Flat screen monitors whether in LCD
, LED,
or plasma form, are a little different than their CRT
cousins when it comes to cleaning. Your standard CRT monitor has
a glass screen and can be cleaned in pretty much the same way as you would any
other glass in your home or office. Flat
screen monitors, however, require a bit of special care when cleaning. Their
displays are much more sensitive and are easily scratched and damaged. The same
applies to your flat screen television.
Follow
the easy steps below to safely clean your flat screen monitor or TV in just a
few minutes.
Difficulty: Easy
Time
Required: Cleaning
a flat screen (LCD, LED, or plasma) monitor/ usually takes less than 5 minutes
Here's
How:
1.
Turn off the monitor. If the screen is dark, it will be easier
to see the areas that are dirty or oily.
2.
Use a dry, soft cloth and very
gently wipe
the screen. A great choice would be the microfiber type of cloth used to clean
eyeglasses.
See Tip #1 below for
kinds of cloths to avoid.
3.
If the dry cloth did not completely remove the dirt or oil, do not press harder in an
attempt to scrub it off.
Pushing directly on the
screen can often cause pixels to burn out.
4.
If necessary, dampen the cloth with distilled water or with an
equal ratio of distilled water to white vinegar.
Many companies also sell
small spray bottles of special cleaner for flat screen monitors but the vinegar
mixture is usually just as effective.
See Tip #2 below for
products to avoid.
5.
The plastic edge that surrounds the screen can be cleaned with
any multipurpose cleaner but take care to avoid contact with the screen itself.
Tips:
1.
Avoid using paper towels, toilet paper, tissue paper, or
something like your shirt to wipe the screen. These non-ultrasoft materials can
scratch the display.
2.
Avoid cleaning products that contain ammonia, ethyl alcohol,
acetone, toluene, ethyl acid, or methyl chloride. These chemicals can react
with the materials that the flat screen is made of which could yellow the
screen or cause other kinds of damage.
3.
Never spray liquid directly on an LED, LCD, or plasma screen. It
could run inside the monitor and cause damage.
