Cleaning Your TV Screen

Like everything in your house, TV screens get dirty with fingerprints and dust and require regular cleaning. Keeping your TV screen clean is essential to ensure a clear picture. However, cleaning the front of your TV is not something that should be left for the maid. The use of certain cleaning products and solvents can damage the front of your TV screen. Special attention should be taken to ensure that your TV screen is cleaned.
Any type of TV has different steps for a good cleaning. If you are unsure what type of TV you have your TV manual to ensure that the appropriate cleaning method.

Direct View - Older direct view TV's can be cleaned with glass cleaner and a paper towel. Newer tubes may contain special coatings, such as an anti-glare coating, should be cleaned with a damp cotton cloth. If you are unsure whether you have a special coating, it is best to be safe and use the damp cloth.

CRT Rear-projection - Before you start cleaning, you must determine whether or not you have a screen shield. A screen shield is a hard plastic cover on the front of the TV screen. If you can not say, give the front of the TV has a slight tap. Another way to tell is to check whether there are ripples in the screen. If you can feel ripples on the screen, then you do not have a screen shield. Rear projection TVs without a screen shield requires a special kind of cleaner and RAG. These are available from your local TV service center. They have a screen shield should be cleaned with a dry or damp soft cloth. If very dirty, a mild soap can be used. Do not use paper products such as paper towels to clean the screen shield. Paper products can easily scratch the surface of the shield. Screen shields can be a tendency to streak while cleaning. If this happens, use a dry cloth and buff the screen in small circular movements.

Micro Display Rear-projection - All micro display TVs have a sort of screen shield on the front. This TV should be cleaned with a damp cloth. Micro Displays with a shiny screen shield can be cleaned with mild soap if extremely dirty. Those with a flat screen shield should not be cleaned with a detergent. Do not use paper products for cleaning the front of the TV, because they can scratch the screen surface.

Plasma - Plasma owners have to clean the front of the TV with a soft, damp cloth. Using a mild soap for heavy cleaning is acceptable. The use of heavy cleaning can strip the special coating on the screen and paper products can scratch the front of the TV.

LCD Flat Panel - Be careful with flat-panel LCD TV's! Use a slightly damp soft cloth to clean the LCD screen, then immediately dry with a soft cloth. Do not press hard on the screen during cleaning. It can cause serious damage to the screen. Do not use solvents, such as glass cleaner or soap, to clean the LCD screen. Paper products can scratch the front of the screen. If you have a pet or child that rubbed something on the screen that you feel could stain or damage, contact your local TV service center for assistance.
When will the TV cabinets, dust with a damp cloth or a mild detergent. Paper products can scratch the surface of high-gloss cabinets, so avoid paper products. Heavy cleaners can strip the finish off of TV cabinets over time. When cleaning speaker grilles, dust with a dry cloth. Wet cleaners could stain or damage to the grille cloth.