Authored by Dave Mallisk in Computer Hardware
Published on 08-20-2009

Properly cleaning your computer monitor makes your computer time more pleasant because you can see better what you are doing. Your computer-monitor cleaning requirements depend on your monitor type:

• A flat panel monitor has either an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen or a plasma display screen, and either is very delicate. As detailed below in the Flat Panel Monitor Cleaning Procedure, you must clean its display screen very carefully to avoid damaging it.
• A CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitor has a plain glass display screen that is less delicate than a flat panel screen. As detailed below in the CRT Monitor Cleaning Procedure, its display screen is easier to clean.

Flat Panel Monitor Cleaning Materials

The cleaning materials you need for your flat panel computer monitor depend on whether it’s only slightly dirty.

Basic Flat Panel Cleaning Materials

If your computer is in a relatively clean environment, such as a smoke-free business office, you probably need only the following basic cleaning materials:

• Clean, soft, lint-free cloth (such as an old tee shirt)
• Clean, cool water in a small bowl or saucer

Advanced Flat Panel Cleaning Materials

If your computer is in a relatively dirty environment, such as a smoke-filled, dusty, oily machine shop, you probably need the following advanced cleaning materials:

• Clean microfiber cleaning cloth
• Alcohol-free and ammonia-free mild cleaning fluid that you can dab or spray onto a microfiber cleaning cloth

Note: Advanced cleaning materials are available in kits (sets), such as: Endust LCD Cleaner

Flat Panel Monitor Cleaning Procedure

To clean your flat panel computer monitor, do the following:

1. Turn off the monitor.
2. Use a clean, soft, lint-free cloth to gently dust the entire flat-panel monitor, including its cabinet and display screen.
3. If dusting alone does not clean the monitor’s plastic cabinet sufficiently, clean it with a water-dampened lint-free cloth. Be careful to not touch the display screen.
4. Move close to the display screen, and then view it from several angles to look for smudges or spots.
5. For each area in which you see even one smudge or spot:
   1. Use water to slightly dampen a small section of soft, lint-free cloth.
   2. Gently rub the damp cloth back and forth across the area.
   3. Wait until the area dries completely.
   4. If the area’s smudges and spots are not completely gone, clean the area again.
   5. Repeat steps 2 through 5 for each area containing smudges or spots.
6. If your monitor needs further cleaning, clean it again using the Advanced Flat Panel Cleaning Materials, as listed above.

CRT Monitor Cleaning Materials

Here are the cleaning materials you need for your CRT computer monitor:

• Clean, soft, lint-free cloth
• Clean, cool water in a small bowl or saucer
• Paper towels
• Glass cleaner

CRT Monitor Cleaning Procedure

To clean your CRT computer monitor, do the following:

1. Turn off the monitor.
2. Use a clean, soft, lint-free cloth to gently dust the entire CRT monitor, including its cabinet and display screen.
3. If dusting alone does not clean the monitor’s plastic cabinet sufficiently, clean it with a water-dampened lint-free cloth.
4. Spray glass cleaner onto a paper towel. Never spray glass cleaner directly onto the CRT monitor glass display screen.
5. Use the glass-cleaner-dampened paper towel to clean the CRT monitor glass display screen.