Don’t you just love the feeling of peeling back the protective film from a brand new PC monitor and knowing how beautifully clean the screen surface is going to be? A few weeks down the line you begin to wish you’d left the plastic on, but now it’s too late! How will you ever get the monitor to a state resembling that first peel-back?   

One option is to buy a specially formulated screen cleaning solution for use on TFT monitors. These usually come in a small pump-spray bottle and may include a soft cloth and a dusting brush. In actuality you can make your own solution that is far cheaper and more effective with two simple ingredients:


Isopropyl alcohol

70% Isopropyl alcohol (IPA, rubbing alcohol)

Distilled water

Distilled water





















Simply mix the distilled water and IPA in equal parts (1:1) inside a spray bottle. Any used household cleaning bottles will be fine for this, but make sure to rinse well with distilled water before using. Note that tap water contains dissolved minerals and salts that can scratch or leave residues on your screen so do not rinse with tap water – always use distilled! Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) is different to ethyl-based alcohols such as drinkable spirits. Don’t try to substitute IPA for some leftover vodka, because ethyl-based alcohols will damage the protective anti-glare coating that most TFTs have and will leave your PC monitor in a worse state than when you started. You can buy IPA in 70% concentration in some electronic specialist stores, but you can usually find it along with distilled water on eBay. If you can only get hold of 99(.9)% IPA it is possible to dilute it to the desired concentration; whichever IPA you get, remember that it evaporates readily; don’t buy too much at once, always ensure the bottle is tightly sealed and stored in a cool place. 

  

Cleaning the screen properly

In addition to your IPA/distilled water solution in a spray-bottle, you will need a fine microfibre cloth. TFT monitor screens are considerably less durable than the old glassy CRT monitors, so you can’t just use any old cleaning rag. In addition to being very soft, microfibre clothes also hold in dust and dirt and prevent smeary residues that will hamper any cleaning effort on your part. 

Image source 

microfibre cloth

Microfibre cloth advantages


Turn your monitor off and ensure it is cool – CCFL backlit PC monitors in particular can become quite warm after prolonged use, and this will cause the solution to evaporate too quickly for an effective clean. Apply the solution directly to the microfibre cloth – sparingly is best, as it is less likely to leave a residue and you can always apply more a little later. Gently rub up and down (not in circles and not horizontally), ideally covering no more than 5” squared of the screen surface at any one time. You may also find it helps to apply slightly more pressure on the down stroke to avoid smearing – but remember that applying too much pressure to the screen can damage the pixels and the screen is relatively delicate. 

A proper clean should take no less than 5 minutes for a 20”+ screen and your arm will start to ache if you have to reach over a desk. Don’t be afraid to unplug your PC monitor, detach the stand (if possible) and place it against a soft surface for an even more thorough and comfortable clean. If you do have an existing premade screen-cleaning solution that is designed for TFT monitors, don’t hesitate to use this first using the method shown. Whichever solution you use, you may find that a slight residue is left – the wonderful thing about using PVA and distilled water is that the solution cuts through grease and quickly evaporates so that residues are unlikely. If you do notice some residue, simply apply a little more of the solution to the cloth and repeat the cleaning process. It may have been that you applied too much solution on the first clean, in which case you should let the microfibre cloth dry and then continue cleaning as above; but without solution. 

You should now be able to enjoy the cleanliness and image clarity that you got when you first started using your PC monitor. If you still aren’t satisfied with your monitor then maybe it’s time for a new screen – visit our monitor shop or contact us for recommendations.