How do I clean my screen without a screen cleaner?

Author: Dr. Devante Satterfield  |  Last update: Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Use a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth. Gently wipe the screen in circular motions. For stubborn marks, use a damp cloth slightly moistened with distilled water. Ensure the cloth is not overly wet to prevent moisture from seeping into the edges of the screen.

What is the best homemade screen cleaner?

Homemade Computer/TV Screen Cleaner
  • 1 part plain white vinegar
  • 1 part distilled water (make sure you use distilled only!)
  • A clean, lint-free cloth. (I like using old, worn-out t-shirts from my rag collection)

What is a substitute for monitor cleaner?

Use a microfiber cloth or an anti-static screen cleaning wipe to gently remove dust and smudges. Avoid using paper towels or regular cloths, as they may scratch the screen. For stubborn stains, lightly dampen the cloth with water or a 50/50 mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol.

What liquid can I use to clean my screen?

The most widely recommended screen cleaner is isopropyl alcohol, used with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth (I've found that ordinary cotton diaper material works wonderfully).

How can I clean my phone screen without screen cleaner?

Using a slightly water-dampened microfiber cloth, wipe the screen in a downward motion, beginning at the top. Your cloth should be only slightly wet so it dries immediately. Avoid getting moisture into any of the phone's ports or openings.

The Safest Way to Clean a Tv Screen

Can I use alcohol wipes on my screen?

What Can I Clean on My Monitor? Use a “screen-cleaning cloth” or a “soft cloth with IPA (or water)”. Avoid ethanol, rubbing alcohol, and bleach, which can damage the monitor's surface. For the best results, clean your screen with a slightly dampened cloth, ideally a microfiber one—do not spray directly on the screen.

Can I use Windex on my screen?

No, never use household cleaning products like window cleaners or ammonia-based solutions on your monitor screen. These can damage the screen's protective coatings. What's the best way to clean a monitor screen? The best way to clean a monitor screen is to use a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth.

Can you use alcohol to clean phone screen?

Here's how: First, lightly dampen the corner of a microfiber cloth with 70% isopropyl alcohol, or regular rubbing alcohol you can find it at your grocery store or pharmacy. Then, thoroughly wipe your phone screen with the damp part of the cloth from edge to edge.

How do I clean my computer screen without wipes?

The best way to clean your computer screen is to use a small quantity of distilled water applied with a clean, lint-free cloth. But never put water or any liquid directly on the screen, or else excess liquid may drip inside the device and cause irreparable damage.

Do paper towels scratch screens?

Paper towels can scratch screens, so you'll want to avoid using them to wipe down your television. This also applies to phones, laptops, tablets, and other devices.

How to safely clean a monitor screen?

To clean your monitor, start by turning it off and unplugging it. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the screen gently in a circular motion. Avoid using paper towels or harsh chemicals, as they can damage the display. For stubborn stains, dampen the cloth with water or mild cleaning solution.

What can I use instead of screen wash?

Soap-alcohol: Mix a gallon of water in a container with a cup of vodka or isopropyl alcohol. Shake the mixture, add a teaspoon of Castile soap or mild dish liquid soap, and shake again. If the weather is within freezing consider adding another cup of alcohol.

What liquid to use to clean a phone screen?

Choose disinfectant wipes that are safe for electronics or make your own solution using 70% isopropyl alcohol mixed with 30% water, as per a report by Today.com. Never spray the solution directly onto your phone screen.

How do you clean homemade screens?

To clean spots and streaks on the surface of the screen, mist an LCD cleaning spray onto a dust-free side of your microfiber cloth; an easy DIY solution is 1:1 parts of white vinegar and distilled water. Wipe the surface thoroughly but avoid saturation into the edges of the screen. Allow the screen to air dry.

Can I use water to clean my phone screen?

The safest and most effective way to clean your screen is with a microfiber cloth. If the screen is in desperate need of cleaning, use distilled water to dampen the microfiber cloth and then wipe down your screen -- avoid squirting the water directly on the screen.

Is isopropyl alcohol the same as rubbing alcohol?

The main difference between isopropyl alcohol and rubbing alcohol is the concentration. The concentration of isopropyl alcohol is 100%, while the concentration of rubbing alcohol is less because of the addition of water. Otherwise, the two liquids have similar properties.

Can I use hydrogen peroxide to clean my phone?

Don't clean your device with window cleaners, household cleaners, compressed air, aerosol sprays, solvents, ammonia, or abrasives containing hydrogen peroxide. Don't use bleach or submerge your device in any cleaning agents.

Can I use hand sanitizer to clean my screen?

Protect your screen

Do not use rubbing alcohol, paper towels, compressed air, dish soap or vinegar. All of these can damage your phone: Paper towels can scratch your screen, and vinegar could damage its coating. Do not use hand sanitizer on your phone screen, but do sanitize your hands before touching your phone.

What should I use to clean my phone?

Use a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with soap and water. Don't spray cleaners directly onto the device. Avoid aerosol sprays and cleaning solutions that contain bleach or abrasives. Keep liquids and moisture away from any openings on the device.

How to clean a touch screen?

Dampen a new clean, non-abrasive cloth with a disinfectant recommended by the CDC: a household bleach solution (1/3 cup of bleach per gallon of water) or Isopropyl alcohol ( 71% to 85% alcohol). Be sure to squeeze any excess liquid off of the cloth. Do not spray the solution directly onto the touch screen.

Are wet wipes OK for screens?

Don't use household disinfecting wipes on your computer screen. The same goes for your old T-shirts that you've saved from the last time you had to help a friend paint their walls. Save that for the next time you have to wipe down the bathtub, not your computer screens.

What to clean a TV screen with?

Tips for How to Clean Any TV Screen

Use soft, lint-free microfiber cloths and nothing rough or abrasive. Even paper towels can scratch a television, and plasma screens in particular are very delicate. Never spray cleaner directly onto your screen. Mist it onto a cloth, and use the cloth to wipe down the screen.

Can I use eyeglass cleaner on my computer screen?

Avoid using Windex on a screen. It's only made for glass, and can be too harsh for delicate computer screens, says Button. And skip things like eyeglass cleaner, which won't disinfect. Your dry cloth will pick up particles and germs, says Button.

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