Cleaning your TV screen is essential if you want to enjoy your movie time with a shining and clear resolution. Nothing can be more annoying than having your favorite actors or athlete's face distorted by an easy-to-remove fingerprint.
However, while cleaning is easy, disregarding your manufacturer's cleaning manual is a guaranteed way of voiding your warranty. Thus, it becomes imperative that you use the correct cloth and liquid if you need one.
If you have noticed some fingerprints on your screen, or an annoying layer of dust on the screen, it is time to clean. Are you wondering how to start the process? Read on as this article discusses every detail you should not miss when cleaning your TV screen.
What type of tv screen do you have?
Before you start cleaning the screen, it is vital to consider the type of screen your tv has. To know yours, you can check your tv manual or do a quick model search on Google. The following are the main types of tv screens you probably own today.
- LCD (LED) TV screens
- OLED TV screens.
- Plasma TV screens.
- Tube TVs are rare to find today, but cleaning them is as easy as cleaning any glassware.
If you have an LCD or OLED tv, you need to take extra caution when cleaning because the screens are made with a type of flexible plastic that is easy to damage.
On the other hand, if you have an older tv model, it probably contains a plasma screen. Though made with glass, the screen is covered with a special layer of anti-glare coating that makes it quite sensitive.
Now, cleaning your tv is easy. There are only three essential tips you need to remember as cleaning advice for your flat screen tv;
- Never use a wet cloth when cleaning the screen.
- Never spray water directly to your television screen.
- Use a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth to wipe the screen.
How to Clean a TV Screen with a Dry Microfiber Cloth
When cleaning your set with a dry microfiber cloth, it is best first to shut the television off or even completely unplug it. Experts say this is vital because the dirt or prints on the screen are more visible when it is black.
The reason it is vital to use a soft cloth is that your tv screen is very delicate. Because of this, it can easily get scars or scratches from an ordinary cleaning cloth or even paper towels. Even though they seem soft, the paper towels contain small fibers that can damage a flat-screen tv. A microfiber cloth is similar to the one you use to clean camera lenses or eyeglasses.
When you are ready to clean;
- Turn the tv off.
- Gently wipe the tv screen in circular motions to get all dust off. If you find persistent fingerprints, ensure you do not press the screen too hard as this too can damage it.
- You can also use the same dry soft cloth to wipe the TV's cabinet and speaker covers to remove any dirt or dust that might be clogging the vents.
When To Use a Damp Cloth to Clean a TV Screen
When wiping your TV screen with a soft and dry cloth, you may encounter some tough stains or fingerprints that you can't remove unless you press hard on the screen, which would then be damaging. In this case, you may use a damp cloth to remove these.
It is important to avoid using a harsh cleaning agent such as Windex or dish soap. Dishwashing liquids contain strong chemicals such as ammonia, while a window cleaner like Windex contains alcohol and other ingredients that can damage your flat screen tv.
When looking for a liquid to dampen your microfiber cloth, you may decide to buy a tv screen cleaner, although you do not really need one. There are tv screen cleaners in the market for as little as $10. However, if you want a screen cleaner that lacks alcohol, ammonia, or acetone ingredients, you can decide to use or make any of the following cleaning solutions;
- Distilled water. To remove dust and more stains from your tv screen, you can spray a small amount of water to your soft dry cloth and gently wipe the screen in a circular motion. Do not spray the distilled water directly onto the screen or any other part of your TV.
- Make a mild cleaning solution with dish soap and distilled water. To avoid damaging your TV screen, dilute the soap with water using a ratio of 100:1( water to soap). Again, remember to spray this solution to your microfiber cleaning cloth, not your LCD screens.
- You can also buy a cleaning solution from the nearest store. These solutions are quite affordable, and they are ideal for you if you do not have a microfiber cloth you can use for your TV. However, make sure to check if the solution contains any harmful chemical that might destroy your tv set.
How to Clean the Remote Control
If you are really after a clean and wonderful home tv viewing experience, you can never forget to clean and disinfect your remote after you clean the screen. Unlike the TV, your remote control is the most used gadget, and thus, the dirtiest. Here is how you clean the remote without damaging it;
- Remove batteries.
- Turn the remote upside down and tap it against your palm to remove any debris between the keys.
- Dampen your soft cloth with a cleaning agent and wipe the whole remote with it. Remember to not spray liquid directly to your remote, and only use a damp cloth, not wet.
- Use a dampened cotton swab to wipe in and around the buttons.
- Lastly, wipe the remote with a soft and dry cloth, and reinstall batteries to continue using.
Conclusion
It is vital to clean your tv occasionally to prevent damage from dust damage or other smudges that make watching it undesirable.
However, before you start cleaning, make sure you read the user manual and follow the tv manufacturer's cleaning recommendations if still in the warranty period.
