lcd screen coating repair brands

I am looking for a quick, viable solution to the Apple "StainGate" issue, one that does not take hours. We are looking for an in-house solution that can remove the coating "assembly line" style while the screen is left in place.

Issue: When using certain cleaners, the anti-glare coating becomes permanently "blotched". Apple is aware of this issue (see first link below) and has extended the warranty on the laptops with this issue, however this is not a solution for us (many of the units fall out of this extended warranty).

The other solutions we have seen are people removing the blotched antiglare coating with metal polish, however, when we tried this solution it took repeated applications and was an extremely slow process (see our tech note below). We even tried it with a hand held buffer as well as various solvents.

I tried it on my Macbook (2014 Retina 13") Though it does work (I used rubbing alcohol and Peek like the video) some parts came of really slow.. took dozens and dozens of applications, after an hour or so maybe 15% was done. Next day I continued, but this time I pre-wiped the screen with Bison Magic Wipes (for paint removal) after another hour doing Wipes->Peek rubbing->Ethanol cleaning the whole screen was smooth as a baby butt :-) The magic wipes really loosened the coating. Also while doing it the screen looks terrible.. just be patient and after a few hours it will look great!

One person said what worked best for them was Peek Metal Polish (actually also polishes acrylic, etc) followed by rubbing alcohol for removing the anti-glare coasting. Also PolyWatch for the fine screen scratches. But again, these processes were too time intensive.

The display on my 2012 E70 CPO w/ only 13K miles was looking pretty shabby--like many of you have experienced, the anti-glare coating was worn away, probably from an attempt to clean the display. I thought about taking it to the dealer and arguing for replacement of the $2K display, but then I thought it would likely happen again over time because the anti-glare coating is so fragile. So I decided to take the advice of some of you in this forum and apply a screen protector. In my case, I chose to remove the remaining anti-glare coating because it would likely do more harm than good if left in place.

I decided that doing a proper job would be too difficult to do with the screen in the car, so I elected to remove my display. It wasn"t very difficult. I found a YouTube video with instructions that were quite helpful:

I bought the Novus Plastic polish kit recommend here on this forum from Amazon, and began by cleaning the display with bottle #1, "Plastic Clean & Shine." That didn"t remove the blotchy anti-glare coating, so I used bottle #2, "Fine Scratch Remover," and that worked great. I followed the instructions and used a circular motion with the included wipes, and it cleaned up the display quite nicely. Basically, it looked new. I also used a Q-Tip to get around the edges and in the corners. Once that was done, I polished the display again with the "Plastic Clean & Shine."

Next, it was time to apply the screen protector. I decided to buy a protector from Nushield (www.nushield.com) because I saw that others that had purchased the Lexerd protector had to trim it down. Nushield didn"t list a protector for my 2012 E70, but customer service was very helpful and the 2011 protector turned out to be the correct size. I purchased some of Nushield"s Step 1 wet wipes with my protector, and I cleaned the screen with that and then dried and polished the screen with their included cloth. I then blew off any residual dust particles with some "canned air," available at any office supply store.

The quality of the film seems to be very high, and the screen now looks great--really, better than new. I turned on the car, and the display looked wonderful! Extremely sharp and glare-free, and free of the ugly blotchiness that was so bothersome. And now I can clean my display worry free because it has no fragile coating.

Have you ever noticed a weird stain on your MacBook or MacBook Pro screen that just won’t go away? Did you try to wipe it off, only for it to get bigger? You may be experiencing staingate.

In 2015, Apple announced a repair program for several MacBook models affected by issues with its anti-reflective coating. Users who have found that they are affected by these issues can get Apple to replace the anti-reflective coating for free.

Staingate, or delamination, is when the anti-reflective coating on screens wears off, causing a stain-like appearance. It is a known issue in MacBook models and tends to happen after several months of regular use. A common aggravator of staingate is the pressure exerted on the screen by the keys and trackpad when a MacBook is closed. Additionally, staingate can also occur due to the recurred use of cleaning agents and microfiber cloths.

Once the reflective surface begins to peel, it is only a matter of time before it affects the rest of your screen. Not only does this look concerning, but it can also affect your webcam and color clarity. For professionals that need these a perfect screen, it is well worth the effort to fix any staingate issues that arise.

If you are not sure if your Mac has problems with its reflective coating, you can contact Apple for a proper diagnosis. Apple will also be able to tell you if your device is included in its recall program or not.

In addition, your MacBook purchase date must be within four years for it to be eligible for free repair. It must also have no history of tampering from a non-authorized service provider.

Depending on your MacBook model, out-of-pocket repairs for the anti-reflective coating can run anywhere from $500 to $800. While unauthorized repair centers will be able to do this at a lower price, Apple insists on replacing the whole screen to avoid any potential issues.

On the next screen, you can select your registered MacBook or manually type in the serial number. Afterward, set your location so Apple can recommend the nearest authorized Apple repair centers. From there, you can choose your preferred repair date and time.

MacBook users who have previously paid for a reflective coating replacement at an authorized Apple repair center may also be eligible for a refund. However, this is decided on a case-to-case basis, and you will need to consult with a Genius bar representative if you might qualify.

Aside from the aesthetic issue, most delamination in MacBook screens won’t cause any real problems for daily use. If staingate doesn’t bother you so much, be sure to weigh out the risks before you decide to do a DIY screen repair.

On the Mohs Hardness scale of materials, glass has a hardness level between 5.5 to 7. On the other hand, baking soda or Sodium Bicarbonate is 2.5. As a result, it should be impossible for baking soda to scratch the display, though it is abrasive enough to remove the rest of the coating on your MacBook screen.

For this method, mix baking soda with water until it creates a paste. Then, apply the solution to your screen in a circular motion with a light touch. Next, wipe off the solution using a cloth dampened with water. Lastly, use a toothpick or dry toothbrush to scrape out any remaining baking soda from the sides of the screen.

As an alternative to baking soda, you may also use all-purpose wet wipes. Although, the effectiveness of wet wipes depends on the brand and composition. Use wet wipes in a circular motion on your screen. Then, wipe off any remaining wet spots with a microfiber cloth.

While there are other recommendations online, be careful which ones you follow, as brands may not have the same formulation across countries. Additionally, anything that wasn"t explicitly designed for the purpose of cleaning your screen is not without risk.

When it comes to removing staingate, don’t feel the need to remove everything in one go. You can remove parts of the screen stains intermittently to lessen the possibility of damage.

Avoid using cleaning agents that are corrosive to your screens, such as mouthwash or toothpaste. If you are determined to use these, use only a small amount because they can degrade the quality of your screen. If you want to be careful, test a small area of your screen before using the product on the whole screen.

Whether it is water or a screen cleaning agent, never pour bulk liquid into your screen. All you need to use is a damp cloth. Be very careful of having liquids seep into the sides of your screen and wipe off any that get too close.

Unfortunately, even for Apple-certified repairs, staingate has a history of recurring within a few years. However, you can make some changes to avoid it happening again.

For example, avoid touching the screen unless necessary. You can use your laptop hinge to open your MacBook. You should also leave your device slightly open when not in use to avoid pressure on the lid. In addition, don’t overclean your screen. Avoid strong screen display cleaning agents and use a light touch when possible.

After successfully removing your reflective coating, it is best to invest in a screen protector film to take its place. Not only will this protect your eyes from glare, but it should protect the screen itself from being damaged further.

So the Lexerd screen film arrived today and I applied it to my iDrive screen with mixed results. The anti-glare scratches were certainly less noticeable, and invisible from some angles, but not gone. It also took me three attempts to apply the film, which rolled up a bit in one corner from taking it on and off.

If the anti-reflective coating is bad, then anything that rubs the coating or pulls on the coating will remove/damage the anti-reflective coating. Sooner or later you may need to remove that screen protector.

Companies will say and sell anything to make a dollar regardless if it is good for you or your equipment. I"m just providing some information on the possible downsides you may experience. If you cannot use the laptop comfortably in its current condition, then I guess you can try a screen protector. I have my doubts on how well it will work when using the laptop. Maybe it will help to minimize the issues or maybe it will enhance the difference between the parts with & without the anti-reflective coating.

I have never researched screen protectors before, but I"m sure there are different types depending on what they are meant to do (protect from scratches, or maybe reduce glare, etc.). I did research similar products for household windows in order to filter the light on our southern facing windows and found out those "plastic-type" cling sheets can actually damage the glass by trapping & focusing sunlight which causes the glass to heat up too much. These cling sheets also damage the glass when removed as they leave remnants behind. Until I researched the products I had never even imagined the mess they could cause me since these sheets seemed so simple. I mean how do you damage glass? Well at least I found out before I spent lots of money on the upgrades which may in the end have cost me even more money on replacement windows. Moral of the story? The companies selling these products never even hinted at any of these possible dangers. Always buyer beware.

I ordered a replacement screen from China on eBay. I followed this write-up to disassemble the screen unit from the car, then disassembled the electronics from the screen (no biggie) plugged the FRESH new screen into the circuit board, replaced the metal protector and connected it back to the plastics, reinstalled it into the car, and voila, totally fresh new screen. Total time. 20 minutes to remove from car and check to make sure it was part number LQ088K9LA02, 2 weeks wait to receive the part from China. Then about 1 hour to remove and replace the screen. Perfect replacement, perfect fit, really pretty easy job.

Scratches on your phone screen are a nuisance, but you can fix some minor scratches on your own with household products. If your phone screen has a plastic cover, try buffing out scratches with toothpaste. Make sure you use a toothpaste with a pasty texture instead of a gel. Apply a dab of the toothpaste to a soft cloth, a cotton swab, or a soft-bristle toothbrush. Gently rub the paste over the scratched area in a circular motion until the scratch fades. Then, wipe your screen clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth. Finish up by wiping it with a dry microfiber polishing cloth. For glass screens or screen covers, use a cerium oxide glass polishing powder instead. Mix about 100 g of the powder with enough water to create a paste with a creamy consistency. Cover your speaker and any other ports, such as your charger or headphone port, with tape to keep the polish from getting in. Dip a polishing cloth in the glass polish mix and rub it vigorously over the scratched area using circular motions. After about 30 seconds, wipe away the polish and see if the scratch has faded. Repeat this process until the scratch is gone or faded to your liking. When you’re done, wipe away the polish and remove the tape. Then, go over your phone again with a clean, dry polishing cloth. To learn how to prevent scratches on your phone screen, keep reading!