Watching TV at home is one of the best ways to unwind and relax for a while, whether it’s after a long day at work, or simply to pass the time and enjoy your favorite movies and shows.
But like most everything else in the house, your TV can also become dirty, especially if you ever touch it to adjust the angle, and leave fingerprints on it.
And even if you don’t touch it, dust eventually starts to accumulate on the screen, and over time, it can lower the quality of the enjoyment, because the screen is too dirty to show the images properly.
But before you grab the nearest paper towel and cleaning liquid, stop. Are you sure you’re cleaning your TV screen right? You have to be really careful when cleaning them, especially modern TVs, and using the wrong products and materials will absolutely damage them, which is definitely not the aim.
Using paper towels, for example, is a big no. You also can’t just grab the first cleaning liquid you find, as most of them are too abrasive, and will damage the screen.
They are incredibly fragile and can become scratched really easily. So basically, you have to use the right products, the right methods, and be very gentle throughout the entire process.
But…how exactly do you clean a TV screen? You know, the right way. If you’re unsure, stick around, because our professional commercial cleaners are going to talk all about it, and give you the right steps to follow, along with some tips.
Does that sound good? Then let’s get right into it!
Step-By-Step Instructions For Cleaning Your TV Screen
The process of cleaning a TV screen is pretty simple, but it’s important to do it right and to be very careful so that you avoid damaging the screen in any way.
We will start by telling you what exactly you are going to need, in order to clean your TV screen:
- A microfiber cloth (make sure it’s clean and dry, and that it is soft and gentle on the screen)
- A very small amount of distilled water (not always needed)
- Optional: specific TV screen cleaner products
And…that’s it. The most important thing that you need is the microfiber cloth, and we recommend having two of them, rather than one.
Now, for the actual step-by-step guide on how to clean your TV screen, here is what you have to do:
- Start by turning off your TV. In some cases, it is also recommended to completely unplug it, just to be on the safer side, but this is not strictly necessary.
- Wait. You need to allow for the TV screen to cool down, especially if you have just turned it off, and therefore it has been on. You should only clean the screen once it has cooled down, to avoid it becoming damaged.
- Use the microfiber cloth to gently rub any smudges, dirt, and dust off the screen. Do this in very gentle circular motions, applying minimal pressure with your fingertips. Make sure to turn the microfiber over or use a different one if it absorbs dirt quickly.
- If the screen is still dirty, with more resistant smudges of dirt, apply some distilled water onto the microfiber cloth. (It’s important that you apply it to the microfiber cloth, and not directly onto the TV screen!)
- Alternatively, you can apply a specific TV screen cleaning liquid onto the microfiber cloth, instead of distilled water.
- Gently, rub the dampened microfiber cloth over the screen.
- Once it’s clean, use a different microfiber cloth to dry the screen. Make sure all moisture is removed before you turn the TV back on.
And that’s it! It’s a very simple process, but you have to make sure that you are being very gentle the entire time, as applying too much pressure can quickly damage or scratch the screen.
What NOT To Do When Cleaning Your TV Screen?
The steps for cleaning your TV screen properly are very simple and very few. On the flip side, the list of things that you definitely should not do, when cleaning your TV screen, is very long.
There are some things that people do almost instinctively when cleaning their TV screen, which seem harmless and effective, but that are actually extremely damaging to the screen itself.
Just so that you make sure to avoid some of the worst and most common mistakes, here is a helpful list of things that you should NOT do, when cleaning your TV screen, under no circumstances whatsoever:
- Do not clean your TV screen while the TV is on, or warm
- Do not apply any liquids directly onto the TV screen
- Do not use any cleaning liquids or alcohol. Only use distilled water or specialized TV screen cleaning products
- Do not use paper towels or similar, they will scratch the TV screen. Only use soft microfiber cloths
- Do not apply pressure when wiping the screen, no matter how tough the stains are. If you apply too much pressure, the screen will become damaged, as it is very fragile
What Popular TV Manufacturers Say About Cleaning The Screens?
Just in case you don’t trust our judgment (which you totally should, we know what we’re talking about), here are what some of the most common and popular TV manufacturers say when it comes to recommendations about cleaning the screens:
LG
- LG states that you should only use soft and dry cloths when cleaning your TV screen, using them in gentle circular motions to rub off any dirt.
- LG also states that you should 100% avoid using any chemical products such as alcohol or harsh cleaning products, as they will be damaging. Oh, and no spraying any liquids directly onto the screen, as this could cause an electric shock and accident.
Samsung
- Samsung recommends turning the TV off and letting it cool off before cleaning the screen. It states that you should use a soft microfiber cloth to gently rub the screen clean, and if necessary, use some distilled water that has been applied onto the cloth, and not directly onto the screen.
- Samsung also advises that you should make sure the screen is completely dry before turning the TV back on.
Sony
- Sony states that you should use a microfiber soft cloth and that you should avoid applying any kind of pressure, as it is important to be gentle on the screen, to avoid damage. Sony also states that you should 100% avoid any chemicals and any abrasive cleaning products.
Basically, they say the same thing that we do. Use a soft microfiber cloth, gentle circular motions with minimal pressure, and absolutely no chemicals.
