9 Products to Help You Clean Your Screens
Updated: Feb. 03, 2023Sick of seeing smudges and spots on your devices' screens? Clean that phone screen, laptop screen, TV screen and more using these handy products.
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Your Screens Are Dirtier Than You Think
It’s undeniably distracting when your cell phone or laptop has spots or fingerprints on the screen, but there are also hygienic reasons to clean your screens. Namely, cell phones often carry 10 times more bacteria than a toilet seat, and when you’re touching your phone all day, you’re spreading those nasty germs around.
All that to say, it’s time to start regularly cleaning the screens on your phone and electronic devices.
Watch this for the lowdown on safely cleaning your TV screen:
Liquid-Free Roller
While you might be tempted to wipe down your phone or laptop screen with a wet wipe, the chemicals in these cleaners can often damage electronic screens. Instead, use a product like this touchscreen cleaner, which you simply roll over the screen to remove fingerprints and bacteria.
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Compact Microfiber Cloths
Microfiber cloths are another gentle option for cleaning screens, because their soft texture buffs out smudges and picks up lint. These pocket-sized microfiber cloths are ideal to tucking into pockets, drawers and purses for cleaning all sorts of screens, thanks to their handy finger compartment that doubles as a storage pocket.
Plain Old Distilled Water
Believe it or not, the best liquid you can use to clean your screens is simply distilled water. In general, you should always try to remove smudges first, before you move onto any type of chemical cleaner, as this will help preserve the screen and any special coatings. Pour some into a small spray bottle, pair with a microfiber or lens cloth, and you’ve got DIY screen-cleaning kit.
Double-Sided Brush to Keep at Your Desk
This double-sided laptop cleaning tool is a handy gadget to have at your desk. One side features a microfiber pad to remove smudges and fingerprints, and the other end is a brush that can be used to clean off your keyboard. Plus, the cover and the retraction feature keep the tools clean when not in use.
All-In-One Spray and Sponge
Don’t want to carry around a spray and microfiber cloth separately? This all-in-one screen cleaner combines both into a unique product—simply spray a little of the gentle solution onto your screen, then use the microfiber exterior to wipe down the surface.
Cleaning Kit for Expensive TVs
Plasma and LED TVs should never be cleaned with harsh chemical cleaners, such as Windex, that can damage the delicate screens. Instead, use a product like this highly rated screen cleaning kit, which contains a textured microfiber cloth and a gentle cleaner that removes dust, haze and fingerprints while polishing the screen.
Phone Sanitizer to Kill Germs
Even if your smartphone looks clean, it still could be harboring lots of bacteria on its surface. The PhoneSoap 3 Smartphone Sanitizer is designed to use UV light to kill 99.99 percent of germs on your phone. As an added bonus, you can also use it on small items like keys, headphones and watches.
No-Spray Carbon Cleaner
If you’d prefer a liquid-free screen cleaning solution, check out this carbon smartphone cleaner, which kills bacteria and removes smudges, fingerprints and oils using unique carbon pads. Just swipe it across the screen a few times, and you’re good to go. It’s compact and easy to toss in your bag, too.
Show your green side by taking steps to reduce your carbon footprint at home.
Lens Cloths for Your Apple Products
If you have an iPhone or other Apple touchscreen, the brand recommends using a soft lens cloth—dampened with water, if needed—to clean the screens on its electronics. This affordable six-pack of lens cloths gets top marks from reviewers, and when you have multiples, you can keep them in different places around the house.
