Prep first
Before you start
- Unplug the device and disconnect every cable first.
- Put on gloves, goggles without vents, and an N-95 respirator.
- Fix whatever let the moisture in, and dry everything completely.
- Brush loose growth off outdoors if you can.
Mold on electronics like a camera, phone or laptop is mostly a surface problem, but moisture that gets inside is a different job. Liquid that reaches the inside of a device belongs with an authorized repair service, not a cloth. Surfaces you can reach, like a lens, screen or keyboard, can often be cleaned with the device closed, so the mark itself is the easier part.
Keep the device powered off and unplugged while you work on a camera lens, and never spray liquid straight onto it. Removing fungus from a camera lens without opening the body is a light wipe with a soft microfiber cloth, nothing wet. If you see haze behind the glass or the lens feels wet inside, stop and take it to a repair service.
Before you start
What electronics & screens can take
Use with care2
- Water
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
Avoid4
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Scrubbing and abrasives
6 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Soft, dry, lint-free clothFor the first wipe, which lifts loose growth without moisture. (opens Amazon)
- Second soft, lint-free clothKept only slightly damp for a mark that stays after the dry wipe. (opens Amazon)
- Cleaner intended for screensApplied to the cloth for any screen or display. (opens Amazon)
- 70% isopropyl alcoholFor hard smudges on hard, nonporous casing and keys. (opens Amazon)
- Soft brushFor loose growth, used outdoors so spores don't scatter indoors. (opens Amazon)
- Gloves, goggles without vents, and an N-95 respiratorSo you don't breathe in or touch spores. (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Unplug and fix the moisture
Unplug the device and remove every cable and external power source before you touch it. Mold grows only where moisture is, so find where the damp came from and fix it before you clean.
Step 2 of 7
Gear up and brush outside
Put on gloves, goggles without vents, and an N-95 respirator so you don't breathe in or touch spores. If you can, take the device outdoors and brush off any loose growth with a soft brush.
Careful. Brushing indoors can scatter spores through the house.
Step 3 of 7
Wipe with a dry cloth
Wipe the whole surface with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth using light, even strokes. Fold the cloth to a clean side after each pass so you aren't dragging spores back across the surface.
Step 4 of 7
Try a barely damp cloth
If the mark is still there, dampen a soft, lint-free cloth so it is only slightly damp, and wipe gently. Work around the edges and any buttons, and don't let liquid soak in.
Careful. Keep moisture out of every opening, including ports, vents and button gaps.
Step 5 of 7
Use screen cleaner on the cloth
If the device has a screen or display, apply a cleaner made for screens to the cloth, never to the screen itself. Wipe with light strokes and let it dry before you switch the device on.
Step 6 of 7
Alcohol-wipe hard smudges
For a hard-to-remove smudge on hard, nonporous casing or keyboard keys, gently wipe with a cloth moistened with 70% isopropyl alcohol or a 75% ethyl alcohol wipe. Keep the cloth off screens and out of any openings.
Step 7 of 724 to 48 hours
Dry fully before you use it
Let the device air-dry completely before you plug it in or switch it on. Wet areas dried within 24 to 48 hours usually won't grow mold, so give it that long.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for mold on electronics & screens
Look for a screen cleaner labeled for screens and 70% isopropyl alcohol with no added color or fragrance. Use lint-free cloths for everything, since paper towels are off the list.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
MOLD ARMOR Rapid Clean Remediation
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on electronics & screens, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
Mold that lifts onto the dry cloth and leaves the surface clean once it has dried means the wipe is working. If the mark still shows after the barely damp cloth and an alcohol wipe on a hard surface, it is likely inside the device or set in, so stop there.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your electronics & screens
Camera lens
On a lens you can't open, you only work on the outer glass and the barrel. Wipe with the dry cloth first, and use the barely damp one only if the mark stays. Keep the cloth away from any gap between the lens and the body.
Mold growing between the inner glass can't be reached this way, and forcing the lens apart risks moisture getting inside. If haze or spotting stays after the outside is clean, take the camera to an authorized repair service rather than opening it.
Phone or tablet screen
A screen is a display, so a cleaner made for screens is the only product to use, applied to the cloth. Wipe with the dry cloth first, then keep the damp cloth barely damp.
Keep moisture away from the speaker, charging port and button openings, and don't press harder than a light wipe. Don't use alcohol on the screen itself, since that is for the casing.
Laptop or monitor display
Displays follow the same screen-cleaner rule: apply the cleaner to the cloth, then wipe with light, even strokes. Switch the display off and let it dry completely before you power it back on.
The casing around the keyboard is hard and nonporous, so the alcohol wipe works there, but keep it off the display and out of the vents. Never spray cleaner near the vents or the hinge.
Keyboard and plastic casing
Keys have gaps where moisture can sit, so wrap a barely damp cloth over a fingertip rather than pressing hard. Work key by key so you don't push residue deeper into the gaps.
For a hard smudge on the casing, the 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe is allowed here, applied to the cloth. Keep the cloth off the gaps between keys, and dry the surface before you type on it again.
Cables and power adapters
Cables and chargers get only the dry, soft, lint-free cloth, since the alcohol wipe is meant for hard surfaces. Wiping them with a damp cloth is not needed for most marks.
Unplug and disconnect them before wiping, and keep moisture away from the plug contacts and the openings in the adapter. Let them dry fully before you reconnect.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
Old mold on electronics has often been growing for a while, and it can cause staining and cosmetic damage that can't always be reversed. A faded mark may stay even after the surface is clean, and that is the damage itself rather than dirt.
Once the mark has dried onto the surface, don't scrub harder, because the gentle steps above are the limit for this kind of device. Stronger products are off the table, so don't reach for them to get the last of it.
If the mark is still visible after the steps, no home treatment will fix it safely. Take the device to an authorized repair service instead of trying a stronger product.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on mold on electronics & screens?
Most kitchen remedies don't belong on electronics, since they are wet, gritty or strong. The only one used in the steps is 70% isopropyl alcohol, for hard smudges on hard, nonporous surfaces.
Works1Skip1Avoid4
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't spray cleaner onto the device
Spray only the cloth, because liquid that runs into openings can reach the parts inside. Household cleaners, window cleaners, aerosol sprays and solvents are not for displays either.
Don't use bleach or hydrogen peroxide
Chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach and hydrogen peroxide all stay off electronics. Never mix bleach with ammonia or any cleaner that contains it, since toxic fumes can form.
Don't submerge the device or use paper towels
Never soak the device or any part of it in cleaning agents. Paper towels and abrasive cloths are off the list too, so a soft, lint-free cloth is the only wipe.
Don't scrub with abrasives
Abrasive cleaners are not allowed on electronics, and a rough scrub can mark the surface. Keep every wipe light and let the cloth do the lifting.
When to call a professional
If liquid gets inside the device, stop, leave it unpowered, and take it to an authorized repair service rather than opening it yourself. Mold you can't reach from the outside, such as growth inside a lens, is also a repair job.
Questions
How do I remove fungus from a camera lens without opening it?
Unplug the camera, then wipe the outside of the lens with a dry, soft, lint-free cloth. If the mark stays, use the same cloth barely damp and keep moisture away from the mount and any gaps. Mold inside the lens can't be reached this way, so take it to a repair service.
Can I use alcohol on my laptop screen?
Not on the screen itself. Use a cleaner made for screens applied to the cloth. Keep 70% isopropyl alcohol for the hard, nonporous casing and keys, and wipe it on the cloth, never the screen.
Is bleach a good way to kill mold on electronics?
No. Chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach and hydrogen peroxide are not for electronics, and the surface can't take them. Stick to a dry cloth, a barely damp cloth, and a screen cleaner where it applies.
Why do I need gloves and a mask for a small mold spot?
Mold spores can be breathed in and spread onto skin, so wear gloves, goggles without vents and an N-95 respirator. Brushing loose growth outdoors keeps spores from scattering through the house.
How long should the device dry before I use it?
Let it dry completely before you plug it in or switch it on. Wet areas dried within 24 to 48 hours usually won't grow mold, so that is a reasonable window.
What if liquid got into my device?
Don't power it on or try to open it. Take it to an authorized repair service, because liquid inside the device is a repair job rather than a wipe-down.
Mold on other materials
Other stains on electronics & screens
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.