First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Unplug the device and move it into a ventilated room.
- Lift loose soot dry, with the vacuum nozzle held slightly above the surface.
- Keep your gloves and dust mask on until the soot is off your hands and the device.
Smoke leaves a dusty, oily film on electronics, and wiping it too early can push it deeper into the surface. Keep power and moisture away from the device, since soaking is never safe for it. Leather cases are a separate issue, because they can take stains from oil and dyed denim and may change color when cleaned.
Keep the device unplugged and wipe the soot off the screen with a dry microfiber cloth, using light strokes. Soot on a TV screen often lifts with that alone, so don't reach for anything stronger yet. If you see moisture inside the casing or the device acts strange after the wipe, stop and call a professional.
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
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- Soft, lint-free clothDry for the first wipe, then barely damp for what's left. (opens Amazon)
- Vacuum with a soft nozzleLifts loose soot without brushes or beater bars.
- Household glovesProtects you while handling soot or ash; an N95 is preferred. (opens Amazon)
- A dust mask (opens Amazon)
- Screen cleanerA product made for screens, applied to the cloth rather than the display. (opens Amazon)
- 70% isopropyl alcoholOptional, for hard smudges on hard, nonporous parts only.
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Ventilate and protect yourself
Open a window or run a fan, and put on household gloves and a dust mask, preferably an N95. Wash any ash off your skin promptly once you're done.
Step 2 of 6
Unplug the device first
Switch the device off, unplug it, and remove all cables and external power before you touch the soot. Leave the cables off the surface while you work so they don't pick up residue.
Careful. Handling soot spreads it from item to item, so don't wipe during your first look around.
Step 3 of 6
Vacuum off the loose soot
Hold the vacuum nozzle slightly above the surface so suction lifts the soot without touching it. Use no brushes or beater bars, since they force soot into other possessions.
Step 4 of 6
Wipe with a dry cloth
Wipe the surface with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth using light strokes. Turn to a clean part of the cloth as it fills so you don't drag soot back across the surface.
Careful. Paper towels and abrasive cloths are off limits for this surface.
Step 5 of 6
Dampen the cloth for remaining marks
If the mark is still visible, lightly dampen a soft, lint-free cloth and wipe the same area gently. Keep the cloth just damp rather than wet.
Step 6 of 6
Use screen cleaner on the cloth
If the mark is on a screen, apply a cleaner intended for screens to the cloth first. Wipe in gentle strokes and check the result in good light before you go further.
Careful. Spray the cloth, never the device.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for smoke on electronics & screens
Choose a screen cleaner labeled for screens, and apply it to the cloth rather than the display.
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.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The surface is done when the mark no longer shows after a dry wipe and, if needed, a lightly dampened cloth. If a mark is still visible after that, stop rather than scrubbing, and try the alcohol option for hard smudges only.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your electronics & screens
Flat-screen TV or monitor
The screen is where soot shows most, so take your time over it. Use a cleaner made for screens, applied to the cloth and never to the glass.
The Glass, Windows & Mirrors guide covers real glass, which needs different products, so it isn't the right fit for a display. Keep to the dry and lightly damp cloth steps here, and reach for the alcohol option only if a mark stays.
Laptop or tablet
Power down and unplug before you start, then give the keys and seams a vacuum pass with the nozzle held above the surface. Use the damp cloth only on the hard lid, case or screen.
Keep moisture away from ports and keyboard openings, which is exactly where the openings rule applies. If soot sits in a seam, work it out with a dry cloth rather than wetting it.
Phone or handheld
Phones have many openings, so the damp cloth matters most here, and it should only ever be barely damp. Wipe the outside lightly and keep the speaker grille, charging port and buttons clear of water.
For the glass and case, the dry wipe comes first and the damp cloth only follows if a mark stays. Turn the phone off before you start, since you can't see what's inside its openings.
Remote, keyboard or buttons
Buttons and seams are where loose soot tends to sit, so start with the vacuum nozzle held above the keys. Use the dry cloth to wipe the tops of the buttons and any smooth casing around them.
Dampen the cloth only if a mark stays, and keep it barely damp so no moisture runs into the gaps. A stubborn mark on a button is better handled with a little alcohol on the cloth than with more water.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Soot that has sat for a while can bond to a hard casing and resist a dry wipe. In that case, a cloth with 70% isopropyl alcohol or 75% ethyl alcohol, used gently, is the stronger option.
Wipe in light strokes, and don't press hard on the screen or casing. A disinfecting wipe can also be used gently on hard, nonporous surfaces if you don't have alcohol on hand.
If the mark still shows after a few gentle passes, stop rather than pushing harder. The residue may not lift completely, and at that point an authorized service provider is the next step for the device.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on smoke on electronics & screens?
Most kitchen remedies don't belong on electronics, and that's the main thing to know. None of the cleaners below are used in the steps; the alcohol option is kept for stubborn marks only. Unplug the device and stick with a dry cloth rather than anything from the pantry.
Skip2Avoid4
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't submerge the device or let moisture into its openings
Keep moisture out of every opening, and never submerge the device or soak any part of it. A barely damp cloth is the most liquid this surface should ever see.
Don't use bleach or hydrogen peroxide
Products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide are off limits for electronics, and that includes the weaker drugstore solution. Oxygen-based cleaners fall under the same rule, so check the label before you reach for one.
Don't reach for household cleaners on the display
Window cleaners, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, ammonia and abrasive cleaners are off limits on displays. Other solvents and acetone-based cleaners are also out, so stick to the screen cleaner or the alcohol option.
When to call a professional
If liquid has gotten inside the device, stop cleaning and take it to an authorized service provider. Don't try to open it up yourself.
Questions
When will Avatar: Fire and Ash come out on TV?
Film release dates change often, so check your streaming service or the film's official release listings for the current window. For the soot on your TV itself, the steps above are the safe place to start.
Can I use water on a TV or monitor with soot?
Only a little, and only after a dry wipe. Use a soft, lint-free cloth that's just damp, and work gently over the mark. If it doesn't lift, stop rather than pressing harder.
Can I clean electronics with vinegar or baking soda?
No. Vinegar isn't among the cleaners this surface can take, and baking soda is an abrasive. Dish soap is a household cleaner, which is off limits on displays, so stick with dry and lightly damp cloths and screen cleaner.
Is a vacuum safe for electronics?
Yes, as long as you hold the nozzle slightly above the surface and skip the brushes and beater bars. Suction lifts loose soot without touching the keys or screen.
Can I use rubbing alcohol on a screen?
Only 70% isopropyl or 75% ethyl alcohol, applied gently to a cloth, and only on hard, nonporous parts. Keep it to stubborn marks after the dry and damp steps have failed.
Do I need a mask and gloves for a small amount of soot?
Yes, it's a good idea. Wear household gloves and a dust mask, preferably an N95, and ventilate the room. Soot and ash are residue you don't want to breathe or leave on your skin.
Smoke 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.