3 Tips on How to Properly Clean a Laptop Screen

Learn how to safely remove dust, grime, and fingerprints from your laptop screen.

Laptop screens are a thing people stare at for most of the day, but even with the time spent looking at it, they often overlook how much dust and grime actually accumulate on it. Maybe once a week when the user is shutting down the laptop or turning it on and faced with the dark screen, they would realize that the laptop screen needs a little TLC.

One of the biggest culprits of a dirty laptop screen is the fingerprint. While many people refrain from touching their laptop screens, it is never safe from the occasional jab from a coworker while working together for a project. So how does one properly clean a laptop screen and it is safe to use alcohol and a tissue when there's nothing else appropriate within reach?

Tips on How to Properly Clean a Laptop Screen

Depending on the type of laptop screen a user has, there are several ways on how to clean it. However, it's always best to err on the side of caution when cleaning a laptop screen.

First, it's important to turn off the laptop before cleaning it through any of the methods to be discussed below. This is to provide safety for the user and to ensure that the computer does not get damaged.

Another great tip is to never apply the liquid cleaner or any kind of water-based substance to the laptop or laptop screen. Always apply the cleaner onto a soft microfiber cloth and then begin to clean the device. When it comes to the cloth, make sure that it is non-abrasive so as not to scratch the surface of the laptop screen.

Finally, it's important to know what type of screen the laptop is equipped with. Read up on instruction manuals and refer to manufacturer guidelines to identify the type of screen so as to avoid accidentally applying a solution that may cause it to break, HGTV suggests. Here are three more ways on how to properly clean a laptop screen.

How to Properly Clean a Non-LCD or Glass-Covered Laptop Screen

Non-LCD or glass-covered screens are the easiest to clean in just a few steps. According to Good Housekeeping, the first step is to unplug and turn off the laptop and then take a clean microfiber cloth to wipe down the laptop screen.

This will remove dust, smudges, fingerprints, and other grime on the surface. Then, take a disinfecting wipe and wring it to ensure that it is not too wet or put too much moisture onto the device.

Gently wipe the laptop screen vertically and horizontally while ensuring no openings or ports get wet or wiped on. Leave to air dry. If the wipes leave a streak, go over it with a clean microfiber cloth.

How to Clean a Non-Glass Covered LCD Laptop Screen

Disinfecting wipes are a big no-no for LCD laptop screens which are not covered with glass. Computer manufacturers have warned that active ingredients in disinfectant wipes made by Clorox and Lysol may damage LCD screens.

As per Hewlett-Packard, users should also be wary of ingredients such as "acetone, ethyl alcohol, toluene, ethyl acid, ammonia or methyl chloride" and refrain from using wipes that contain these materials. Instead, simply clean the LCD screen using a dry cloth.

Important Tip: Don't Use Soap and Water to Clean a Laptop Screen

This final tip is what not to do to properly clean a laptop screen. Never use soap and water to clean a laptop screen as some soaps contain ingredients that leave an effect on LCD screens. Soap and water mixtures also do not evaporate quickly, which may leave a computer screen wet and affect the internal mechanisms of the screen. It's always best to check the manufacturer's guidelines when in doubt.