How to clean your TV screen

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By Ryan Waniata

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how to clean your lcd or plasma tv version 1390384840 glove — Daniel Jdzura/123RF

If you own a TV of any kind, whether it’s a sparkling new 4K Ultra HD masterpiece or an aging SD TV, rest assured it will become dirty at some point. Before you go after it with the cleaning supplies, you should know how to clean your television without rendering it useless. Some manufacturers suggest using custom-made cleaners to touch up your display, but these are often just as expensive as they are unnecessary.

Instead of forking over your hard-earned cash, we suggest making your own cleaning solution using a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol. Using these mild and easily obtained products, the method detailed below is the cheapest way to get your TV sparkling clean, and just as importantly, it does a great job.

What you’ll need

Two pieces of soft, lint-free cloth (preferably microfiber)
Distilled water
Isopropyl alcohol
Measuring cup
Q-tips (optional)

Cleaning the display

The first thing you’ll want to do is turn off your TV and make sure it has a chance to cool down. Wait until it’s no longer warm to the touch before you proceed.

Next, dust the screen to remove any dirt particles and then wipe the screen with your soft, lint-free cloth to remove any residual dust. If you can’t see any visible smudges after you’re done dusting, stop here.

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If your screen is still dirty, it’s time to make up your batch of cleaning solution. First, mix the isopropyl alcohol with water using a measuring cup, ensuring the solution is equal parts water and alcohol. If you don’t have a measuring cup, try using a juice glass or shot glass to measure quantities before mixing. In any case, just make sure you’re not overdoing it with the alcohol — the resulting solution shouldn’t be more than half alcohol or it can damage the display.

Dip your cloth into your newly minted solution and ring it out to remove excess moisture. You want the cleaning cloth to be damp, but not wet. Afterward, gently wipe the damp cloth across your display.

Next, use the second lint-free cloth to dry your display. Don’t leave any moisture on it — you’ll want it to be completely dry before turning the TV back on.

Additional tips

If your TV’s bezel makes it difficult to clean the corners and near the edges of the display, use a Q-tip dampened with your solution to get to the hard-to-reach areas.
Make sure you’re using the right chemical. Don’t use ethyl alcohol, acetone, toluene, ethyl acid, ammonia, or methyl chloride — only isopropyl alcohol.
Always use a clean cloth, as hard particles can get trapped in cloth fibers and leave unwanted scratches.
Ensure your cleaning cloth is damp, not wet. You don’t want drops running down your display with each wipe.
Do not use Windex or other glass cleaners! Said solutions generally contain ammonia and will hurt your TV screen.
Do not use paper towels; they leave behind tiny bits of paper that can mess up your display.

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