How to Clean a Flat Screen TV

Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the SVP and General Manager of Lifewire.

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Kayla Dube has 4+ years' experience in videography and filmmaking. She frequently works in production with indie film companies.

What to Know

• Turn off TV and wipe gently and without pressure using soft, dry cloth.
• If needed, dampen cloth with distilled water or equal ratio of distilled water to white vinegar.

This article explains how to safely clean your flat screen monitor, TV, laptop screen, or other device in just a few minutes. This information applies to televisions from most manufacturers, such as LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, and Vizio.

How to Properly Clean a TV

How to Clean a Flat Screen TV or Computer Monitor

1. Turn off the device. If the screen is dark, it will be easier to see the dirty or oily areas. Turning the device off also prevents you from accidentally pushing buttons you don't want to push, which happens often when cleaning touchscreen devices like tablets, iPads, etc.

Tips & More Information

Here are some tips to consider before you begin cleaning your TV screen:

1. Avoid using paper towels, toilet paper, tissue paper, rags, or something like your shirt to wipe the screen. These non-ultrasoft materials can scratch the display.

Plasma TVs are glass, as are many touchscreens, but often also have very sensitive anti-glare coatings applied. Take the same special care with those types of displays.

To clean a phone screen, use a dry microfiber cloth. For tough dirt or sticky spots, dampen a corner of the cloth with a bit of water, or use cleaning wipes that are made specifically for phones.

To clean a MacBook screen, use a dry or damp microfiber cloth. If water doesn't suffice, you can use 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes, 75 percent ethyl alcohol wipes, or Clorox brand disinfecting wipes.

To clean an iPad screen, use a microfiber cloth or a soft, lint-free cloth dipped in water (no cleaning supplies or solvents). Use gentle, side-to-side movements to clean the entire screen, and avoid getting moisture in any openings.

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