# kid drew on LCD screen - help! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 16, 2009, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-drew-on-lcd-screen-help/481586 "2009-01-16T12:44:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-drew-on-lcd-screen-help/481586/1 "2009-01-16T12:44:55Z")
My 2-year-old was caught drawing on my computer screen with a mechanical lead pencil. The LCD screen seems unharmed, save for the pencil lines. Is there a way to remove the marks without damaging the screen? Can I just take an ordinary eraser for the job is is it a recipe for disaster? ---
**Author:** ![seodoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-drew-on-lcd-screen-help/481586/2 "2009-01-16T12:54:24Z")
> [@Toxylon](#): > > My 2-year-old was caught drawing on my computer screen with a mechanical lead pencil. The LCD screen seems unharmed, save for the pencil lines. Is there a way to remove the marks without damaging the screen? Can I just take an ordinary eraser for the job is is it a recipe for disaster? I would just use an LCD-safe cleaning solution (isopropyl alcohol diluted with distilled water works) and a microfiber cloth. ---
**Author:** ![Solfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Solfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Solfy)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-drew-on-lcd-screen-help/481586/3 "2009-01-16T13:47:28Z")
I concur, having had ink pen on my LCD. And crayon. Common rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball does the trick nicely. ---
**Author:** ![seodoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-drew-on-lcd-screen-help/481586/4 "2009-01-16T13:54:46Z")
Just make sure that the alcohol is isopropyl, not ethyl alcohol. Doing a Google search, I see a lot of sites that warn that ethyl alcohol can damage some monitors, particularly those with anti-glare coatings. I don’t know if this is true or if it is a geek equivalent of an old wive’s tale, but I’m not going to be the first to test it on my own equipment. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-drew-on-lcd-screen-help/481586/5 "2009-01-16T14:04:26Z")
> [@](#): > > I see a lot of sites that warn that ethyl alcohol can damage some monitors, particularly those with anti-glare coatings. And definitely do not use an eraser. That will also abrade any coatings on front surface. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-drew-on-lcd-screen-help/481586/6 "2009-01-16T14:58:29Z")
I’ve not tried it yet myself, but I’ve heard good things about using the [Mr. Clean Magic Eraser](http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-1043561.html)on LCD screens. If the other stuff doesn’t work you might want to give that a shot. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-drew-on-lcd-screen-help/481586/7 "2009-01-16T15:12:56Z")
I don’t see how isopropanol will help this situation. Graphite is not soluble in isopropanol. I don’t see how anything except gentle abrasion is going to work. Graphite is not soluble in anything you want to use. ---
**Author:** ![Solfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Solfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Solfy)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-drew-on-lcd-screen-help/481586/8 "2009-01-16T15:55:22Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > I don’t see how isopropanol will help this situation. Graphite is not soluble in isopropanol. I don’t see how anything except gentle abrasion is going to work. Graphite is not soluble in anything you want to use. It doesn’t need to be soluble - you’re not dissolving the graphite. It just needs to be a monitor screen compatible wetting agent to physically lift the graphite gently without scratching the screen. Trust me - I’ve done it. Just now. In my lab. With a 10% aqueous IPOH solution on my stainless steel balance pan (the monitor in my lab is a CRT). Because I’m a geek. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is an abrasive (despite claiming magic, the mechanism of removal is purely physical). Try the rubbing alcohol first. Do not saturate the screen - be gentle. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-drew-on-lcd-screen-help/481586/9 "2009-01-16T16:14:13Z")
If the above suggestions don’t work you might also want to try an “art gum” eraser - these are a doughy, sticky rubber that removes graphite by “peeling” it from the surface.