How to clean your TV screen properly

There’s nothing like having a new TV. Because a new TV is an investment you want to protect, it’s a smart idea to learn how to properly care for the screen. Even if you only have to dust it once in a while and remove the occasional fingerprint, there is a right and wrong way to clean your screen.

How to care for your TV screen

If you think about it, a TV is a kind of window to another world, but this isn’t a window you want to wipe down with glass cleaner and paper towel. TVs are easily scratched and can be damaged if you don’t treat them with care. To keep your TV screen in tip-top shape, here are 5 quick tips on how to safely clean your screen.

Prepare to clean your TV

The first thing you’ll want to do before you clean your TV is to unplug it and let it cool down for a few minutes. It may not have been running for long, but static or a warm screen can interfere with cleaning. You can clean it first thing in the morning before you turn it on or just wait 5 minutes after unplugging it.

Use a microfiber cloth

The first step to cleaning your TV screen is to lightly wipe it with a dry microfiber cloth. This will remove any dust on the screen. If you have to remove a piece of debris, you can try to dislodge it by lightly rubbing in a circular motion. Don’t press too hard on the screen, and avoid using a wet cloth or cleaning solution unless absolutely needed.

Cleaning stubborn stains off a TV

Life can throw a few curve balls. If your TV was caught in the crossfire of an exploding soda can or some other type of debris hit the screen, there’s an easy way to clean your screen. You can dampen a microfibre cloth with distilled water, squeezing it out so it’s not soggy, or use a screen cleaner that’s alcohol and ammonia free. Wipe down the screen with the damp cloth, wait a few minutes for it to dry, and then buff it lightly with a dry cloth to remove residue. To prevent streaks while cleaning be sure to use a side to side or up and down motion.

Never use glass cleaner and paper towels

Glass cleaner and paper towels are great to use when cleaning your appliances or windows, but you never want to use them when cleaning your TV screen. Cleaners like Windex may contain ammonia, and the chemicals can damage the special coating on your TV screen. Paper towels are also too rough for a TV, and wiping with a paper towel may scratch your TV.

Don’t press down on your TV screen

It’s far better to use a very light touch when cleaning your screen, even if it takes you longer to clean a spot. Pressing too hard on your TV screen can damage the internal components. Depending on what type of TV you have, you could cause very specific damage to your screen.

• Pressing on an LED TV can cause pixel damage or leave a pressure mark, and it may even crack the screen
• Using too much pressure when cleaning an OLED screen can cause discolouration, damage the pixels, and may affect the organic matter within the pixels
• Pressing on a QLED screen can cause the pixels to become stuck in place, and that can mean you have coloured spots stuck on your screen. Pressure can also affect the colour distribution of the quantum dot layer on your TV, leading to a TV with uneven colour distribution or uneven brightness

Clean your TV and keep it looking new

Keeping your TV clean is easy when you know the do’s and don’ts of screen cleaning. Shop for a new TV right now at Best Buy and keep your TV in tip top shape and looking brand new for years to come.