[FAQ] - Cleaning LCD Screens

[nkuvu]

3 year old powerbook? sure.

3 year old child? Uh, I'll have to pass on that one. I like to keep my screens strictly pen-free.

And while I'm posting, let me add a "me too" to the list of people who get irritated by other "touch-screen wannabees". It's amazing how people feel the need to touch the screen to point at something...

[Matrix Agent]

Lazzo, no answer for that one.

But I do know what removes pen, as well as just about anything else from Apple's models made out of the modled plastics (i.e. space egg, clamshell, G4/G3 towers, icebook). Those citrus cleaners do just fine! They clean everything off. You'll remeber how it felt to use a brand new computer, all of the plastic is completely intact.

[Lazzo]

!!!!!!!

Okay, cleaning's fine, but what do you say to your best client when the their directors walk into your office, look at the job on screen and start to use a blasted magic marker to indicate what they want altered while you look on aghast, turning purple and struggling to find something to say that won't lose you the account?

Gotta love 'em. Answers on a £50 note please. (Sigh - I know, print out the proofs first).

I write from personal experience. At the time, I was a pipe smoker - a very handy thing to clamp your teeth down on. When taking a meeting, don't turn your back for a second!

Yeeeikes!

[earla]

The accepted method for cleaning spots off of an LCD screen from a manufacturing POV is to use isopropal alcohol and a cotton cosmetic pad (not cotton ball).

While water will remove water soluable contaminates, it will not remove non-water soluable contaminates (finger prints, big-macs etc). This method is ISO acceptable. IPA is benign to plastics and an added benifit it sterializes the area cleaned (keyboards!). A dry cloth should only be used to remove dust. Use care and caution when cleaning the screen. It's soft and scratches easily. IPA will also remove stickers, it's slow but safe.

My prior backgroung is as a Quality Control Engineer at Sun Micro. Trust me I've dinged a number of manufacturers for improper cleaning procedures.

[nkuvu]

Repeated applications of alcohol on plastic will turn your screen surface "yellow", make it brittle and cause "stress cracking" (hairline scratches) on your screen surface.

What about this, earla? Deny, confirm?

[AppMan]

yuk, boogers on your LCD...

[shrill]

Sometimes they get away from you.
I'm more careful these days

[Malachite]

Perhaps this is too latent a reply, but I just acquired a Powerbook G4 and two weeks later already I have a mark or scratch on the screen which refuses to be removed. I tried isopropyl alcohol as many here have suggested. The alignment of the mark is not coincident with the keyboard (so I can't blame the keys) but is at a very conspicuous "rule of thirds" optical center location. So I'm about to go bonkers catching it within view of my eye as I work. Anyone ever heard of a professional LCD cleaning or repair house? I'm perplexed that this isn't somehow better addressed by Apple. Should I just call the support line? Just checking the experience of others first. Many thanks for your time and consideration...