Every movie looks outstanding when you purchase a quality TV. Sometimes, it feels like watching it in real-time. However, to keep the screen quality, you need to clean it. Can Windex help in this situation? We have the answers for you!
Windex is reliable when you want to keep glass squeaky clean. Unfortunately, it does more damage than cleaning regarding TVs. Cleaners like Windex contain alcohol and ammonia. When you use it on a TV screen, it leaves smears because of its acidity.
Since you can’t use Windex, it raises the question of what you can use to clean a TV. There’s a lot that goes on on TV screens. Some manufacturers use protective coatings. And, if you use Windex, it wipes them off. To learn more on this topic, keep reading.
We sometimes include affiliate links and curated AI content to highlight top design styles.
Why Should You Avoid Using Windex On A TV?
TV screens are more delicate than you think they are. It doesn’t take much to make a quality screen look like a trainwreck. You will read most of the warnings in the user manual.
Most manufacturers will recommend against using any cleaners. The reason is that they can’t account for the chemicals the cleaners will use. Cleaners can contain ingredients that aren’t friendly to the screen.
It’s a problem because some manufacturers use anti-glare coatings. A few sprays of cleaner will be enough to remove it. In addition, there’s no way to regain the anti-glare coating.
As a result, you’ll have to deal with a screen containing dull spots. Alcohol and ammonia are two ingredients that aren’t friendly to the anti-reflective coating. Most Windex cleaning products include at least one of these ingredients.
For this reason, it’s best to avoid using it on a TV. In general, it’s better to avoid using any cleaners. It could void your warranty. Check your TV’s owner’s manual, just in case.
What Are Items You Should Avoid Using On A TV?
If we can’t use cleaners like Windex, what can we use? Would a simple wipe with a paper towel do the trick? After all, most of the grime on a TV screen should be dust.
There should be no drinks, sauces, or other liquids on the TV screen. If there is, you might have put yourself in a tricky situation. In any case, you can’t use any random material on the screen.
Paper towels, tissues, and toilet paper are wood-based products. In other words, they contain tiny abrasive materials that aren’t obvious initially. However, each time you use one of these to wipe your TV screen, you leave micro-scratches.
As the scratches accumulate, it creates dull spots on the screen. As mentioned, TV screens are delicate. The same rules apply to any screen, for that matter.
TV, computer, and phone screens require specific tools and cleaners. Anything else will wipe off the protective coatings [oleophobic, anti-glare, anti-reflective coatings].
What Cleaners Are Safe To Use On TVs?
Some of us live by the cleaners. Cleaners are the only way to ensure all the muck and grime disappear off surfaces. If you must use one, Windex does have a line of electronic wipes.
Click here to see these Windex electronic wipes on Amazon.
Does it clean TV screens well enough without leaving streaks and smudges? The answer will depend on the brand of TV. These wipes include ethanol. Accordingly, ethanol isn’t friendly for most electronic screens.
You’ll have to rely on the manufacturer’s advice instead. The best cleaner to use on a TV screen is none. We can’t recommend a cleaner because there’s a risk of ruining your screen.
The three items that will guarantee results are a microfiber cloth, water, and maybe a small amount of soap.
How To Clean A TV
Let’s go over a few scenarios. In the first case, your TV only has a collection of dust. It’s an easy problem to fix.
All you need is a microfiber cloth. Start by wiping the top of the screen. Then, work your way down. Of course, don’t forget to wipe the bezels. The back of the TV should receive some cleaning too.
It’s worth mentioning that you don’t need to apply any pressure. Wipe it with the cloth gently. Otherwise, you might mess with some of the electronic components behind the screen. Aggressively cleaning the screen can leave you with some dead spots or dead pixels.
Fingerprints and Smudges
Of course, we’re not always living in an orderly household. Children or maybe even adults might touch the screen with their bare hands. It’s a bad situation because it leaves fingerprints.
At worst, it leaves smudges that are hard to ignore. Since cleaners are out of the equation, we’ll need the help of water. However, we can’t use tap water.
Tap water contains minerals that also scratch your screen. So, you’ll need to use distilled water for this situation. Start by turning the TV off and unplugging it.
Next, pour distilled water into a spray bottle. You won’t spray it directly on the screen. If you spray directly, the water can seep behind it, damaging the components inside.
Instead, spray a microfiber towel with it, using just enough to make the towel damp. It shouldn’t be soaking wet. Wipe the screen in a circular motion.
Work your way down until you remove all the smudges. Finally, take a dry microfiber cloth and wipe the screen clean.
Oil-based Smudges
Water won’t do anything to clean up the TV screen if it has oil-based smudges. Fortunately, we can work around the no cleaner rule. Ajax dish detergent will remove the smudges with ease.
Click here to see this dish soap on Amazon.
However, we have to be careful with how much we use. Take a spray bottle and add a drop of dish detergent. It might seem minuscule, but it does the trick.
You’ll need three separate microfiber towels. One will stay dry, while the others will use cleaning solutions. Spray the first towel with the soap mixture.
Once it’s damp, use circular motions on the area with smudges. Afterward, you’ll need to clean the soap off the screen. So, come around with a towel dampened with distilled water.
Finally, come around a third time with a dry microfiber towel. Remove every spot of water to maintain a streak-free TV. Hopefully, it’s enough to remove all the smudges.
Here’s a YouTube video explaining it all in detail:
What Do The Manufacturers Say?
It’s safe to say you’re not purchasing a random TV brand. The TV you have at home is most likely from one of the well-reputed brands. These include Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, and Panasonic.
Buying from a big brand means they’re more likely to have a support page. If we have questions, they’ll provide us with the answers. Let’s take a look at how to clean TVs from some of the big brands.
Samsung
Samsung recommends using a microfiber cloth and distilled water to clean their TVs. They don’t recommend using window cleaners, soap, wax, alcohol, benzene, ammonia, or acetone.
Never use too much pressure when you’re wiping the screen. In addition, avoid using abrasive pads or paper towels to clean their TVs.
LG
On the other hand, LG recommends only using a microfiber cloth. Wipe the screen gently in a circular motion. Even if there are food or drink stains, LG doesn’t mention water usage.
Regardless, you can still use distilled water. Though, never spray it directly on the screen. A few sprays on a microfiber towel is enough.
Panasonic
Panasonic provides us with a clear answer. They suggest using clean water or diluted detergent. You can use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe the screen clean.
It should not drip because the screen is not watertight. So, water will make its way into the components inside. If it fries them, the warranty won’t cover the damages.
Of course, don’t forget to dry the surface after cleaning the smudges.
Sony
Sony follows the same procedure. You can use a dry microfiber cloth for general cleaning. If there are stains, water or a solution of mild soap and water will work.
Start at the top and work your way down. Wipe the screen in a circular motion. Once satisfied, wipe the screen dry with another microfiber cloth.
Vizio
Vizio takes a different approach than all the others. Instead of water and a microfiber cloth, they recommend using electronic cleaners for LCD screens. Follow the cleaner’s instructions to ensure the best results.
Can You Clean A TV With A Swiffer?
Sometimes we don’t have a clean microfiber cloth lying around. Maybe you use it to clean other areas. So, it’s safe to assume it won’t be safe to use on a TV.
Many households carry Swiffer dusters. It might seem like a good idea to use one. However, it can end up doing more damage than cleaning. Swiffer dusters use mineral oil. It can leave greasy blotches on your TV screen.
Final Takeaway
TVs need dedicated tools for cleaning. Luckily, those tools aren’t hard to get. Hopefully, water and a microfiber cloth are all you need to clean the surface. We hope you found this informative.
Before you go, do you have other cleaner concerns? To learn more, check out the following posts:
Can You Use Clorox Wipes On Walls?
Can You Use Bleach Or Other Cleaners In A Bissell Crosswave?
