# How should you clean a flat computer screen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 21, 2006, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-clean-a-flat-computer-screen/345470 "2006-02-21T14:44:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-clean-a-flat-computer-screen/345470/1 "2006-02-21T14:44:25Z")
I’m talking about the kind that isn’t covered with glass, but some type of composite ersatz plastic-like material that might be dissolved by my inadvertently using the wrong solvent, thereby rendering my screen unusable from that point on. Or should I just use the old stand by - a damp cloth with slightly soapy water? The dang thing has granddaughter smudges all over it. xo, C. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-clean-a-flat-computer-screen/345470/2 "2006-02-21T14:53:51Z")
Warm water and soap is fine. I’ve used Windex with no ill effects. I recently bought a neutral cleaning solution that was ammonia and alcohol-free – it’s colourless and odourless and just a wee bit viscous, not sure what it is as it came with a one-touch power sprayer designed for cleaning electronics (just a cheap impulse buy) but it seems to work okay; the slight viscousness of the fluid seems to trap more dust. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-clean-a-flat-computer-screen/345470/3 "2006-02-21T15:17:01Z")
That “composite ersatz plastic-like material” is just the glareshield, if that’s a LCD monitor that you have. Soap/water is just fine. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-clean-a-flat-computer-screen/345470/4 "2006-02-21T15:33:27Z")
Well, that may be so, but when I just lightly push on it, I get the waves and wilies of LCD world, and I don’t want to damage it. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-clean-a-flat-computer-screen/345470/5 "2006-02-21T15:58:35Z")
A cloth **moistened** with plain soapy water. Gently wiped. Do not use a wet cloth that lets drips run down the face of the screen and into the works. That’s an expensive mistake I’ll never make again. 🙂 (Though that was with an CRT monitor.) ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-clean-a-flat-computer-screen/345470/6 "2006-02-21T16:13:58Z")
If only there were [something](http://www.photodon.com/csc.htm) made for this. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-clean-a-flat-computer-screen/345470/7 "2006-02-21T16:30:42Z")
So, I gather the garden hose is not the tool of choice here. Thanks, all. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-clean-a-flat-computer-screen/345470/8 "2006-02-21T17:17:05Z")
> [@CC](#): > > So, I gather the garden hose is not the tool of choice here. Thanks, all. For **real** cleaning, try a pressure washer! Hey, you must be of my generation; haven’t hear the word “ersatz” in a long time. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-clean-a-flat-computer-screen/345470/9 "2006-02-21T17:39:51Z")
Probably so. When I was a kid, computers were made out of wood. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-clean-a-flat-computer-screen/345470/10 "2006-02-21T17:46:46Z")
I use a mix of isopropyl alcohol and water. That’s what my screen manufacturer recommends, and it seems to do the trick, with no ill-effects. ---
**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 21, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-clean-a-flat-computer-screen/345470/11 "2006-02-21T18:21:18Z")
The best advice is to follow the manufacturer’s spec. There are several different materials that are used, and what can damage your screen is important to know. Commonly, ammonia (as in Windex) damages the most types of LCD screens (but not all). Yellowing and hazing ensue. Alchohol is the next most common Bad Thing. Some soaps are not good to use on some types of screens. Go to the manufacturers web site, read the manual, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-clean-a-flat-computer-screen/345470/12 "2006-02-21T18:35:51Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > If only there were [something](http://www.photodon.com/csc.htm) made for this. My husband picked up some wipes made by Fellowes. Two-part “system” (whatever). THey’re overkill. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-clean-a-flat-computer-screen/345470/13 "2006-02-21T18:50:49Z")
> [@CC](#): > > Probably so. When I was a kid, computers were made out of wood. Yeah, and they ran on kerosene.