# How do you clean smudges off a flat-screen monitor?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-smudges-off-a-flat-screen-monitor/439055>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 25, 2008, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-smudges-off-a-flat-screen-monitor/439055 "2008-02-25T07:19:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-smudges-off-a-flat-screen-monitor/439055/1 "2008-02-25T07:19:55Z")

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Back in the day with CRTs it was SO easy! Now my new monitor, after only a few months, is all covered in smudges and I have no idea how the fuck to get them off.

Any tips? Is there a cheap and easy trick I could use, or do I have to shell out for some kind of special cleaner?

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**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-smudges-off-a-flat-screen-monitor/439055/2 "2008-02-25T09:26:01Z")

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[This looks like good advice.](http://pcsupport.about.com/od/maintenance/ht/cleanflatscreen.htm)

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**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-smudges-off-a-flat-screen-monitor/439055/3 "2008-02-25T10:22:34Z")

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[This looks](http://www.nextag.com/Read-Right-Kleen-Dry-3033671/prices-html) like the best price on what I use.

Wet/dry pads are da bomb for cleaning flat screens!

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**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-smudges-off-a-flat-screen-monitor/439055/4 "2008-02-25T11:11:24Z")

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Isopropyl alcohol (and only isopropyl is safe), or warm water, and a very soft cloth.

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**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-smudges-off-a-flat-screen-monitor/439055/5 "2008-02-25T12:53:56Z")

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What cleaning products are safe to use on what types of screens varies. Go to the manufacturers web site and get their info on who to clean screens. While the chances are quite high that your screen would be damaged by ammonia (Windex etc.), some can be damaged by alcohol.

And be sure to use a tiny amount. A fraction of a spray on a lint-free cloth (e.g., a microfiber cloth).