"t friendly to the anti-reflective coating. Most Windex cleaning productsincludeat least one of these ingredients.

For this reason, it"s best to avoid using it on a TV. In general, it"s better to avoid using any cleaners. It could void your warranty. Check your TV"s owner"s manual, just in case.

If we can"t use cleaners like Windex, what can we use? Would a simple wipe with a paper towel do the trick? After all, most of the grime on a TV screen should be dust.

There should be no drinks, sauces, or other liquids on the TV screen. If there is, you might have put yourself in a tricky situation. In any case, you can"t use any random material on the screen.

Paper towels, tissues, and toilet paper are wood-based products. In other words, they contain tiny abrasive materials that aren"t obvious initially. However, each time you use one of these to wipe your TV screen, you leave micro-scratches.

As the scratches accumulate, it creates dull spots on the screen. As mentioned, TV screens are delicate. The same rules apply to any screen, for that matter.

TV, computer, and phone screens require specific tools and cleaners. Anything else will wipe off the protective coatings [oleophobic, anti-glare, anti-reflective coatings].

Some of us live by the cleaners. Cleaners are the only way to ensure all the muck and grime disappear off surfaces. If you must use one, Windex does have a line of electronic wipes.

Does it clean TV screens well enough without leaving streaks and smudges? The answer will depend on the brand of TV. These wipes include ethanol. Accordingly, ethanol isn"t friendly for most electronic screens.

You"ll have to rely on the manufacturer"s advice instead. The best cleaner to use on a TV screen is none. We can"t recommend a cleaner because there"s a risk of ruining your screen.

All you need is a microfiber cloth. Start by wiping the top of the screen. Then, work your way down. Of course, don"t forget to wipe the bezels. The back of the TV should receive some cleaning too.

It"s worth mentioning that you don"t need to apply any pressure. Wipe it with the cloth gently. Otherwise, you might mess with some of the electronic components behind the screen.Aggressively cleaning the screen can leave you with some dead spots or dead pixels.

Of course, we"re not always living in an orderly household. Children or maybe even adults might touch the screen with their bare hands. It"s a bad situation because it leaves fingerprints.

Tap water contains minerals that also scratch your screen. So, you"ll need to use distilled water for this situation. Start by turning the TV off and unplugging it.

Next, pour distilled water into a spray bottle. You won"t spray it directly on the screen. If you spray directly, the water can seep behind it, damaging the components inside.

Instead, spray a microfiber towel with it, using just enough to make the towel damp. It shouldn"t be soaking wet. Wipe the screen in a circular motion.

Water won"t do anything to clean up the TV screen if it has oil-based smudges. Fortunately, we can work around the no cleaner rule. Ajax dish detergent will remove the smudges with ease.

Once it"s damp, use circular motions on the area with smudges. Afterward, you"ll need to clean the soap off the screen. So, come around with a towel dampened with distilled water.

On the other hand, LGrecommendsonly using a microfiber cloth. Wipe the screen gently in a circular motion. Even if there are food or drink stains, LG doesn"t mention water usage.

Panasonic provides us with a clearanswer. They suggest using clean water or diluted detergent. You can use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe the screen clean.

It should not drip because the screen is not watertight. So, water will make its way into the components inside. If it fries them, the warranty won"t cover the damages.

Sony follows the same procedure. You can use a dry microfiber cloth for general cleaning. If there are stains, water or a solution of mild soap and water will work.

Viziotakes a different approach than all the others. Instead of water and a microfiber cloth, they recommend using electronic cleaners for LCD screens. Follow the cleaner"s instructions to ensure the best results.

Many households carry Swiffer dusters. It might seem like a good idea to use one. However, it can end up doing more damage than cleaning. Swiffer dustersusemineral oil. It can leave greasy blotches on your TV screen.

TVs need dedicated tools for cleaning. Luckily, those tools aren"t hard to get. Hopefully, water and a microfiber cloth are all you need to clean the surface. We hope you found this informative.

Basically, you only use the solution for what ever a brush or cloth won"t remove. Never used compressed air or solvent based solutions. Compressed air can blow the particles into the panel and under the film, and solvents can damage the AG coating or penetrate the film itself. Never put more pressure on the screen than is needed to remove the dust and other debris, just lightly wipe or brush the debris away.

For dust, I actually use those new duster cloths from Swiffer, and then a micro-fiber cloth for anything more stuborn, and the cleaning solution on any sticky stuff.

You spend a good amount of time looking at your TV screen, so it"s surprising when you don"t notice how dirty it is. However, dirt and debris have a way of building up on screened devices, and if you want the best performance, you have to clean your TV and other screens from time to time. Gunk and other accumulated detritus can be damaging to your precious TV panel, so it"s best to give your television a good cleaning. Fortunately, you only need a few products to get the job done, and it"s a fairly straightforward process. Read on to become an expert in cleaning your TV.

Step 3: When it’s cool to the touch, dust the screen to remove any dirt particles, then wipe it over with your soft, lint-free cloth to remove any residual dust.

Step 1: Mix the isopropyl alcohol with water in a measuring cup, ensuring the solution is equal parts water and alcohol. If you don’t have a measuring cup, try using a shot glass to measure quantities before mixing. In any case, just make sure you’re not overdoing it with the alcohol — the resulting solution shouldn’t be more than half alcohol or it could tarnish the display.

Step 4: Use the second lint-free cloth to dry your display. Don’t leave any moisture on it — you’ll want it to be completely dry before turning the TV back on.

We can’t just ignore the O.G. hardware. If you’ve still got an older tube-style TV hanging around the house and it simply refuses to die, here’s a quick how-to for getting the smudges and dust off of your old giant. Luckily, you’ll be able to use some household cleaners you probably have hanging around.

Step 2: Once the TV has settled down to room temperature, grab that same microfiber cloth you used for your prized living room QLED and wipe away any dust on the tube TV’s screen. Once the dust has cleared, you may still have fingerprints and other gunk to contend with.

Step 3: To clear the rest of the mess, you can use the same solution you put together to clean your high-end TV. If you’re lacking the materials to create this concoction, you can use a regular glass cleaner instead. This is because most older tube TVs actually have glass screens.

Important note: Do not under any circumstances use regular glass cleaner to clean an HDTV. The harsh chemicals used in the cleaner will damage the TV screen.

So I let my mom watch a DVD on my notebook computer. It is a Inspiron E1705, Intel Core DuoProcessor T2300E with a 17 inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WUXGA, for Inspiron 9400/E1705.

Somehow, she sprayed Coke on the screen either opening a bottle; either not noticing or not cleaning it up thoroughly. So when I got back to school this past week, what I thought was mold growing on the right side of my screens were dried up drops of Coca-Cola, very small, but you could see them when the screen was on.

Now, I want you to know that this is my first real notebook, so I had no idea (I mean, my old desktops had those durable and heavy glass screens). But I took some Windex and sprayed it on a paper towel (the kind that comes from a dispenser at school) and use that to try to get the spots off. It did the job, although some spots I had to gently rub with my fingernail to get the sticky off while putting as little contact as possible on the screen. Now I just have bits of dust on my screen, mainly from the paper towel. (You know, the ones that are at all colleges and feel like sandpaper somewhat?) Mind you, there was no scrubbing or anything, just gentle, almost "not-touching" of the screen.

Well, I soon realized by mistake when I was consulting the manual and it said not to use a glass cleaner. I then took some more of those paper towlels and dampened them lightly with water and wiped down the screen again. I am so worried that I have ruined this screen. So I just have some simple questions:

Wondering how to clean your computer screen or flat screen TV? Windex Electronics Wipes are an effective and safe screen cleaner you can trust on even your most valuable devices. The advanced cleaning formula gently removes fingerprints and dust without damaging your screens or leaving any residue behind. Perfect for that traveling tablet or that shiny new phone. Use them to clean smartphones, tablets, e-readers, laptops, cameras, televisions and more. Carry the pouch in your purse, backpack, briefcase or laptop bag so you can brighten your screen at any time. Give Life a Sparkle with Windex!

DIRECTIONS FOR USE: Pull wipe from pouch and use to clean surfaces such as LCD screens, plasma screens, cell phones, touchscreens, keyboards, remotes, electronics, glass, and metal. If using on electronic equipment, follow manufacturer instructions. Before using on an unknown surface, test on an inconspicuous area.

USES: Cleans the following surfaces: Flat screen TVs: Plasma screens, LCD screens, LED screens, Computer screens, Laptop screens, Netbook screens, Tablet screens, E-reader screens, Cell phone screens, iPhone and other smartphone screens, GPS navigation systems, DVD and Blu-Ray players, Mp3 players and other mobile music devices, Gaming consoles and video game systems, Digital and SLR cameras, camcorders, webcams ,Keyboards, Remote Controls and more.

WARNINGS: Do not use with other household cleaners. Not suitable for unsealed wood, marble, or granite. Note: Unplug electrical appliances before using. When cleaning wipe gets dirty or dries out, discard in trash. Do not use for personal hygiene or as a baby wipe. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

One of the most common questions I am asked, now that LCDs are in wide use, is how to clean one.  Every manufacturer has their recommended method.  What Envision recommends will ruin an NEC LCD and void your warranty.  As you will be able to tell, every LCD needs to be cleaned in a different way.

Another thing I learned from finding all this information is that every manufacturer has the same warning: Never touch or press on the LCD screen with your fingers – NEVER!!!  Doing so can cause the pixels to short out and die.  Then you will have blank spots on your LCD.

Here is the cleaning information I have gathered from various manufacturer’s web sites.  The text is taken verbatim from the manufacturer’s websites, “read-me” files, PDFs, and e-mails.

I called CTX tech support and was told the way to clean their LCDs was in the Technical Glossary and General FAQ.  I asked the guy to check that out and he said he couldn’t find it either.  He said to use very mild soap, tepid or lukewarm water, and a just slightly moist lint-free cloth.  This is supposed to be added to their General FAQ.

Discussion: A common cause for marks on the LCD is oil and dirt deposited on the keys of the keyboard that can get pressed against the LCD when carried in a carrying case or when pressure is applied to the lid.

There are many cleaners sold specifically as LCD cleaners. These are perfectly acceptable for cleaning LCDs on Dell notebooks.  If you do not wish to purchase one of these products designated specifically as an LCD cleanser, the following is a list of what is and is not acceptable for cleaning your LCD.

These cleaners might cause permanent damage to the LCD due to a chemical reaction. Some commercial window cleaners contain ammonia and are generally unacceptable.

Clean the computer’s built-in LCD display with a soft, clean cloth and one of the cleaners listed above or a commercial window cleaner that does not contain ammonia, wax, or abrasives. Apply the cleaner to the cloth, and then stroke the cloth across the display in one direction, moving from the top of the display to the bottom. If the display contains grease or some other contaminant, use a cloth with an acceptable cleaner listed above instead of a commercial window cleaner.

A. You can use Windex® to clean the screen and 409® clean the outer casing of the monitor. Please use a “soft” non-fibrous cloth to clean the screen. Do not use any paper products to clean the screen.

Shut down and unplug the computer and clean the LCD screen with a soft cloth moistened only with water. Wet the cloth, wipe the display, and then dry the screen with another soft cloth.

Gently dust the screen with a dry, soft, lint-free cloth. If the screen is still dirty, you can dampen the cloth with several drops of distilled water.  Make sure the LCD panel is completely dry before you turn the display back on.[/box]

CAUTION: Never use pure water to clean the LCD screen. Do not use cleaning solutions containing fluoride, acids, or alkalis. Do not use ketone substances such as acetone or solvents such as xylene or toluene to clean the monitor. Do not use benzene, thinner, ammonia, or any volatile substance to clean the monitor’s screen or cabinet. These chemicals may damage the monitor.

This is the strangest one ever.  On March 21, 2003, I e-mailed every e-mail address I could find on Hyundai’s web sites.  I guess I threw them for a loop because I received a phone call from a Peter at AVC Tech USA.  That must be Hyundai’s USA distributor.  Peter told me that Hyundai has NO written instructions for cleaning their LCDs.  Quoting Peter this is what he told me to do: “use alcohol and soft cotton cloth and don’t run too hard”.

MAG was another hard one to get any information on.  On April 21, 2003, I finally received an e-mail response (I sent my first request for information back on January 21, 2003).  Here is the reply I received:

You can use regular Windex, just do not spray directly to monitor screen, spray to a soft rag or cloth and then wipe out gently, any other question please let us know and thank you for your time.

Unplug the monitor, if you need to clean it with a slightly damp cloth. Wiping the screen with a dry cloth is possible when the power is off. However, never use alcohol, solvents, or ammonia-based liquids.

A: For normal cleaning, use the clean, soft, and fine. For extensive cleaning, please use Isopropyl alcohol. Do not use other solvents such as ethyl alcohol, ethanol, acetone, hexane, etc.

If still not clean, apply a small amount of non-ammonia, non-alcohol based glass cleaner onto a clean, soft, lint-free cloth, and wipe the screen with only slight pressure. Too much pressure may damage the screen.

NOTE: You, the customer, are solely responsible for data security. WinBook strongly recommends that you perform a backup of all personal data contained on your system prior to performing this procedure. Warning: WinBook will NOT be held responsible for any data loss incurred during this process.

A: We recommend that you use a cleaner specifically designed for electronic equipment to clean the case and, if necessary, a separate cleaner specifically designed for cleaning LCD Panels. This should be used in conjunction with a soft, lint-free cloth.

A: In general, the answer to this question is yes. Most cleaners that are satisfactory for cleaning the case of your WinBook are not satisfactory for cleaning the LCD panel. You should look for a cleaner that is specifically designed and labeled for cleaning LCD screens.

Let"s be real: Your TV screen is probably dirty. Sometimes, the dirtiness of a TV screen can go unnoticed, particularly if you spend a good amount of time watching bright, colorful content that minimizes the appearance of smudges and grime.

Like sunglasses, mirrors, and windows, TVs are best left free of smudge, spots, and fingerprints. Unfortunately, there"s a ton of misinformation out there about the best (and safest) ways to wipe away the blemishes on a TV. After all, these aren"t just any old surfaces—they"re expensive and often delicate pieces of technology.

Here"s the good news: Once you understand the basics, freeing your spot-covered TV of your kid"s oily palm prints couldn"t be simpler. Just remember: a clean screen means a clean scene.

Window cleaners contain harsh chemicals (like alcohol, ammonia, and lauramine oxide) that can do damage to LCD and OLED panels. One reason people assume that surface cleaners are still copacetic for TVs is because old-school CRT TVs could stand up against Windex, thanks in part to their glass screens. These days? The less liquid you use, the better.

Always use a microfiber cloth or towel—like the ones that come with a new pair of glasses—to clean your TV screen. Avoid using standard tissues or paper towels. Go to work on the problem areas with gentle, circular motions. Avoid applying too much pressure to the panel. If you"re dealing with some stubborn, oily stains that just won"t cooperate, resist the urge to exert more force. Instead, try moisturizing the cloth with a small amount of warm water.

Generally speaking, dedicated screen-cleaning solutions are OK for LCD/LED and OLED TVs, but if you decide to use screen cleaner, make sure the formula does not include alcohol or ammonia.

If you decide to use water or some sort of cleaner, do not spray the screen directly. Instead, lightly moisten your microfiber cloth before wiping the your TV screen.

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A couple of decades ago, glass cleaner was a relatively safe product to use for many household cleaning chores, including cleaning the family television set -- well, the screen, anyway. The belief that glass cleaner is benign and a great option for getting grease, grime buildup and fingerprints off all the surfaces you might like to see through is probably a holdover from those simpler times. There are a couple of problems with that notion when dealing with modern electronics, like laptop monitors and flat screen TVs. Modern electronics are very different from simple windows. Actually, there are even window styles these days that you shouldn"t treat with conventional glass cleaners.

Although ammonia is often cited as the principal ingredient that makes glass cleaner a bad choice for cleaning electronics, there may be any number of compounds in glass cleaning products that can damage delicate electronic equipment, especially screens and other displays. Even some late model CRT televisions sported glass treated with anti-glare film that was prone to yellowing and cracking from repeated exposure to glass cleaner.

One problem with getting the word out about how harmful glass cleaner can be is that it may take multiple applications for a user to start to see the damage, which presents as a yellowish tint or fogging effect. Screens and monitors may also become brittle and start to crack in places. The damage is cumulative, and over multiple applications, anti-glare and anti-static coatings as well as other synthetic surface materials will begin to break down.

Check the operating instructions for the recommended cleaning methods for all of your electronic devices and particularly those with screens or displays. If the directions say you"re free to use glass cleaner, fine. Chances are they won"t, though.

If water on a soft cloth isn"t strong enough to remove smudges and grime, try using a microfiber or optical cloth instead. Microfiber has dense hairs that grab and hold grease and dirt for those occasions when a cotton cloth isn"t getting the job done.

To avoid scratching your laptop, make sure any cloth you use is clean and soft, and always rub gently. If you apply too much pressure to your laptop screen, you may create dead spots, or non-functioning pixels, so take your time and be gentle. Once the screen is clean, avoid touching it with your fingers.

If you"re using a manufacturer"s approved cleaning solution like isopropyl alcohol on your laptop or other electronic device, never pour or spray liquid directly on the case, keyboard or screen. Dab a little on a clean cloth and wipe. The cloth should be moist, not wet.

Some manufacturers advocate cleaning monitors and flat screens from left to right and then from top to bottom in overlapping strokes. However you get the job done, keep moisture away from speakers, vents and keyboards, and wipe everything dry afterward.

Most Americans spend about four hours watching TV each day, according to California State University, Northridge. The same source reports that 66% of U.S. households have three or more TV sets. Regardless of the time spent watching TV, dust can accumulate on its screen, air vents, and speakers. If you have children, you may also be dealing with fingerprint smudges and food stains.

Modern TVs have sophisticated screens that require special care. They are a lot more sensitive than old-school TVs, which had glass screens. For starters, it"s not necessary to turn off and unplug your flat-screen TV before cleaning it. However, doing so will eliminate the risk of static shock and make it easier to spot stains. Next, check the user manual or visit the manufacturer"s website to download it.

Sony, for example, recommends unplugging the power cord prior to cleaning your OLED or LCD TV screen, and then wiping the display with a soft, dry cloth. Dilute a non-soap cleanser with water, soak the cloth in it, and then gently clean the screen to remove stubborn stains, such as ink. Samsung, on the other hand, suggests using a dry microfiber cloth to get rid of dust. If there are any stains or fingerprints left, spray distilled water onto the cloth and then gently wipe the TV screen.