Tech tips: Use extra care when cleaning LCD monitor

Not too long ago, I got a new flat-panel liquid crystal display monitor. After years of using a 21-inch conventional cathode ray tube display, the flat-panel monitor on my desk seems downright high tech.

Because I’m not much of a neatnik, I haven’t really thought about cleaning it. As it turns out, my negligence may be a good thing.

Cleaning your LCD incorrectly can damage it. CRTs are made from glass, but LCDs are made from plastic, so you need to clean these newfangled monitors more carefully.

If you are used to cleaning your CRT with glass cleaner and paper towels, don’t try it with your LCD display. Ammonia-based cleaners are the enemy of flat-panel screens.

Paper towels or other wood-based paper products are, too.

Using ammonia can damage the anti-reflective coating and cause the screen to become cloudy. Wood-based paper products can scratch the display.

When you clean a flat-panel display, use a lightly dampened soft cloth. Start at the top of the display and wipe the screen gently from left to right.

If you get any water or stains on the monitor, clean it immediately. Don’t spray any cleaning solution directly on the screen or use any paper products to clean the display unless they have been specifically manufactured for use on LCDs.

As with any monitor, don’t touch the screen, and keep your calendars, photographs, sticky notes and other detritus attached only to the outside plastic frame, not the display itself.