There is a lot of misinformation out there about how to clean your TV. Even if you’ve learned about the best cleaning materials for normal surfaces and screens, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll do the same when cleaning other types of displays, like a touch screen or an LED display. So whatever you do, avoid using paper towels or tissues—they can damage the coating on your LCD display and diminish its quality—and don’t use any type of liquid or spray cleaner; these can ruin your computer’s circuits.
Instead, follow these steps as a starting point
- Unplug your TV from its power source before getting started. This will ensure that while it’s being cleaned, no electrical current can pass through it and cause damage.
- Use a microfiber cloth to quickly wipe away dust on non-screen areas such as plastic surfaces (bezels), metal stands and hardware that may have accumulated over time; this will help prevent scratches on these parts over time as well as prevent buildup in more inaccessible places inside the TV itself—such as vents where heat could get trapped and cause problems later down the road (no pun intended).
- Wipe off fingerprints from glass surfaces using glass cleaner (this includes mirrors too!). A dampened cloth works just fine here too but not everyone has access to them all day every day so make sure if nothing else happens throughout this process that at least keep some rubbing alcohol around for those tough spots!
Never, ever spray liquid directly onto the screen.
When it comes to electronics, you want to be as careful as possible. Even if you have a liquid cleaner, never ever spray it directly onto the screen. Why? It doesn’t matter if the liquid cleaner has been specifically formulated for television screens; your TV is not a high-pressure dishwasher with an elaborate system of pumps and jets. If you spray liquid directly on the screen, there’s too much chance that some will drip down into the area behind or underneath where the screen connects with its frame—and this can cause serious electrical damage and even ruin your TV for good.
Clean your TV screen only when it’s turned off.
- Turn off your TV before you begin cleaning. It’s safer to wipe down your television with it turned off, so this should be step one of the process. Also, it will help you see any areas that need extra attention while you work on the rest of the TV set.
- If your TV is still hot when you go to clean it, use the time that it takes to cool down to get started on other aspects of the set that don’t need special care.
Don’t press too hard on the screen while cleaning.
Don’t press too hard on the screen while you’re doing this, and make sure to use a soft microfibre cloth or a very soft sponge. It’s easy to get frustrated if the screen isn’t coming clean after two swipes of your towel but resist the urge to apply more pressure—doing so will only cause damage. Once again, we’ll repeat: Do not press down hard on the screen. You can make your television look new again without damaging it, but you have to be patient and gentle with this process.
Don’t use paper towels to clean the screen.
One thing that is definitely not recommended is using paper towels. Paper towels are abrasive, meaning they can scratch the screen. Additionally, the textured surface of paper towels causes lint to become embedded in them. If you use a paper towel to clean your TV, this lint or dust will end up on your TV and be hard to remove. A better option would be to use a microfiber cloth instead. Microfiber cloths are non-abrasive and don’t leave behind lint as easily as paper towels do—plus, they’re easier on the environment!
Never use a household cleaner like bleach or vinegar to clean your TV screen.
- Never use a household cleaner like bleach or vinegar to clean your TV screen.
- Don’t use any coarse cloths or paper towels, which could damage the screen’s surface.
- If you’re using a commercial cleaner, read the instructions first before applying it to your TV screen. Make sure it’s harmless to screens before spraying or wiping it on yours.
You don’t need to clean your TV screen every day.
You don’t need to clean your TV screen every day. The amount of dust that accumulates on your TV depends largely on the environment it’s in. For example, if you live in a dusty place, or have lots of people in and out of your home all the time, you might need to clean more often. That doesn’t mean every day though—once a month is sufficient for most people with average living situations. If you spend a lot of time watching TV and want the best picture quality possible, once a week is probably appropriate for you (but still not necessary if you’re not obsessive about it).
Don’t use any kind of soap to clean your TV screen.
For this method of cleaning your television, all you need is a microfiber cloth and distilled water. You should avoid using any kind of soap to clean your screen because soap can leave a residue on the screen, strip the protective coating, damage the screen, and cause it to corrode or tarnish, or leave streaks across your screen that are difficult to remove.
Final Thought
If you have pets, keep them away from your TV while cleaning it so they don’t get their tongue stuck on the glass and drool all over it (this happened with our little chihuahua, Dexter).
Remember that sometimes simple is best: if you’re worried about doing anything wrong while cleaning your TV, just settle for a quick dusting with a soft microfiber cloth and move on with life! You can always try different methods of cleaning later if things are still smudged after this attempt at cleaning them up proves unsuccessful 😀