However, anyone who owns any type of LCD screen knows there is one minor problem with them. These screens or displays gather dust and dirt like there is no tomorrow. Just within a few weeks of purchasing your once pristine LCD screen, it starts picking up lint, dust particles, and smudges - ruining your full enjoyment of this technical marvel.
Once you see your favorite LCD screen picking up a bit of dust, you immediately grab a tissue or paper towel and some water to clean it. DON'T! Or you will made a big mistake and you could possibly even do permanent damage to your delicate LCD screen.
LCD screens are not like ordinary monitor screens. LCD screens are NOT GLASS, rather they are made up of a soft film that can easily be damaged by harsh paper towels and the chloride and other chemicals in ordinary tap water. These screens are very delicate, they must be handled with care and very, very gently.
You must proceed with caution if you want to keep all your LCD screens in perfect mint condition. This is one case where a little knowledge could save you a whole lot of trouble and disappointment.
The history of Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) goes back over a hundred years. It was first mentioned by Otto Lehmann in 1904. The first operational LCD was made by RCA in 1968. Each display is made up of countless pixels, with light being filtered through them in a controlled manner. Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) is a form of LCDs which uses an active matrix to improve image quality. LCD technology has found its way into countless displays in laptops, PDAs, and high definition TVs. (Source - wikipedia.org)
* LCD Screen Cleaning Tips *
Most experts suggest you can use a cleaning solution of 50% distilled water and 50% isopropyl (rubbing alcohol). You should use a soft cloth such as an old cotton T-shirt or handkerchief. Don't use paper towels, tissues, or ordinary dish cloths, as harsh cloths may damage the soft surface of an LCD screen.
Shut down any devices before cleaning them. Inspect the screen very carefully to take note of any special areas that have to be cleaned. Don't spray any cleaning solution directly onto the screen but rather dampen your large cleaning cloth with your solution and apply very gentle pressure, cleaning the display in a circular motion.
Don't apply any hard pressure or touch the screen with your fingertips. It has been suggested you think of the screen as a smooth baby's bottom and give it the same kind of care as you would give an enfant's delicate skin.
Make sure you let the screen thoroughly dry before turning your device back on. You should now have a perfectly cleaned screen ready for your full viewing enjoyment once again.
Word of Caution - you should always check your owner's manual or the manufacturer for the recommended cleaning method for your particular LCD TV or Laptop Screen.
You should also note, commercial LCD cleaning kits are very inexpensive. These cleaning kits will have everything your need to clean your LCD screen. Most will have a Microfiber Cloth or Chamois that are excellent for picking up dust and removing fingerprints and smudges. A can of Compressed Air is also handy for removing dust from your screen and from those hard to reach places.
There are also stronger cleaning solutions to remove ink markings just in case your small child has confused your expensive laptop for an itch-a-sketch toy and created a modern masterpiece. Ouch!
Some commercial cleaning formulas may contain the same mixture as the home-made one mentioned above, but newer cleaning solutions are alcohol and ammonia-free. Some have an anti-static coating that will help reduce the build up of dust particles. It would probably be wise to pick up one of these cleaning kits if you own a lot of LCD screens. You can also purchase single wipes and cleaners for traveling.
What ever route you take, or cleaning formula you use, just remember to treat all your LCD screens with a whole lot of respect. Be gentle, be careful and be diligent. Make sure you clean all your LCD screens when the need arises. That way you will go on enjoying all your perfect pristine LCD screens for years to come.
Copyright (c) 2006 Titus Hoskins
Despite the many benefits of LCD screens, from lower power consumption to crisper image quality, they must still be cleaned and they cannot be cleaned as easily as traditional CRT monitors. Before the days of LCD screens, all you needed to clean a monitor was window cleaner and a paper towel, but now you need special equipment to properly and safely clean your screen. Cleaning an LCD screen is, however, still easy once you know the correct methods.
Before cleaning is necessary, though, you can perform some preventative maintenance. Like all screens, LCD screens accumulate dust from the air, and for laptop screens, from bags. Simply dusting the screen regularly can improve the quality of the image and help reduce the effects of other substances that can dirty your screen. To dust an LCD screen, either use one of the computer "dust squeegees" you can find at little or no cost at most computer stores, or use a very, very soft, dry cloth to wipe the dust away.
Aside from dust, another common way LCD screens get dirty is from body oil on fingers. For all LCD screens, the easiest way to prevent this is to not touch the screen. This simple advice can help keep your LCD screen clean enough to only need a more through cleaning every few months. Unless, of course, you have a laptop, since on most laptops, even if you never directly touch the screen, body oils will get on the screen from the keys when the laptop is closed. A simply solution to this is to place a thin, soft cloth between the keyboard and screen, keeping the screen from accumulating key marks.
Even with this advice to keep your LCD screen from getting dirty, it will eventually need to be cleaned since fluids, grime, and dirt find a way to your screen. When your LCD needs to be cleaned, the best way to do it is with a diluted isopropyl alcohol solution made of water and at most 50% isopropyl alcohol. You can either mix your own or purchased a premixed cleaning solution (usually mixed to 30% concentration) from a computer store. To apply the solution, use a very, very soft cloth, such as a piece of soft flannel or a synthetic microfiber material, and wipe the screen gently: too much pressure can cause the screen to crack or warp. You can use this cleaning method as often as necessary.
A word of warning, though. Never use any other cleaners, especially those that contain ammonia, such as glass cleaners. Ammonia can damage an LCD screen and leave it looking cloudy. Also avoid paper towels, since they can easily scratch an LCD as they drag dirt and paper particles over the surface of the screen; that's why it's so important to use the softest cloth you can.
Cleaning LCD screens is a simple process, but requires some care. You must use the proper tools; otherwise you could permanently damage your screen. With the right knowledge and tools, though, you'll be able to keep your LCD clean and functional for years to come.
Both Titus Hoskins & Johnny Waymire are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Titus Hoskins has sinced written about articles on various topics from Personal Desktop, RSS and Computers and The Internet. For other handy LCD cleaning tips and all the materials you need to clean LCD screens go here: To learn how to clean a laptop LCD screen try here:. Titus Hoskins's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.
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