Cleaning question

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:15 pm

When I work on portables, I often grab the screen to maneuver/place it, and when it's fastened in, the screen always gets all finger-printy. I've tried cleaning it off with water numerous times, but it doesn't seem to do a very thorough job. I was wondering what you guys use to clean your screens off with. I was thinking about rubbing alcohol. Would that be safe? I'll probably use the same technique on my LCD television, so I really hope it won't damage anything. After all, rubbing alcohol is the "universal solvent", right

?Or was that water?

CTFan

sam fisher · Post by **sam fisher** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:35 pm

Well water is a solvent. Just a very mild and stable one. You need a subtance that that oils from your finger prints will dissolve in.

superdeformed · Post by **superdeformed** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 2:05 pm

Rubbing alchohol should work fine; in fact, it's one of the recommended cleaners for my monitor (and the PSone LCD).

gamer2 · Post by **gamer2** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 2:50 pm

Get Pre-moistened Eyeglass Wipes. I use them not only for my glasses but also to wipe my Lappys monitor off.

Zzebotes13 · Post by **Zzebotes13** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 2:53 pm

use windex, that's what i use on my monitor, works great

sam fisher · Post by **sam fisher** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:09 pm

I recomment the ethyl/methyl alcohol mix however I think windex has other things in it aswell. Also dont drink the rubbing alcohol. It has methyl alcohol in there to stop you doing that!

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:20 pm

Thanks, guys! Since I have 3 dirty screens, I'll test each method on a screen. I'll get back to you with the results.

CTFan

Post by **bicostp** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:29 pm

If it's a plastic lens over an LCD (think Game Boy), you can use basically anything that will not harm the pastic. I ues rubbing alcohol because it disolves oils well and it doesn't leave any residue. Windex is my #2 choice, followed by a weak Simple Green solution.

For bare LCDs (LCD monitors, I think PSone screens...) I use a clean dusting sheet (Swiffer) to remove the lint. Fold it into eights and use the long edge, it works pretty well. For finger prints, well I don't recommend touching one of these in the first place, but you can use a gentle cleaner on it like a very diluted Simple Green mix, or even just water (with a few passes).

Most computer CRTs have an anti-glare coating on them, so it is not the best idea to use a solvent like Windex (ammonia) or alcohol, which damage the coating. Again, a weak Simple Green mix should be more than enough. However, I just use a paper towel and water.

TVs ususally don't have this coating, so you can use pretty much any cleaner on them. However, stay away from abrasives such as Comet, Ajax, and cleaners with baking soda in them.

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:31 pm

Okay, good thing I didn't use the rubbing alcohol! Oh, and what's Simple Green?

CTFan

Zzebotes13 · Post by **Zzebotes13** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:55 pm

why would you use ajax on a computer, it's really meant for cleaning bathrooms

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:56 pm

Sammy Boy wrote:I recomment the ethyl/methyl alcohol mix however I think windex has other things in it aswell. Also dont drink the rubbing alcohol. It has methyl alcohol in there to stop you doing that!

If there's methyl alcohol in ispropyl alcohol, I don't think anybody would drink it. I don't think anybody would drink isopropyl alcohol in the first place.

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:08 pm

Kurt_ wrote:
Sammy Boy wrote:I recomment the ethyl/methyl alcohol mix however I think windex has other things in it aswell. Also dont drink the rubbing alcohol. It has methyl alcohol in there to stop you doing that!
If there's methyl alcohol in ispropyl alcohol, I don't think anybody would drink it. I don't think anybody would drink isopropyl alcohol in the first place.

You would die.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:11 pm

My point exactly.

sam fisher · Post by **sam fisher** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:52 pm

Is it not the point i tried to make? According to a website, possibly wikipedia a copule of years ago, rubbing alcohol used to be brought by people such as homeless people and watered down as a cheap form of an intoxicating agent. I may be thinging more of methylated spirits there. I need to read up on the different types of alcohols aswell as the cracking of hydro carbons for my exams that start in two weeks. Luckily this reminded me

*o* · Post by ***o*** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 5:16 pm

windex