# Don't use Windex to clean an LCD monitor! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 19, 2008, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213 "2008-02-19T04:13:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/21 "2008-02-19T11:22:13Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] It’s licking my eyes. [/QUOTE] You missed the “sit back” instruction, then. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/22 "2008-02-19T13:36:32Z")
Windex has ammonia. I’ve seen it remove the coating from those glare screens for monitors. Many times I think people mistake don’t use it because it removes a coating, with it runs down into the unit and damages it. Try using a cleaner for plastic lens in glasses on the screen, to remove the streaks. It might help, and you already have streaks that annoy you. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/23 "2008-02-19T14:13:19Z")
[QUOTE=Shai’tan] Just use a damp cloth to clean your monitors and TVs. I use microfiber cloths which I _very lightly_ dampen. Works great. [/QUOTE] Exactly. I don’t know why anyone would want to involve fancy chemicals. Are they trying to “disinfect” the screen? ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/24 "2008-02-19T14:36:00Z")
[QUOTE=Raguleader] \Also, don’t use Windex on **dry-erase** boards. It causes them to wear out a lot quicker (honestly, you can clean dry erase boards with fresh dry erase marker half the time anyways). [/QUOTE] Isn’t Windex, you know… wet? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/25 "2008-02-19T15:10:09Z")
[QUOTE=Raguleader] Also, don’t use Windex on dry-erase boards. It causes them to wear out a lot quicker (honestly, you can clean dry erase boards with fresh dry erase marker half the time anyways). [/QUOTE] You can erase a dry-erase board with a wet paper towel. You don’t need a special eraser (let alone that special spray they sell). Those erasers eventually build up ink, and are just causing the new ink to fall into the tray at the bottom of the board. However, I don’t know which is more ecological: wet paper towels or the eraser. ---
**Author:** ![Solfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Solfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Solfy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/26 "2008-02-19T15:36:01Z")
I clean mine with a little isopropanol solution on a cotton ball. Why do I do this? To remove ink pen markings. Why is there ink on my monitor? Because I have small children. It works great - no ink, no fingerprints (kids again), no smudges, and no damage thusfar (several years). ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/27 "2008-02-19T16:05:27Z")
[QUOTE=ChrisBooth12] no shit. now i know why mcdonalds puts caution may be hot on all there coffee. Common sense isnt enough sometimes. [/QUOTE] Well, shoot. I’m not sure it’s indicative of complete idiocy to assume that you can use window cleaner to clean what looks like a clear screen. I’ve never cleaned my LCD monitor with Windex, but that’s because I happened to notice the warning in the manual. It’s certainly not an obvious common-sense issue in my opinion. But, hey – a gentleman of your obvious intelligence (as indicated by your above-average spelling & grammar skills) should certainly feel free to sit on his high horse and look down his nose at the rest of us poor dummies. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/28 "2008-02-19T16:35:26Z")
[QUOTE=ChrisBooth12] no shit. now i know why mcdonalds puts caution may be hot on all there coffee. Common sense isnt enough sometimes. [/QUOTE] I fail to see why it would not be a fair exercise of common sense to put glass cleaner on an item made of glass. I mean, sure, I may be dumb as a sack of hammers, but that isn’t why. I for one thank the OP’er for this thread because I did _not_ know this. Ignorance was fought today! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/29 "2008-02-19T16:51:15Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] I fail to see why it would not be a fair exercise of common sense to put glass cleaner on an item made of glass. I mean, sure, I may be dumb as a sack of hammers, but that isn’t why. I for one thank the OP’er for this thread because I did _not_ know this. Ignorance was fought today! 🙂 [/QUOTE] For the record, though: LCD monitor screens are not made of glass. They’re plastic. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/30 "2008-02-19T16:53:02Z")
By the way, overnight, the problem has largely gone away after all! I think maybe ammonia can damage plastic, but in my case, what I was noticing was just some of the windex having got under the edge of the screen. Now its mostly evaporated or something. The person who did this says they did not spray directly onto the screen, though, so I don’t know exactly how so much would have gotten under the surface. -Kris ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/31 "2008-02-19T17:03:21Z")
The lovely Ms. Kuboydal attempted to wash the laptop display in beer. It streaked a bit. I wonder if she will streak if I wash her in beer. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/32 "2008-02-19T17:03:27Z")
Just checking in to say that I do this all the time and never noticed a problem. I just make sure I spray on a paper towel and not directly on the screen, to avoid seepage around the edges. Now I’m wondering if I have only two or three more good cleanings left before I trash my monitor with Windex. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/33 "2008-02-19T18:04:14Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] I’m not sure that t’s the alcohol that does the damage. [/QUOTE] It’s ammonia. You can get 4’x5" microfiber cloths at any sunglass store for $1.99, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/34 "2008-02-19T18:13:59Z")
My brother got me the Monster cleaner; their cables and electrical devices are uselessly overengineered and overpriced, but the cleaner does an awesome job. From the look and feel of it, I think the cloth contains rubber fibres. Works great on my CRT, LCDs, and TVs. ---
**Author:** ![Mikemike2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikemike2/32/305_2.png) [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/35 "2008-02-19T18:20:20Z")
I saw my wife use spray cleaner on her whiteboard which is right next to her notebook with lcd. I cringed and suggested that was not a good way to christen a one week old computer. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/36 "2008-02-19T18:26:33Z")
[QUOTE=Nanoda] My brother got me the Monster cleaner; their cables and electrical devices are uselessly overengineered and overpriced, but the cleaner does an awesome job. From the look and feel of it, I think the cloth contains rubber fibres. Works great on my CRT, LCDs, and TVs. [/QUOTE] The Monster iClean stuff comes with a microfiber cloth; microfiber is 80% polyester and 20% nylon. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/37 "2008-02-19T18:28:39Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] What else can I not use Windex on? Now I’m afraid. [/QUOTE] Windows, unless you like the streaky look. It’s ridiculous how much blue dye is put in some glass cleaners. I just use water with some vinegar spritzed on the cloth with a spray bottle. It’s cheap and it’s clear. ---
**Author:** ![Mikemike2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikemike2/32/305_2.png) [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/38 "2008-02-19T18:31:48Z")
[QUOTE=The Scrivener] Windows, unless you like the streaky look. It’s ridiculous how much blue dye is put in some glass cleaners. I just use water with some vinegar spritzed on the cloth with a spray bottle. It’s cheap and it’s clear. [/QUOTE] I’m sure that works great, and I cook with vinegar all the time, but I cannot stand the smell of evaporting vinager when used as a cleaning product. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/39 "2008-02-19T19:31:58Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] Is that the same Monster brand that makes the cables? If so, i’ll bet you can get a product that is essentially identical, for about one-quarter the price. Monster = rip-off [/QUOTE] Take this with a grain of salt because I barely know this guy but . . . I recently met someone who works for Best Buy and he said the ~$200 Monster cables were, after his employee discout, 6 bucks. That’s one hell of a mark up. ---
**Author:** ![Shai\_tan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Shai\_tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shai_tan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213/40 "2008-02-19T20:51:42Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco] Take this with a grain of salt because I barely know this guy but . . . I recently met someone who works for Best Buy and he said the ~$200 Monster cables were, after his employee discout, 6 bucks. That’s one hell of a mark up. [/QUOTE] Pretty much true. I used to sell these too. The mark-up is almost that much. That’s why the sales mangers pushed us so hard to add them on to EVERY SALE. You want cables just as good at the price that the Big Box stores buy them? Try [Monoprice.com](http://Monoprice.com). Paid four bucks (six with shipping) for a cable that Circuit City sells for 130 dollars. Most loyal Monster Cable users rave about the quality, but if your willing to spend a half-hour of your time, you can actually MAKE higher quality cables (in every measurement: signal, impedance, effectiveness of sheilding). Found a guide from the gurus at AVS forums. Similiar quality cables (Other companies than Monster DO make them that good) would sell for six hundred bucks. Will cost you about twenty to make. Overkill? Probably. But audio/videophiles are like that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-windex-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor/438213.md?page=3)