# How to clean an LCD/Plasma TV screen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 30, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165 "2008-12-30T03:19:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/1 "2008-12-30T03:19:21Z")
I’ve got a TV that’s either an LCD or a plasma. (Pretty sure it’s LCD) Can I clean it with regular cloth & cleaning fluid or do I have to buy special stuff from an electronic store? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/2 "2008-12-30T03:22:02Z")
I clean ours with a soft paper towel and some **windex** -I spray the windex on the paper towel - not on the tv itself. Never had an issue. Don’t drip. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/3 "2008-12-30T03:22:58Z")
A very fine cloth and water is usually fine for that type of thing. It doesn’t take anything expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/4 "2008-12-30T03:23:58Z")
I love windex, but often hear about “special coatings” that get put onto screens. What’s the deal with those? Anyone actually ruin a tv by cleaning it? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/5 "2008-12-30T03:28:02Z")
I have two Sony Bravias and I clean them with a damp paper towel and windex - we’ve had them 2 years. If there was a special coating, I don’t know about it with the sonys. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/6 "2008-12-30T03:41:47Z")
I just use water and a towel you should never ever use windex on any computer display ---
**Author:** ![sharding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@sharding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sharding)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/7 "2008-12-30T04:23:56Z")
I use [this stuff](http://www.klearscreen.com/) for all of my LCD screens (laptops, HDTVs, nav system in the car, etc.). It works well. In years past, I’ve used Windex on many laptops over a period of years with no ill effects despite warnings to the contrary, but Klear Screen is probably safer and I use it infrequently enough that it doesn’t really cost very much over time. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/8 "2008-12-30T05:17:03Z")
I was curious about this question, and consulted the user’s guide that came with my Sharp. To my dismay, using a soft cloth or any cleaning solution or even water is not allowed. If you believe the manual, there is no possible way to safely clean either the set or the screen. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/9 "2008-12-30T14:19:32Z")
Many cleaning solutions contain ammonia, which can cause problems for coatings or plastics. I have not had firsthand experience with it, but the warning that comes with plexiglass says that ammonia can cause the surface to fog. For most purposes water is good enough to clean up the dust. If you have fingerprints, a cleaner without ammonia is probably safest. Windex now makes versions of its cleaner that are ammonia-free (I use that on a sealed granite countertop, which also is not supposed to be cleaned with ammonia). Also, anything that is safe for plastic eyeglass lenses is probably OK. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/10 "2008-12-30T15:13:13Z")
Soft cloth and water. I’ve always been able to get the screen perfectly clean with just those. I’d avoid paper towels and any sort of cleaners - sure, they may do no harm, but given the investment involved in a flat screen, I prefer to avoid the risk completely. My manual (Panasonic plasma) specifically forbids windex & ammonia BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/11 "2008-12-30T15:45:12Z")
I find this article’s advice helpful as it addresses the issue of ‘what is in special LCD screen cleaners anyway?’ [http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how\_to/4213061.html](http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how_to/4213061.html) Posters also added a few helpful tips for different situations, such as a magic eraser for different marks. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/12 "2008-12-30T17:30:03Z")
Well, Plasma screens are covered with glass normally, so window cleaner or anything like that works fine. Plasma screens are generally not glass and may be coated so, I just use a damp paper towel on LCD screens. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/13 "2008-12-30T18:18:15Z")
My LG plasma came with a cleaning cloth. I have also some Philips cleaning gel designed for laptops, LCD and plasma screen monitors and TVs. It only needs using very infrequently and only a minimal amount each time. I have had it two years and at the rate I’m going it will last about twenty more years, longer than any of the equipment. It was £5 - around $10 when I bought it. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/14 "2008-12-30T20:04:51Z")
My Sony Bravia LCD TV has a glass front for protection. Just clean it with any glass cleaner and it is safe. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/15 "2008-12-30T21:07:46Z")
I would use a soft microfiber cloth slightly damp with water. ---
**Author:** ![HilliardResident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eada6e/32.png) [@HilliardResident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HilliardResident)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-an-lcd-plasma-tv-screen/479165/16 "2008-12-31T01:43:42Z")
I would recommend a microfiber cloth. These are often sold for cleaning glasses, etc. If water isn’t strong enough, you may not be able to clean the screen without damage.