First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Unplug the monitor first.
- Wipe with a dry, soft, lint-free cloth.
- Put cleaner on the cloth, never on the screen.
- Don't power it on until the screen is fully dry.
Fingerprints, smudges and dried marks on a monitor or TV screen are easy to make worse with the wrong liquid or too much pressure. The glass is delicate, so water has to be used with care and any solvent needs the same caution. Most marks come off with a dry cloth or a barely damp one, so start there.
Crayon off a TV screen usually needs a slow, light pass rather than scrubbing, so check the glass as you go. Water marks on a monitor tempt people to add more liquid, but that only spreads them. If paint has dried on the glass, leave it alone and let a qualified repair technician advise you.
Before you start
What this material can take
Use with care2
- Water
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
Avoid4
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Scrubbing and abrasives
4 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Soft, dry, lint-free clothFor dusting the screen and the first pass. (opens Amazon)
- Soft, lint-free cloth for dampeningFor marks that stay after the dry pass. (opens Amazon)
- Screen cleanerApplied to the cloth, never sprayed on the screen. (opens Amazon)
- 70% isopropyl alcohol, 75% ethyl alcohol wipes or a disinfecting wipeFor hard smudges only, used gently. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Unplug the monitor first
Turn the monitor off, unplug it and remove every cable and external power source before you touch the screen. This keeps cleaning liquid away from live electronics and stops you from working on a screen that's still on.
Step 2 of 6
Dust the screen with a dry cloth
Wipe the whole screen with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, using light, even strokes. This lifts dust and loose grit first, so a damp cloth doesn't just smear it across the glass.
Tip. Work from the top of the screen down so drips don't mark the clean part.
Step 3 of 6
Dampen the cloth for marks that stay
If the mark is still there, switch to a soft, lint-free cloth that's only slightly damp. Wipe the mark gently, and keep moisture out of openings as you work.
Careful. Wring the cloth out well and keep water away from the vents and ports.
Step 4 of 6
Apply screen cleaner to the cloth
Put a cleaner intended for screens on the cloth, not on the monitor. Wipe the mark in gentle strokes, turning to a clean section of the cloth as it fills with residue.
Careful. Never spray cleaner directly onto the screen.
Step 5 of 6
Use alcohol on hard smudges
For a smudge that still won't lift, wipe gently with a cloth moistened with 70% isopropyl alcohol, a 75% ethyl alcohol wipe, or a disinfecting wipe. Use light pressure and keep the wipe moving until the smudge is gone.
Tip. Save this step for smudges that a damp cloth can't lift, so the milder steps come first.
Step 6 of 6
Let the screen dry before power
Let the screen air dry completely, then reconnect the cables and power. Turn the monitor on and check the screen with the picture showing to confirm the mark is gone.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best stain removers for monitors & tv screens
Pick a cleaner labeled for screens, or a plain 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe, and keep a soft lint-free cloth with it. Leave out any product sold as a fabric or carpet stain remover.
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 monitors & tv 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
When the mark is gone, the screen looks even in both bright and dark scenes, with no haze or streak left behind. If you still see a shine in a dark picture, wipe lightly with the dry cloth to finish.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your monitors & tv screens
Fingerprints and smudges
Fingerprints and oily smudges usually lift with the dry cloth and a damp cloth alone, so start there. The screen cleaner is only needed for the oily film that a damp cloth leaves behind.
Skip the alcohol wipe unless a smudge stays after the cleaner. A fresh fingerprint should come off in one pass, so there's no need to scrub.
Crayon
Crayon is a wax, so don't scrape at it with a fingernail, a card or anything hard, since that can scratch the screen. Start with the dry cloth to clear loose dust, then use the screen cleaner on a damp cloth and wipe in gentle strokes.
If the wax is still there, use the alcohol wipe in the same gentle way and move to a clean section of the cloth. Stop if the mark doesn't lift after a few passes, and get professional help rather than trying harsher products.
Water marks
Water marks on a screen are usually left by a drop that dried on the surface, so a slightly damp cloth is the right first move. Wipe gently, then go over the spot with the dry cloth so the area dries evenly.
Don't press hard, and keep the cloth damp rather than wet, because moisture can get into the openings. If a ring stays after the area dries, the screen cleaner on a cloth is the next step, not a stronger liquid.
Paint
Dried paint on a screen has to be lifted, not scraped, so start with the damp cloth and screen cleaner to see whether any of it loosens. Wipe in gentle strokes and check the spot after each pass.
If paint still sticks, use a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe on a cloth, pressing lightly and working in small sections. If it won't lift this way, stop and get professional help, since solvents are not meant for displays.
Ash residue
A cleaning guide can't tell you when a film or show comes out, so for that date you'll need a TV listing. What you can clean is ash that has settled on the screen.
Ash is dust-like, so start with the dry cloth to lift the loose part, then use a damp cloth with screen cleaner on any film that remains. Use the alcohol wipe only on hard, stubborn residue, and check the screen once it's dry.
Yellowing
If the yellow is a film you can wipe, the steps above apply: a dry cloth first, then a damp cloth with screen cleaner. Test a small area first and see whether the color comes off with the cloth.
If the yellow is a tint across the picture rather than something on the glass, cleaning won't change it. Don't try bleach or other chemicals to bring the color back, and ask a repair technician for advice.
Old, dried or set-in stains
A mark that has been on the screen for a while is usually a smudge that has dried, so start over at the dry cloth and work up one step at a time. Don't skip ahead to stronger products, since this is already the gentlest route for the screen.
Dried residue may need the 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe, used gently and only on the marked spot. Don't press hard or let liquid pool, since that's the quickest way to damage the screen.
After one careful pass with alcohol, check the screen once it's fully dry before you try again. If it's still there, the realistic result is that it stays, and professional help is the safe next call rather than a harsher product. Household cleaners, solvents and abrasives can damage a display, so stronger treatment isn't worth the risk.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on monitors & tv screens?
Most household remedies are unsafe for a monitor, since bleach, peroxide, household cleaners and abrasives are all off limits for screens. Rubbing alcohol is the one exception, as a gentle wipe for hard smudges. Keep every other remedy away from the screen.
Works1Skip1Avoid4
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use bleach or hydrogen peroxide
Chlorine bleach and hydrogen peroxide are easy to reach for on a stain, but both are ruled out for displays. The screen cleaner and the alcohol wipe are the right products for a display.
Don't use household or window cleaners
Window cleaners, household cleaners and ammonia are all on the do-not-use list for displays. A product that works on a kitchen counter can still be wrong for a screen, so keep these out of your cleaning kit.
Don't use paper towels or abrasive cloths
Paper towels, abrasive cloths and abrasive cleaners are not allowed on a screen, even for a stubborn mark. A soft lint-free cloth is the only cloth that's safe on a screen.
Don't use cleaners containing acetone
Cleaners containing acetone are not allowed on displays, so check the label before any product touches the screen. If a label doesn't list its ingredients, leave that product out and stick to the steps.
When to call a professional
If liquid gets inside the monitor, don't power it on, and get help from a repair technician. Don't try to fix internal damage yourself, because that's a job for trained service staff. Call a technician too if a mark won't lift after the steps above.
Questions
Can I use vinegar or dish soap on a monitor?
No. Household cleaners are ruled out for displays, and that includes dish soap. Household cleaners aren't meant for displays, so skip vinegar and dish soap and use a damp cloth with screen cleaner.
Is rubbing alcohol safe on a TV screen?
Yes, but only gently, and only for hard smudges that a damp cloth can't lift. Use 70% isopropyl alcohol or a 75% ethyl alcohol wipe, applied to a cloth first. Let the screen dry before you power it on.
Will a water mark come out of a TV screen?
Usually, yes, with a slightly damp soft lint-free cloth, a gentle wipe and a dry pass afterward. Keep the cloth just damp, because moisture that reaches the vents and ports can cause problems.
Can crayon be removed from a TV screen?
Usually, if you work gently. Start with the dry cloth, then use the screen cleaner on a damp cloth, and avoid scraping the wax with anything hard.
Can paint come off a TV screen?
It may, but only with gentle methods. Try the screen cleaner first, then the alcohol wipe used lightly, and stop if it doesn't lift. If the paint stays, get professional help rather than using solvents.
Why does my TV have a yellow stain?
A yellow film you can wipe off is removed with the steps above. A yellow tint across the picture isn't a surface mark, and cleaning won't change it, so a repair technician is the right call.
Can I use an as-seen-on-TV stain remover on my screen?
No. A carpet or fabric product is made for those surfaces, not for a screen, so leave it on the shelf. Use a cleaner intended for screens, or a plain alcohol wipe for hard smudges.
Related
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.