How to Clean an LCD Monitor

Although cleaning an LCD monitor does require a bit of extra care, it can be easily done in a few minutes with these simple steps. Read on to know more about how to care for your expensive LCD monitor.

Liquid Crystal Display or LCD monitors refer to the technology of flat screen monitors for computers. They not only look cool but are actually great for the health and the environment. They are easier on the eyes as compared to the old school CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors with considerably less flickering and minimized radiation. What's more, they even run on less power, which is good for your pocket and the environment as well. All these features have made its use commonplace in the industrial sector and among the public as well who have increasingly taken to the technology.

Cleaning a flat screen LCD monitor requires that extra bit of care as opposed to a normal CRT screen. Different from a standard CRT screen, LCD monitors do not have a thick glass or plastic covering over its electronic display. Moreover they are susceptible to dust and other particles and are easily smudged by fingerprints. Using the wrong cleaning agent will result in damage and scratches to your expensive LCD screen.

How to clean an LCD Monitor?
Instead of splurging on those expensive LCD monitor cleaners or monitor wipes, try some simple and easy steps to keep your LCD screen clean.

Step1: Firstly, all you need to clean your LCD monitor is water and isopropyl alcohol. You can also use hexane or petroleum benzine to clean the screen. The absolute no-no while cleaning an LCD screen is to use ammonia based glass cleaners which can leave the screens cloudy and scratched. Chemicals, like, acetone, ethyl acid, ethyl alcohol and toluene should also be given a miss. How does one know what chemicals a commercial cleaner contains? Just check the ingredients displayed on the label!

Step 2: Use a soft, clean cloth to wipe the dust off the screen. Avoid using paper hand towels as the abrasiveness of paper tends to leave scratches on the screen. A good alternative to simple cloth is a Swiffer cloth, which not only sweeps away the dust and debris, but also catches it in special electrostatic grooves in the fabric.

Step 3: Turning off the monitor or setting the background to black enables the visibility of dust particles and fingerprints. Remove fingerprints from the screen, using a mix of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol. Tap or mineral water containing dissolved salts should be avoided as they could leave white marks on the screen.

Step 4: The next step is to clean the edges with a cotton swab dunked in the alcohol-water mixture to collect all the dust and grime. Remember to remove the excess moisture out of the cotton before running it along the four edges of the LCD screen.

Step 5: Give your screen a gentle rubdown with the damp cloth to catch any dirt left behind by your cotton swab and there, you are done with achieving the perfectly clean monitor. Be sure to dry the computer screen before using it

It is important to understand that you should avoid subjecting the LCD screen to extreme temperatures or direct sunlight. With proper care and maintenance you can have a beautiful screen with no marks and your eyes will love it. After all, you won't have to sit for hours in front of the screen, trying to read through layers of dust and fingerprints!

By Parul Solanki

Source : http://www.buzzle.com/articles/computer-lcd-monitor-how-to-clean-an-lcd-monitor.html