How to Perfectly Clean Computer Screens
You often lift your computer to use it and the sun's rays hit your screen. Then you notice a lot of dust and several fingerprints on the screen. At this point, you realize it's been ages since you last tried to clean the display, and you just want to wipe away the dirt with your hand.
As tempting as that may be, it is the wrong move. Screen cleaning is a very delicate but important process. Computer screens can easily and often get very dirty from various things like dust, fingerprints, and even sneezes. This could make using your computer difficult. A dirty screen could even become a source of germ transmission.
You should know how to properly clean computer screens and how to use your computer to avoid damaging the screens. Here's everything you need to know about screen cleaning:
Why You Should Clean Your Computer Screen
There are several factors that make it necessary to clean computer screens. These factors make screen cleaning a necessity. Check out some reasons why you should clean computer screens:
It Could Make You Sick
A lot of dirt can accumulate on your computer screen unnoticed. If you touch your computer screen, you could transfer accumulated germs and bacteria from its surface to your body. This could eventually build up and cause you to get sick. To prevent this, it is important to make screen cleaning a routine process.
It Could Lead To Overheating
If there is a lot of dust and dirt on your screen, this could be a sign that dust and dirt are accumulating inside your computer. This can cause the vents and fans to clog, leading to your computer overheating. Overheating can cause significant damage to the computer's hardware.
If you are using a laptop, overheating can significantly drain your battery. This is because the fans will have to keep running to cool the computer. Overheating can also cause your screen to run at maximum, which can significantly slow it down. A slow computer would definitely make work very frustrating. You could prevent this by taking the time to clean computer screens properly.
You Frequently Use Your Computer
The more often you use your computer, the more often you need to clean it. This is because your computer gets a lot of wear and tear from frequent use. It also collects a lot of dust, grime, and dirt from continuous use. If you use a laptop that you move around, your laptop is exposed to at least twice as much dirt as a stationary monitor. This means you will need to clean computer screens more often.
How To Protect Your Computer
Cleaning computer screens in a timely and proper manner helps you to better maintain the computer. This helps to extend the life of the computer. It also saves you a lot of costs that could be spent on repairs or even replacing parts or the entire computer.
Required Preparation For Screen Cleaning
Before you clean computer screens, you need to make appropriate preparations. First, you should check your computer's manual to see if your screen is a backlit LED screen with LCD pixels (liquid crystal display) or a surface not coated with LCD glass.
You should also look for specific instructions and recommendations from the manufacturers. You will need all the information you can get to clean computer screens.
You should also make sure you have all the necessary materials and supplies you need to clean computer screens. These screen cleaning materials include:
- Non-abrasive screen cleaning solution. You can buy it in stores or make it yourself with equal parts distilled water and vinegar
- Dry, soft, lint-free cloth, preferably a microfiber cloth
- Spray bottle
How To Clean Computer Screens
Now that you have your screen cleaning supplies, it's time to start cleaning computer screens. Here are 4 steps you need to follow when cleaning your screen:
Step 1
The first thing you should do when cleaning computer screens is to turn off your computer. There are two main reasons for this. It makes it easier to spot dust, dirt, and smudges on the screen. It also prevents the risk of electric shock if you are using a screen cleaning solution.
Step 2
Next, clean computer screens by wiping the screen with a microfiber cloth. If you are only dealing with dust, a quick wipe will suffice. Make sure you get into the corners. You should also be gentle when cleaning computer screens.
Step 3
If there are still smudges on the screen during screen cleaning, you can moisten a part of the microfiber cloth with a little distilled water or screen cleaning agents and gently wipe the screen back and forth. Do not clean the edges of computer screens with the wet edge to avoid liquid getting into your screen.
Step 4
After cleaning computer screens, wipe the screen with a dry microfiber cloth and then let it air dry. Make sure it is completely dry before turning on your computer. This is to avoid electrical hazards after screen cleaning.
Cleaning Screen For Touch Screen Displays
Screen cleaning for Touchscreen Monitor can be a little different. This is due to the additional protective layer on them, which makes screen cleaning considerably easier. However, you still need to take the necessary precautions you would normally take when cleaning computer screens.
Touchscreen displays are usually more sensitive than standard displays, which means you need to be much more careful when cleaning the screen. All you often need to do to clean computer screens for touchscreen displays is to gently wipe the screen with a microfiber cloth. Due to their pressure sensitivity, you should not press on them during screen cleaning, as this could damage the sensors.
With touchscreen displays, you should clean computer screens much more often than with standard displays. This is due to the sweat and dirt from your fingertips that come into contact with it over time.
What Not To Do When Cleaning Computer Screens
There are a few things you should not do when cleaning computer screens. Otherwise, your computer may be damaged. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when cleaning your screen:
Don't Clean Computer Screens When They Are On Or Plugged In
During screen cleaning, the first thing you should do is turn off the computer and unplug it. As mentioned earlier, this makes screen cleaning easier and prevents electrical hazards.
Don't Use Chemicals
Another thing to avoid when cleaning computer screens is cleaning solutions that contain chemicals such as ammonia, acetone, rubbing alcohol, or ethyl alcohol. Cleaning solutions containing these chemicals can damage your screen's protective coating.
Don't Apply Too Much Pressure
When cleaning the screen, be careful not to apply too much pressure. Computer screens are delicate and cannot be irreparably damaged if you apply too much pressure to them. Avoid circular motions if possible when wiping your screen or polishing a spot. Instead, consider broad strokes from one side of the screen to the other or from top to bottom. This will protect your computer from possible damage.
Don't Spray Directly Onto The Screen
When cleaning computer screens, you should avoid spraying the cleaning solution directly onto the screen. If you do this, you risk the liquid running into the edges and into your computer. This can lead to complications and damage to your computer's hardware. It's best to spray the solution onto your microfiber cloth and wipe your computer screen.
How To Maintain A Clean And Healthy Screen
After cleaning your computer screen, you want your screen to stay healthy and look clean. There are some proactive steps you can take to ensure this. However, you need to understand that these steps would not prevent you from needing to clean your screen if it gets dirty eventually.
One of the main causes of dirt on your screen is your keyboard. Dirt, oils, and dead skin cells from your fingers accumulate on your keyboard as you use it. This is then transferred to your screen when you close your laptop. You can easily prevent this by placing a thin microfiber cloth on your keyboard before closing it.
You should also avoid touching your computer screen as much as possible to prevent smudges. You can also keep a handy microfiber cloth to regularly clean your screen.
Store your computer in a sealed plastic bag or computer case if you are not using it for a long time. This will prevent dust from accumulating inside the computer.
Conclusion
Most manufacturers have different guidelines and recommendations for cleaning, so read them first. When cleaning your computer screen, make sure you use materials that will not harm your computer and are gentle. Last but not least, remember that screen cleaning should be a routine process and not a one-time thing.
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