how to get rid of the dirt from the screen?

[FlyinCoffin]

got some fly s*** and other dirt on my screen. is it possible to get it clean without damaging it?

[Dusty_Steppes]

I would try a microfiber cloth dampened with distilled water. Make sure the power is disconnected and don't scrub. Gentle pressure and patience.

Edited October 25, 2022 by Dusty_Steppes

[AFSGLarry]

50/50 white vinegar + distilled water, works great. no paper products.

Edited October 25, 2022 by AFSGLarry

[FlyinCoffin]

I forgot to mention that there is also snot on my screen.

 

 

[Crocogator]

Bit of water and a microfiber cloth will do it, gently. As for the snot you need to huff that back up your nose (you do not want to be caught short.)

[Irishratticus72]

I have had some, um, fluids on my screen over the years, I find cleaning fluid for spectacles and microfiber cloths the best way to go.

[1Sascha]

I wouldn't use any of these so-called "monitor cleaning", pre-moistened cloth-thingies. At least not the kind you can buy in super-markets. I found those tend to leave a film on some of the screens I tried to clean with them.

 

What I do these days is what others have already recommended: Soft micro-fiber cloth to get rid of dust, etc and if there's more persistent stuff to be cleaned off, use a tiny bit of water to soften up the dirt (probably best to used distilled water) and then use another soft and clean cloth to wipe the screen dry. I usually use the soft and smooth kind of MF-cloth you'd use to clean glasses. Even with that method I'll still have some "smears" left-over after the first cleaning (probably just water residue I failed to remove completely), so it usually takes me at least two "sessions" to get the screen clean. I also find that like with anything else in life, if you clean more regularly, you'll have an easier time keeping things clean. I try and give my screen a decent cleaning every two weeks or so since I smoke at my desk from time to time.

 

Don't use paper kitchen towels or anything like that since they might leave scratches and don't use any cleaning agents unless they're specifically made to clean screens.. and I'd be suspicious of those, too. I remember an ex cleaning the last CRT TV I ever owned in my absence and since there was nicotine build-up on it, she took dish-washing liquid to it. That did not go well ... ?

 

S.

Edited October 27, 2022 by 1Sascha

[No_85_Gramps]

Distilled water and micro-fiber cloth. Like 1Sascha said, every couple of weeks.

[1Sascha]

Since I did it just now using nothing but two soft MF towels (material very similar to sun-glasses cleaning cloth but larger) and tap water:

 

Took me two rounds of cleaning/wiping dry before there were no water residue smears left. So don't get discouraged if the monitor looks a bit, well, smeared after your first go. I did pretty much what I do with my car's windshield/windows:

 

Switch off screen completely (not to stand-by) and give it a few minutes to cool off.

Put it in a position where you can comfortably clean it and where there's no risk of the panel getting dinged by any sharp/hard objects while you're cleaning.

After a basic wipe with another dry piece of cloth to remove loose dust, use one MF towel damp (but not dripping wet) to wipe the screen in circular motions to agitate and dissolve the dirt. The screen should be moist to very mildly wet but there shouldn't be any "running water" on its surface. Then take the dry cloth and wipe the screen in horizontal strokes until it's nice and dry. Check result and if there are smears left (there probably will be), repeat the process minus the dusting. Do this as often as necessary until the result is satisfactory.

I'd recommend holding the panel in place with your free hand somehow (mine's on a monitor arm, so I grabbed it by the VESA bracket on its backside). Also: Don't exert too much pressure on the panel while you're cleaning it.

 

S.