How to clean your monitor screen: Quick guide

The best methods and products for cleaning your PC monitor

Table of Contents Table of Contents

We’re here to show you exactly how to clean your monitor screen in this quick and easy guide. There’s nothing worse than a build up of dirt and grime on the tech you use every day, which sadly may go untouched for many months. Ideally, you should be cleaning your monitor screen every couple of months – even more so if you work in an environment with multiple people using the same monitor.

Luckily, cleaning your monitor screen couldn’t be easier. However, with modern LCD screens now utilizing delicate anti-glare matte coatings, it’s very easy to damage your panel if you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s not as simple as pulling out your favorite bottle of disinfectant or ethanol and giving it a wipe – that could ruin your monitor altogether.

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In this guide, we’ll be explaining exactly what to use for cleaning your monitor, how frequently you should do so, and some friendly tips on how to keep your panel germs and dirt free.

What should I use to clean a monitor?

So, let’s start at the top – what exactly do you need to clean a PC monitor.

Well, the first thing you’ll need for cleaning a monitor is a good quality microfibre cloth. While the chances are slim, using paper towels, old T-shirts, or rags can actually damage the monitor’s delicate outer coating. By contrast, a microfibre cloth is much more sensitive when it comes to the delicate cleaning of a monitor.

Next, get yourself a non-aggressive glass cleaner or specialized monitor cleaner that is purpose-designed for your panel coating. You can consult your monitor manufacturer before you purchase anything, asking what the best course of action would be. However, if this all sounds a little time-consuming and expensive, you can use some distilled water – adding white vinegar if you come across any particularly stubborn grit.

Additionally, you can choose to use some compressed air – albeit maybe a little overkill. You can buy compressed air in cans these days without breaking the bank and it makes for an excellent dust/particle cleaner. Many modern monitors will feature little holes and seams where dust and particles can build up. Compressed air is a superb solution for dealing with this kind of build-up.

How to clean a computer monitor safely

Now we have the products and tools for the job, let’s jump into the steps that you need to take to clean your monitor properly and safely.

Step

1

Unplug your monitor

The first thing you should do before cleaning your monitor is unplug it. Not only can you see dirt, grime, grit, and fingerprints more easily when the monitor is off, but it’s also good practice for general safety.

Step

2

Wipe away dust and any particles with a dry microfibre cloth

Most of the time, you’ll be able to get the majority of the dirt off your monitor by simply wipeing it with a cloth. Use wide sweeping movements for best results – and give it a little time. This is a delicate cleaning approach that will guarantee no damage occurs when cleaning.

Step

3

Use distilled water to dampen microfibre cloth

At this stage, if you have any stubborn marks and debris, feel free to use some distilled water to dampen the cloth lightly. This will allow the microfibre cloth to more easily break up the dirt, leaving you with a sparkling clean monitor. Remember, do not soak the cloth, simply dampen it occasionally.

Step

4

Use compressed air to get any dust out of cracks and seams

If you took the pleasure of purchasing some compressed air, you can always finish off your monitor by blasting any dust or particle matter out of the cracks.

Quick tips for cleaning a PC monitor

So, that’s pretty much all there is to it. Like we said in the intro, cleaning a monitor isn’t the most difficult task in the world – you just need to take some care in order to maintain the integrity of the outside layers.

That said, here’s a quick checklist that should help you when cleaning your monitor:

• Don’t use harsh alcohol/disinfectants on your monitor
• Always ensure your microfibre cloth is clean
• Let your panel cool down before cleaning
• Gently wipe your panel in wide, sweeping strokes
• Avoid using paper towels
• Distilled water is great for removing more stubborn marks

Related cleaning pages

Interested in keeping the rest of your setup clean? Here are our best cleaning articles:

• Top products for cleaning your peripherals
• How to clean a mouse pad