subject: Three Common LCD Screen Cleaning Mistakes [print this page] Three Common LCD Screen Cleaning Mistakes
Question: Can I use alcohol to clean fingerprints and smudges from my laptop screen?
Answer: The matter of fact, the technology is changing fast and screen coatings are different. If the manufacturer recommends it, a mild solution of alcohol should be okay. However, if you do not have the manufacturer recommendations, it is too risky to use alcohol. In general, it is not recommended to use any solvent including alcohol. In case if heavy cleaning is needed, use a special commercial cleaner. As alternative, you may use 50:50 mix of white vinegar and distilled water. Do not forget to shut down your laptop before cleaning. For the future reference: in general, there are different types of LCD screens. If a touchscreen is okay to contact, a regular LCD screen is never recommended to touch by fingers.
Question: I clean my laptop screen regularly but never was able to rid of small scratches. Is there any way to fix the screen?
Answer: The problem is that LCD panel has a coating on the top of an actual screen and this is what is scratched. The coating consists of a very thin layer, once it is scratched - it can not be repaired. Some people try to use CD scratch remover but in most cases it makes the screen worse. If your screen has many scratches and looks too bad, then you may want to consider replacing the screen. In the future, never use paper towels, tissues, or napkins for cleaning your LCD screen - they can contain wood fibers that can scratch the screen.
Question: I sprayed Windex on my laptop LCD screen and now it has pink streaks. Is it possible to remove the pink streaks from the screen using a stain remover?
Answer: Pink streaks on your screen are not paint or dirt and cannot be erased by stain remover. Since Windex is a solvent, the pink color is a result of a dissolved surface of the screen. It is hard to believe that you can easily rid of these streaks. However, the LCD screen in a laptop is relatively easy to remove and replace. You may learn from some on-line illustrated guide how to replace LCD screen. For your information in the future - never use household cleaners to clean your laptop parts.
