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Best way to clean LCDs?

Lots of dust on my street, so I'm looking for a better way to clean my screens, preferably without destroying the glazing.
( 23 comments | 23 points | on HN )
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by mironathetin on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @01:29PM (#114186)
I tested once on a Dell Latitude C820 notebook - crappy enough to not care about.

It had a normal matte screen (non glare). I wiped with a wet cloth and I also used dish washing liquid to remove oil and fingerprints. Everything was easily cleaned. I also wiped very hard to find out how much abuse the screen could take. I did not damage anything. These displays are much sturdier than anyone would think!

So just go ahead. Subconsciously I am sure I wanted to destroy this crapbox. But I didn't. In the end I had to throw it with force on a concrete floor. That finally did the job ;o).

Oh, yes, I have forgotten: this is america. Please shut down the computer, disconnect all cords, remove the battery, discharge yourself, and no warranty. You act on your own risk etc. pp.

Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by Stubbs on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @03:13PM (#114267)
Our local pound shop sells cloths designed for drying glasses after you've washed them, however I find they're great for cleaning my screens, LCD or otherwise.

Just wipe the screen with a damp (not dripping wet) cloth, then dry with the glass cloth, simple as that.

I also use the same cloth (there were two in the packet) for cleaning my camera lenses & specs as well.

Well worth the pound I spent on it.

Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by boredguy8 on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @01:24PM (#114182)
50% isopropyl alcohol + 50% h2o, mix in a spritzer bottle and spray directly to a microfiber cloth. Power down your LCD, and clean away.
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by kingnothing on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @07:33PM (#114484)
Probably better to just use straight water on a cloth. There shouldn't be that much stuff on your monitors that you need to use isopropyl alcohol.

I tried using isopropyl on a CRT back in the day and it took off some kind of coating that was on the monitor, and I've been afraid to do it again ever since.

Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by pepeto on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @01:26PM (#114185)
Power down your house to make sure...
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by pepeto on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @12:56PM (#114157)
Real coders work on dirty screens
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by andr on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @01:24PM (#114183)
My coding screen is dirty, but I want to clean the other one. :)
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by zabravih on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @01:25PM (#114184)
real coders dont need screens
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by Xichekolas on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @07:03PM (#114472)
Real coders sit down at 2am, close their eyes and scream like a banshee while pounding the keyboard furiously. After about 2 minutes of this, they calmly stand up, grab a Jolt, and watch while the custom operating system they just wrote in their own custom language (implemented in Arc and Javascript) compiles...

(The screaming is important. It makes you look like a mad scientist.)

Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by eusman on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @05:17PM (#114363)
heh they code with their eyes closed
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by jeffreypriebe on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @06:23PM (#114434)
real coders don't have screens to clean: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altair_8800
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by Rickasaurus on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @04:50PM (#114340)
Real men use spit and old socks.
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by davidw on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @12:02PM (#114111)
I have a silk sunglasses bag that seems to work ok.
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by iamelgringo on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @09:11PM (#114538)
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by nickb on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @03:29PM (#114279)
Never use any cleaning liquids! They do more damage than good. Just use a microfiber cloth and tap or distilled water.
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by a-priori on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @12:58PM (#114160)
I usually use a clean, wet cloth. That gets off dust and stuff. For oils, I'd probably use dilute window cleaner.
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by WenomousVit on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @01:19PM (#114175)
I have read some LCD manuals that specifically warn against cleaners that contain ammonia -- i.e., window cleaner.

I've have good luck with a big micro-fiber lens-cleaning cloth dampened with a squirt of eyeglasses-cleaner. I've also heard that diluted isopropyl alcohol is a good choice. There are also cleaning fluids specifically intended for use on LCD screens.

Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by rtf on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @02:10PM (#114208)
Cotton shirt and vinegar. Works like a charm.
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by friedbaloney on Wednesday February 13, 2008 @06:17AM (#114776)
i use an old cat
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by dpapathanasiou on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @12:25PM (#114131)
I use compressed air.
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by davidw on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @06:35PM (#114443)
We had an air compressor at my old job and wow did that thing do a fantastic job of cleaning out the innards of computers.
Re:Best way to clean LCDs? by alaskamiller on Tuesday February 12, 2008 @04:10PM (#114311)
i take those lcd cleaning wipes from the office