Prep first
Before you start
- Power the device off and unplug it first.
- Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with water, never the screen itself.
- Wipe lightly, then dry with a clean part of the cloth.
- If a mark stays, use the stronger option described below, only on the display.
Fingerprints and smudges on electronics, like a TV or laptop screen, are surface marks, and the screen is the one part you can't treat like a countertop. It can't take soaking, chlorine, oxygen cleaners or anything abrasive, so every method here relies on a barely damp cloth and a light touch. A fresh smudge often clears in a pass or two, while an old film may need a few rounds before it looks right.
Never spray cleaner straight onto the screen, since liquid can seep into the edges. Lightly dampen a microfiber cloth and wipe with a steady, light hand. Fingerprints on a TV screen can need a few extra passes, but keep the pressure light.
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
3 items
What you'll need
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- Soft, lint-free clothLifts the film without leaving lint behind. (opens Amazon)
- WaterThe gentlest liquid for a screen, always used on the cloth rather than the device.
- 70% isopropyl alcoholOnly for a stubborn mark on the display, after water has failed.
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 61 minute
Power down and unplug
Shut the device off and unplug all external power sources, devices and cables. Working on a powered-off screen also makes faint marks easier to see.
Step 2 of 61 minute
Dampen the cloth with water
Wet a soft, lint-free cloth with water and wring it out until it's only slightly damp. Set a dry part of the cloth aside for the drying step.
Careful. Don't spray anything directly onto the device; dampen the cloth instead.
Step 3 of 62 minutes
Wipe the smudge in light strokes
Wipe the smudge with light strokes, working from the top of the screen down. Keep the cloth off the edges and openings, and switch to a clean part of the cloth as it picks up the film.
Step 4 of 61 minute
Dry with a clean cloth
Go over the screen with the dry part of the cloth to lift the last of the moisture. Check the edges for any wet patch before you move on.
Careful. Paper towels and abrasive cloths aren't safe on this surface.
Step 5 of 62 minutes
Check the screen and repeat once
Look at the screen from a few angles while it's still off. If a faint mark is left, repeat the damp-cloth wipe once, and only then reach for the 75% ethyl alcohol option described below. If it looks clear, move on.
Step 6 of 6
Let the screen dry before powering on
Leave the device off until the screen is completely dry, then plug it back in. Let it air dry rather than speeding it up with a heater or a fan.
Careful. If liquid gets inside the device, switch it off and get help from an authorized repair service.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for scuff marks on electronics & screens
Choose plain 70% isopropyl alcohol with no added color or fragrance, and keep a soft, lint-free cloth set aside for screens only.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
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
The smudge loses its shine and the screen looks even when you view it from the side. A properly damp cloth leaves no streaks or wet spots, so the screen dries clear on its own.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your electronics & screens
TV screen
Switch the TV off and unplug it, along with any external devices and cables, before you clean. Fingerprints are light oil, so one barely damp cloth usually lifts them in a few gentle passes.
Wipe from the top down, and keep the cloth off the edges where moisture can seep in. If a print still shows, use the stronger option for stubborn marks rather than pressing harder.
TV screen with old smudges
Old smudges have had longer to dry into the screen, so they usually need a few extra light passes with the damp cloth rather than a stronger product. Keep the cloth moving and stop as soon as the screen looks clear.
If the mark is still there after that, move to the stronger option described below. Work on a screen that's switched off, so the marks are easier to judge.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
Old smudges have had time to dry into the screen, so they often need more than one pass. Start with the same damp-cloth wipe, then give the spot a few extra light strokes before you change anything.
If the mark survives that, lightly dampen a cloth with 70% isopropyl alcohol and wipe only the marked area on the display. Keep it off the edges, vents and ports, and check the maker's cleaning guidance first, since some devices can't take alcohol at all.
A mark that still shows after the alcohol wipe is best left alone rather than scrubbed harder. Stop there, and take the device to a repair service if you want it gone.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on scuff marks on electronics & screens?
Most home remedies were developed for fabric, stone or wood, and many of them can damage a screen. Skip most of these, and stick with a soft, lint-free cloth dampened with water, which is safe on a display.
Skip2Avoid4
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use household cleaners on the screen
Window cleaners, household sprays, ammonia, aerosols and anything containing acetone are off limits on a display, even when they seem gentle. Stick to water and, if needed, the alcohol wipe for stubborn marks.
Don't use bleach or hydrogen peroxide
Neither product is safe on this device, and that includes oxygen bleach, which falls in the same group. Don't combine cleaning products either, because mixing them adds risk you don't need.
Don't wipe harder or for longer
Heavy pressure and long wiping spread the oily film around and can leave the screen looking worse. Use light strokes and only as many as the mark needs.
Don't let moisture into the device
Keep the cloth barely damp and away from vents, ports and keyboard openings. Never submerge the device or let it sit in liquid.
When to call a professional
If a mark still shows after a careful alcohol wipe, stop there and take the device to an authorized repair service. A technician can look at the screen directly, which is safer than trying stronger products on a display.
Questions
Can I use a wet wipe on a laptop screen?
Not a regular one. Use a soft, lint-free cloth that's barely damp with water, and keep the 70% isopropyl alcohol for a stubborn mark on the display only.
Can I use vinegar on a TV screen?
No. No, vinegar isn't suited to a TV screen; a barely damp cloth with water is the right choice. Stronger household products are off limits on displays as well.
Why do smudges come back so quickly?
Fingers touch the screen again, and each touch leaves a fresh mark on top of the old one. A light wipe whenever it looks marked keeps it clear without building up a film.
Can I use steel wool to remove a stubborn mark?
No. Abrasives like steel wool aren't allowed on electronics, so the safe path is the damp cloth and, if needed, the stronger option described below.
What if the mark is still there after cleaning?
Stop rather than scrubbing harder. A mark that survives a careful wipe is better handled by an authorized repair service than by stronger products.
Can I clean the keyboard the same way?
Yes, with the same approach: power off, unplug, and use a barely damp, lint-free cloth. Keep moisture out of the key gaps and vents, and skip anything containing bleach or peroxide.
Scuff Marks 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.