[Tutorial] My experience with cleaning matte finished monitors.

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by Muerto, Jan 7, 2016.

  1. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

    Mar 7, 2012
    1,855
    2,101
    60
    #1 Muerto, Jan 7, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2021
    ...
     
  2. bpwnes

    bpwnes MDL Member

    Aug 11, 2015
    151
    27
    10
    I usually buff screens with isopropyl alcohol and microfiber cloths until it is spotless. I'll have to try using warm water sometime... too bad the sink at work doesn't have hot water. I'd also like to point out that it would be a little safer to use distilled water than tap water.
     
  3. cdavisdeco

    cdavisdeco MDL Senior Member

    Jul 8, 2015
    330
    63
    10
    How about a tissue serviette instead of micro fiber cloth?
     
  4. Antilope

    Antilope MDL Member

    Sep 15, 2015
    189
    72
    10
    Because they are made from wood pulp, tissues can be abrasive and leave fine scratches on a plastic screen. I would go with the microfiber cloth.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  5. Antilope

    Antilope MDL Member

    Sep 15, 2015
    189
    72
    10
    I would worry that alcohol may remove or damage any special coatings that might be on a screen. Or maybe make the plastic screen hazy.

    If you have a microwave at work, that's a source of hot water.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  6. Joe C

    Joe C MDL Guru

    Jan 12, 2012
    3,522
    2,093
    120
    I've been using a mix of 50% isopropyl alcohol and 50% distilled water for several years with no issues, and makes cleaning the greasy spots much easier. It's the same as that fancy stuff you can buy
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  7. pisthai

    pisthai Imperfect Human

    Jul 29, 2009
    7,222
    2,272
    240
    Just got a Acer LCD Monitor from a customer for cleaning!

    There's a serious problem with that, that customer was spray a mix of Water and Sodium Silicate to some frabric near to the Monitor and there a lot dot's from that spray now on the screen. Very hard to remove, impossible the normal way. Lotion like Ethanol, Menthyl Alcohol etc., etc. simply didn't works!

    So question: Has anybody an idea about how to remove those dots?

    Thanks for any information.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  8. matt167

    matt167 MDL Junior Member

    Oct 8, 2013
    91
    5
    0
    Probably SOL. Water glass ( sodium silicate ) is generally considered permanent when dry. It's used as a concrete sealer, and a head gasket fix in the automotive band-aid world, among other things.
     
  9. pisthai

    pisthai Imperfect Human

    Jul 29, 2009
    7,222
    2,272
    240
    It's also used for to "impregnate" (make waterprotect) textiles/fabrics!

    And YES, it's also called Waterglass!

    Any idea how to remove that dot's from the screen?

    Thanks.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  10. Joe C

    Joe C MDL Guru

    Jan 12, 2012
    3,522
    2,093
    120
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  11. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

    Mar 7, 2012
    1,855
    2,101
    60
    #11 Muerto, Jan 8, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2021
    (OP)
    ...
     
  12. Joe C

    Joe C MDL Guru

    Jan 12, 2012
    3,522
    2,093
    120
    #12 Joe C, Jan 8, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2016
    No doubt about it.
    I nearly had a heart attack when the Mrs. told me she cleaned our new 55" tv screen with windex. Good thing she has a sense of humor and got me on that one
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  13. bpwnes

    bpwnes MDL Member

    Aug 11, 2015
    151
    27
    10
    I should clarify my earlier post a lil... I use screen cleaning kits until they run out, then refill the squirt bottles. I use 70% isopropyl alcohol mixed with some distilled water. I don't really measure it, just use a little more alcohol than water (60/40 maybe?). Spritz the screen and buff with a microfiber cloth using small circles until it's clean and spotless.

    @Antilope - Good call on the microwave, I don't know why I didn't think of that before.

    Just never substitute acetone for isopropyl alcohol. It eats plastic and you will seriously mess up the surface. I did that to the front of an old case of mine once. Now it's smooth instead of matte lol.
     
  14. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

    Mar 7, 2012
    1,855
    2,101
    60
    #14 Muerto, Jan 8, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2021
    (OP)
    ...
     
  15. pisthai

    pisthai Imperfect Human

    Jul 29, 2009
    7,222
    2,272
    240
    LCD Monitor Screens are not from Glass! They're made from some kind of Poly..... (Plastic etc.)!

    That monitor in question is a Acer AL2216W 22" Monitor and the first level of that screen is a kind Anti-Glare Film, attached by the Manufacturer.

    In meantime I've get that screen near back to normal already. I used Screen 99 from Kontakt Chemie and it does the job quite well. Warm Water, heated to 50°C, wasn't working, as other, like Alcohol etc. try's also!

    I'm a long time user of some products from Kontakt Chemie and have very good experiences with those, special Kontakt 61 and some others. Difficult to get in Bangkok, just one Dealer in Bangkok's China Town has it, but all times and all their products.

    I use Kontakt 61 many times for to clean the USB Contact's because that's the only solution I ever found really working!

    So, I could say: The problem with that Monitor is solved now. Thanks for all answers.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  16. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

    Mar 7, 2012
    1,855
    2,101
    60
    #16 Muerto, Jan 9, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2021
    (OP)
    ...
     
  17. Michaela Joy

    Michaela Joy MDL Crazy Lady

    Jul 26, 2012
    4,071
    4,651
    150
    The important thing to do here is to follow the manufacturers instructions. As has been mentioned, some displays are sensitive to certain solvents. Some can actually be damaged by alcohols.

    Glass is usually pretty robust, but some glass displays are coated (Much like eyewear). Certain solvents can strip away that coating.

    Be careful using dishwashing detergent. Some detergents have solvents and disinfectants that can cause problems (milkiness, dull finishes, etc.)

    In the USA, we have a dishwashing soap called "Ivory Liquid". Even this has ethyl alcohol, which can damage a display finish.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  18. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

    Mar 7, 2012
    1,855
    2,101
    60
    #18 Muerto, Jan 9, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2021
    (OP)
    ...
     
  19. pisthai

    pisthai Imperfect Human

    Jul 29, 2009
    7,222
    2,272
    240
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  20. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

    Mar 7, 2012
    1,855
    2,101
    60
    #20 Muerto, Jan 10, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2021
    (OP)
    ...