• William
  • News
  • 5 minutes to read

How To Safely Clean Your Flat-Screen TV (And What You’ll Need To Do It)

When many of us purchase a brand-new flat-screen TV, we set it up and forget about it. As time goes on, you might notice a smudge here and a fingerprint there, all of which can interfere with your viewing experience. No matter how much you try to avoid it, at some point, your flat-screen TV is bound to need some cleaning. You may be tempted to whip out a glass cleaner like Windex, spray away, wipe down the screen, and call it a day. However, doing so could do more harm than good. While this strategy worked for older tube TVs, flat-screen TVs are more fragile and require a more sensitive touch.

That means avoiding products like window cleaners, soaps, detergents with abrasives, or cleansers with alcohol, benzene, ammonia, or acetone. The harsh chemicals in these products can strip or damage a flat-screen TV’s screen, electrical components, and surface coating. It may seem like eliminating all those options doesn’t leave you with much to clean your TV, but in many ways, that’s a good thing. When cleaning a flat-screen TV, it’s best to keep things simple to protect the screen from damage. While there are many types of flat-screen TVs — such as LCD, OLED, and QLED — from the various major brands, the same cleaning rules generally apply to all of them.

Preparing to clean a flat-screen TV

Whether you own one of the best budget-friendly TVs or a high-end model, the good news about cleaning a flat-screen TV is that it’s relatively easy to do. You probably have most, if not all, of the items you need to get the job done lying around your house. For the most part, you won’t need to purchase any special products. A small duster can come in handy for cleaning the areas between the TV and the stand, and you can use a vacuum cleaner to remove the dust that gets stuck in your TV’s vents. 

You’ll need a soft cloth for cleaning the screen; a microfiber cloth is a good choice. Keep warm or distilled water on hand to get rid of any smudges or fingerprints that won’t budge with gentle wiping. If your screen ends up with something like ink stains from an oil-based marker in the hands of a creative child, it probably won’t come off with just water. In that case, you can mix a non-soap cleanser with water (less than 1%) to make a gentle cleaning solution to remove it. Soak a cloth in the mixture and wring out as much of the liquid as possible before using it to carefully clean the ink off the screen.

How to safely clean a flat-screen TV

Once you’ve gathered your supplies, you’ll be ready to clean your flat-screen TV. As you clean, take care not to touch the screen’s surface with your hands, and avoid applying too much pressure because that could damage the screen. You should never use paper towels or abrasive pads on your TV. These items can damage the screen by stripping off or scratching the anti-glare coating. If you don’t have a microfiber or soft cloth, wait until you can buy one before cleaning your screen.

Follow these steps to clean your flat-screen TV:

  1. Turn off your TV and give it a few minutes to cool down.
  2. Unplug your TV.
  3. Gently wipe the screen with a microfiber cloth to remove loose dust.
  4. Clean the TV using light circular motions; don’t apply pressure.
  5. If fingerprints or smudges are left on the screen, dampen the microfiber cloth with warm or distilled water.
  6. Use the dampened cloth (be sure to avoid excess moisture) to gently wipe away fingerprints and smudges.
  7. Use a dry microfiber cloth to remove any residual moisture on the screen.
  8. Make sure the screen is completely dry before plugging it back in and turning it on.

You should avoid spraying liquids directly onto the TV screen because they could seep into the device and cause it to stop working. After you’ve finished cleaning the screen, use a soft cloth to clean the TV frame and stand. When you’ve finished cleaning your TV, you’ll be ready to optimize it for watching movies and other activities.


Source: http://www.slashgear.com/1723799/how-to-clean-flat-screen-tv-what-safely-use/

Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
guest

Roku Ultra Vs Roku Streambar: 8 Big Differences To Consider

If you've already ditched cable for a modern streaming device, then chances are you've heard about Roku. It's...

How Reliable Are BMW S65 Engines? Here’s What Owners Have To Say

The BMW S65 was an extremely popular engine that powered the M3 from 2007-2013. In that time, it won...

Get Closer To The Cinema Experience At Home With IMAX Enhanced Devices

Sponsored Content. The sponsor may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The holidays are here, and...

How To Stop Your PlayStation From Automatically Turning Off Your TV

If you've ever noticed your PlayStation turning off your TV when you power it down, it's due to...

When Did The Hisense U7K Come Out & Is It A Good TV? (Here’s What Owners Say)

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The Hisense U7K Mini-LED TV was the brand's middle-of-the-road...

How To Prevent Your Smart TV From Spying On You

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Smart TVs offer an undeniable convenience, letting you...

How To Connect Your Roku Streaming Device To Ethernet

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. So you're chilling on your couch, wrapping up...

What HDMI-CEC Means On Your TV (And Why You Should Turn It On)

Most of us know all too well: the more devices we have, the more remotes we have to...

Roku Remote Not Working After A Battery Swap? Here Are A Few Fixes To Try

A streaming device isn't complete without a remote. Sure, many brands allow you to use a mobile app...

Do Smart TVs Have Built-In Antennas?

With the rise of internet usage and greater connectivity for electronic devices, the Smart TV has risen to prominence....

Amazon Echo Guide: Which Device Is Right For You?

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The Echo is one of Amazon's most iconic...

Is Your Roku Overheating? Here’s What To Do

In general, it's best to stop any device from overheating as soon as possible to avoid causing temporary...

Телевизоры за гранью OLED: какие технологии изменят наши экраны

Технологии отображения находятся на пороге новой революции. В то время как OLED-телевизоры продолжают совершенствоваться, достигая невероятной яркости и...

6 Of The Best TVs For Bright Rooms

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. These days, there is a ridiculous variety of...

Common Problems With Hisense TVs (And How To Fix Them)

When it comes to popular budget TV brands, one name you'll surely hear is Hisense. It offers some...

Samsung Smart TV Apps Stopped Working? Here Are A Few Fixes To Try

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Apps are what separate smart TVs from ordinary...

How To Connect A Bluetooth Device To Your Chromecast

Since 2013, Chromecast has been helping people around the world turn old dumb TVs into Smart TVs while...

6 Of The Best 32-Inch TVs For Small Spaces

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. It seems like TVs just keep getting bigger...

How To Watch Prime Video Without Paying For Amazon Prime

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Signing up for an Amazon Prime subscription —...

Who Makes Hisense TVs And Where Are They Built?

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Hisense TVs are a fairly recent entrant in...