How to Clean a Flat Screen TV

These days, flat-screen TVs are more affordable than ever—and when cared for properly, they can last for many years before needing to be replaced or repaired. From time to time, it may become necessary to clean your TV screen as it accumulates dust (or kids’ fingerprints!)—but as with any electronic device, it’s important to exercise some special precautions when cleaning a TV screen. After all, while flat-screen TVs have come down significantly in price, you still don’t want to shell out your hard-earned money to replace your TV prematurely.

The Importance of Cleaning Your Flat-Screen TV

Why is it so important to clean your flat-screen TV, anyway? For starters, it’s easy for dust and other debris to collect on television screens due to static electricity. Over time, dust build-up can affect your image quality, causing colors on the screen to appear dull or distorted. Keeping your television screen clean can also help to prolong the life of your TV by reducing the risk of an airborne particle (such as a clump of dust) from damaging the screen or other delicate components of your television.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning a Flat-Screen TV

Before you wipe down your flat-screen TV with just any old rag and cleaning product you have lying around, stop and think. Electronics, by their very nature, are delicate. Televisions are no exception. Most television screens are comprised of many layers of relatively thin and delicate material. The wrong chemical or even too rough of a cloth can cause irreversible damage, scuffs, or scratches.

One of the most common mistakes people make when cleaning flat-screen TVs, for example, is using a regular dishcloth or even a paper towel to wipe the screen down. What you may not realize when you do this is that paper towels, napkins, and standard dishcloths are all made of slightly abrasive materials that will create surface scratches on your screen as you wipe.

Another common mistake to avoid when cleaning your flat-screen TV is using a cleaning chemical that is not specifically designed for use on electronics. Glass cleaner is not safe to use on a flat-screen TV because television screens are not made of standard glass.

The worst thing you could do is remove the television from the TV mount to clean it. It is not only dangerous but you run the risk of dropping your TV. Just keep it on the mount!

Step-By-Step: How to Clean a Flat-Screen TV

Now that you know what not to do when cleaning your flat-screen TV, it’s time to learn the basic steps of cleaning your television properly. Start by making sure you have some essential supplies on-hand, including:

• two or more clean microfiber cloths
• a mild dish soap or TV screen cleaner

Check Out Your Owner’s Manual

As a general disclaimer, it’s always best to check out the owner’s manual that came with your TV before you begin any type of cleaning. This manual should have a specific section on cleaning and wiping down the screen properly. Any instructions or warnings provided from your television manufacturer should take precedence over any of the instructions included here, as all models of TV can vary.

If you can’t locate your owner’s manual, a quick Google search of your TV’s brand and model number should help you find a copy.

Unplug Your Television

If you’ll be using any liquid to clean your television screen, whether it be a small amount of water or even a cleaning product specifically designed for use on TV screens, be sure to completely unplug the television from the wall before you get started. Otherwise, you could be putting yourself at risk of electric shock or damaging your TV.

Start With a Microfiber Cloth

A quick wipe-down of the screen and body of the television may be all that’s needed to remove dust and other debris. Just be sure to always use a soft and clean microfiber cloth on your screen, as any other type of cloth can cause small surface scratches to form.

Only Use Water if Necessary

If there are smudges or other types of build-up on your screen that will not come off with a dry microfiber cloth alone, you can try using a small amount of water (unless your owner’s manual warns against this). If you use any water to clean your TV, be sure to apply it to the microfiber cloth rather than directly to the screen itself. Any time you use liquid on the screen, you should also dry it immediately with another clean microfiber cloth.

Try a Little Dish Soap

For especially stubborn smudges, it may be necessary to create a solution of water of a couple drops of mild dish soap to break up grease and grime. This will come in handy with fingerprints and smudges left by children. The best way to do this is to mix the water and soap in a spray bottle; then, spray the solution onto a microfiber cloth before gently rubbing away at problem areas. Always wipe clean and dry the area with a clean cloth once you’re finished.

Ready to Hire a Professional Cleaning Company?

Properly and safely cleaning your flat-screen TV doesn’t take a lot of time, but it does take a little special care. You may be able to prolong time between needing to clean your televisions by hiring a professional cleaning company for routine dusting and another light cleaning. Maid Sailors offers all the cleaning services you need to keep your place looking its best, so give us a call at (212) 299-5170 today to get started.