[ # ] How to Properly Clean Your LCD HDTV

/* Posted May 1st, 2008 at 2:52pm */
/* Filed under HDTV */

LCD HDTV clean

For those of us who just bought brand new HDTVs, this question has definitely come up: what is the proper way to clean the LCD panel? At first thought, you might think, “Easy! I’ll just spray on some Windex.” Wrong. Windex and other similar cleaning agents contain ammonia, which are known to strip the screen’s anti-glare as well as cloud the plastic-based screen over time. Well, you think, “What about water?” Answer: it depends. If you meant the water that comes out of the faucet in your sink, you’re wrong, even if it’s filtered. Tap water contains minerals which can leave white smears on your screen. Also if you’ve got filtered water, depending on your filtration system, the minerals may or may not be removed as they are beneficial to your well-being anyways. Your best bet is to use distilled water or pure water which is mineral free. This can usually be purchased at your local pharmacy or drug store.

rubbing isopropyl alcohol

In fact, the widely accepted method to clean your beautiful LCD screen is to mix 50 parts distilled water with 50 parts isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol (also known as IPA). Not only is this cheap for you to make, it is even recommended by LCD cleaner insiders, “The main ingredient in most wipes on the market is water. There needs to be a small percentage of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to help get rid of the grease from busy fingers.” The best safe mixture, depending on the severity of prints on your screen you want to remove, varies from 30% to 50% alcohol. This affects the percentage amount of isopropyl alcohol to buy. For example, to get a concoction with 35% alcohol, you’d mix 50 parts distilled water with 50 parts 70% isopropyl alcohol (0.5 x 70% = 35%). If you wanted a stronger brew with 50% alcohol (anything over that could possibly damage the screen), you’d find 100% isopropyl alcohol to mix with equal parts distilled water.

lcd cleaner

Well, you think, “Why don’t I just go out and buy LCD cleaner solution?” You can, nobody’s stopping you. It all contains the same stuff (namely water and alcohol) so if you’ve got money to burn and want a little convenience, you can get pre-made LCD cleaner. Just know that even IBM says it’s OK to use your own 50/50 solution.

Now that we’ve established the proper liquid to apply to our TV screens, what is the proper way to apply it? Your LCD screen has crystal molecules sandwiched under layers of polarized panels. These panels are usually made of “plastic-like” polymer materials, and like any plastic they can easily be scratched, even by your fingernails. When wiping the screen, be gentle and do not apply a lot of pressure. Spray the cleaner onto a lint-free cloth like the ones eyeglasses usually come with. Some TVs, like yours truly’s, ship with a microfiber cleaning cloth that you can use. Do not spray directly onto your TV. Also stay away from any paper towels or tissues as they can leave little particles everywhere and can potentially scratch the screen. Using gentle circular motions, work your way from the top of the screen all the way to the bottom. Be careful not to let your fingernails contact the screen as you will scratch your screen!

microfiber cleaning cloth blue lcd

Some other things to watch out for: don’t drink the isopropyl alcohol please. It’s deadly. Also, you can spot test a small corner of the screen first to make sure everything is working out. If you really want to be careful, unplug the television and any nearby electronics to reduce the risk of electric shock. You might want to move them away so you won’t risk damaging them with accidental spillage. Follow these guidelines and you’ll be able to enjoy years of trouble-free viewing service from your new LCD HDTV.