Prep first
Before you start
- Unplug the device and remove all cables and external power first.
- Blot up standing water promptly with a dry, white absorbent cloth.
- Wipe with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth before adding any liquid.
Water spots on electronics, such as a phone or laptop screen, are often just a surface mark, and a dry, lint-free cloth can lift it. Electronics can't take soaking, chlorine, oxygen bleach or abrasives, so any moisture should be light and kept away from openings. If a spot stays after a dry wipe, a slightly damp cloth or a screen cleaner applied to the cloth is the next step, and liquid that gets inside the device needs an authorized service provider.
Turn the device off before cleaning, so any smudge shows up clearly and you aren't pressing on a live screen. Whether it's a water stain on iPhone screen or a TV, press lightly and wipe in one direction. Don't spray cleaner directly onto the device, since liquid that runs into openings is the costly mistake.
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
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 the first wipe and, if needed, a slightly damp second wipe. (opens Amazon)
- Dry, white absorbent clothFor blotting up standing water right away. (opens Amazon)
- Cleaner intended for screensApplied to the cloth, never sprayed onto the device. (opens Amazon)
- 70% isopropyl alcohol or a 75% ethyl alcohol wipeFor hard-to-remove smudges on a hard, nonporous surface only.
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Unplug the device first
Unplug the device and remove all cables and external power before you touch the screen. With nothing attached, you can wipe the whole surface without snagging a cable.
Step 2 of 5
Blot up standing water
If water is sitting on the screen, blot it up right away with a dry, white absorbent cloth. Press gently and don't rub, so you don't work the water further into the surface.
Careful. Paper towels are not for displays, so use the cloth instead.
Step 3 of 5
Wipe with a dry cloth
Wipe the whole screen with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, using light, even strokes. If the mark is gone, you're finished; if it's still there, move on to the damp cloth.
Step 4 of 5
Add a slightly damp cloth
Dampen the soft, lint-free cloth slightly, then wipe the spot again. Wring it out well so it's only just damp, not wet.
Careful. Moisture in any opening can get inside the device.
Step 5 of 5
Use a screen cleaner on the cloth
For screens, apply a cleaner intended for screens to the cloth, then wipe the marked area. Work gently across the spot, and stop once it's clear.
Tip. Pretest any cleaner on a hidden area first.
Careful. Never spray cleaner directly onto the screen.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for water stains on electronics & screens
Look for a cleaner labeled as intended for screens, and read its label before you use it on the marks.
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 mark is gone when the screen looks even, with no ring or haze left behind. If a ring stays after the damp-cloth step, move on to the screen cleaner rather than adding more moisture.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your electronics & screens
Laptop screen
Unplug the laptop and remove the charger and all cables before you touch the screen. Start with the soft, dry, lint-free cloth, and move to a slightly damp one only if the ring stays.
Put any screen cleaner on the cloth rather than on the screen, and keep moisture out of any openings such as ports. If the mark still shows, the alcohol wipe for hard-to-remove smudges is the next option, used sparingly on the cloth.
TV screen
Unplug the TV and remove the power cord before you wipe it. Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth first, and only add a slightly damp one if the spot or streak stays.
Apply any screen cleaner to the cloth, not the TV, and keep moisture away from the openings at the back. If streaks remain, go back over the screen with the dry cloth rather than adding more liquid.
Phone screen
Unplug the phone and remove any cables before you wipe the screen. Start with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, and only dampen it slightly if the ring stays.
Put any screen cleaner on the cloth rather than on the phone, and keep moisture out of the charging port and other openings. If the mark survives that, the alcohol wipe is the last option, and it goes on the cloth too.
Tablet screen
Unplug the tablet and remove the cables and any external power before cleaning. Blot standing water with a dry, white absorbent cloth, then wipe with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth.
Add a slightly damp cloth only if the spot remains. Put any screen cleaner on the cloth rather than on the tablet.
LCD or computer screen
An LCD or computer monitor is a display, so unplug it and remove the power cable before you clean it. Use the soft, dry, lint-free cloth first, then a slightly damp one if the spot stays.
Put any screen cleaner on the cloth and keep moisture away from any openings. If the mark still shows, use the alcohol wipe sparingly on the hard, nonporous screen surface.
Camera lens
Lens coatings need the gentlest handling, so keep to the softest approach. Start with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth and wipe gently, and only use a slightly damp cloth if the spot stays, keeping moisture away from any openings around the lens.
If a gentle wipe doesn't clear it, it's safer to get a professional opinion than to keep trying stronger products.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
If a mark has been on the screen a while, the dry and damp cloth steps may not lift it. For a hard, nonporous surface, the next step is a cloth moistened with 70% isopropyl alcohol or a 75% ethyl alcohol wipe.
Wipe gently and keep the cloth only lightly damp, so no liquid runs into the edges or openings. Never spray the alcohol on the device, and don't press hard.
If the mark is still there after a gentle alcohol wipe, stop rather than reaching for a stronger product. Take the device to an authorized service provider for an opinion.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on water stains on electronics & screens?
Most kitchen and laundry fixes don't belong on electronics, and the table shows which ones to leave alone. The only one that can help is alcohol on a cloth, and only for stubborn marks.
Skip1Avoid6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't reach for bleach or hydrogen peroxide
Products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide are not for displays, even if they're the first thing you grab. Leave them on the shelf and stick to the cloths and the screen cleaner.
Don't use household cleaners on a screen
Window cleaners, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, solvents, ammonia, abrasive cleaners and acetone-based products are all off limits on displays. Keep them out of the cleaning kit so you don't reach for one by mistake.
Don't submerge the device or soak the cloth
Submerging the device is off limits, and so is any method that soaks it in liquid. A slightly damp cloth does the job, while a wet one carries liquid into openings.
When to call a professional
If liquid makes its way inside the device, stop cleaning the outside and get help from an authorized service provider. That repair is the one thing a cloth can't fix.
Questions
Will water stains on an iPhone go away?
Often, yes, if the mark is on the glass rather than moisture inside the phone. Unplug it, wipe with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, and only add a slightly damp cloth if the mark stays.
Water damage stain vs. heat damage on a laptop
Water marks on the surface can be cleaned, but heat damage can't. If liquid has got inside the laptop, get help from an authorized service provider.
Can I use alcohol on a phone screen?
Yes, but only in a limited way. Use 70% isopropyl alcohol or a 75% ethyl alcohol wipe for hard-to-remove smudges, and keep the alcohol on the cloth rather than the phone.
Can I spray cleaner directly on a laptop or TV screen?
No. Apply any cleaner to the cloth, never spray it onto the screen, because liquid can get into openings. Spraying also makes it hard to control how much reaches the edges, so a lightly loaded cloth is the safer tool.
Can I use bleach or hydrogen peroxide to remove water spots?
No. Products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide aren't for displays, so use the dry and damp cloth steps with a screen cleaner instead.
What if water gets inside my device?
Keep the device unplugged and get help from an authorized service provider. Wiping the outside won't remove liquid that has got inside, so the surface steps don't apply.
Can I use paper towels to dry a screen?
No. Paper towels and abrasive cloths aren't for displays, so use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth instead. A dry, white absorbent cloth is for blotting standing water only.
Water Stains 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.