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Easily keep your flat screen TV polished with this simple guide
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Is your TV screen looking a little dingy or dusty? Cleaning off your TV every once in a while keeps the picture quality looking great. Cleaning your TV the right way is very important—using the wrong cleaning supplies could lead to damage or streaks on your screen. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of everything you need to know before you work on sprucing up your TV.

1

Turn off the TV.

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  1. Before you start cleaning, turn your TV off and give it a few minutes to cool down. While you’re waiting, you can gather your cleaning supplies and gloves that you’ll need to start.[1]
    • Wearing gloves isn’t strictly necessary, but it can help protect your hands if you have sensitive skin.
    • Cleaning a cool TV is easier than cleaning a warm one. Warm screens can react with your cleaning product, leaving streaks behind.
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2

Dust the screen with a microfiber cloth.

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  1. Microfiber cloths won’t scratch the surface of your TV. To dust off your TV screen, grab a microfiber cloth and gently wipe the screen up and down. Shake the cloth every few wipes to get rid of dust and dirt.[2]
    • If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, you can use a 100% cotton T-shirt instead. However, you should never use paper towels, cotton towels, or toilet paper to wipe down your TV, since they can scratch the screen.
    • Check out more TV cleaning tips from wikiHow users on wikiHow’s “What's the best way to clean a flat screen tv?” forum.
5

Remove streaks with distilled water.

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  1. Grab a new, clean microfiber cloth and spritz some distilled water directly onto the cloth (not your TV screen). Gently wipe the damp cloth along your screen, going up and down slowly. If your cloth dries out, spray a few more spritzes of water onto the cloth before continuing.[5]
    • Always spray your cleaning solution onto your cloth, not directly onto the screen. Spraying liquid onto your TV can cause it to drip into unexpected places, which could lead to damage.
    • Distilled water is completely pure (it doesn’t even contain any minerals). It’s best to use distilled water because you know there’s nothing extra in it that might hurt your TV.
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9

Try dish soap for stubborn stains.

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Join the Discussion...

WikiFawnDancer831
15
Hi all, does anyone have any tips for cleaning a flat screen tv? Mine's overdue for a good cleaning, it's got fingerprints and dust on it, but be... Read More
WikiBadgerWhisperer333
1
For cleaning an LED screen or flat screen, I just use a microfiber cloth and get it damp (not soaking) with warm water, then gently wipe down the... Read More
WikiOcelotSeeker760
1
I’d recommend using distilled water. You shouldn’t need any solvents, cleaners, or soaps to clean a TV screen. You can use tap water if you d... Read More

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I clean off dust from my TV?
    Marcus Shields
    Marcus Shields
    House Cleaning Professional
    Marcus is the owner of Maid Easy, a local residential cleaning company in Phoenix, Arizona. His cleaning roots date back to his grandmother who cleaned homes for valley residents in the 60’s through the 70’s. After working in tech for over a decade, he came back to the cleaning industry and opened Maid Easy to pass his family’s tried and true methods to home dwellers across the Phoenix Metro Area.
    Marcus Shields
    House Cleaning Professional
    Expert Answer
    Just use a standard microfiber cloth around the frame to collect dust. Focus around the vents and speakers where dust could get trapped.
  • Question
    How can I clean smudges off of a flat screen TV?
    Marcus Shields
    Marcus Shields
    House Cleaning Professional
    Marcus is the owner of Maid Easy, a local residential cleaning company in Phoenix, Arizona. His cleaning roots date back to his grandmother who cleaned homes for valley residents in the 60’s through the 70’s. After working in tech for over a decade, he came back to the cleaning industry and opened Maid Easy to pass his family’s tried and true methods to home dwellers across the Phoenix Metro Area.
    Marcus Shields
    House Cleaning Professional
    Expert Answer
    To get rid of smudges on the glass, simply wipe them away with a microfiber cloth meant for cleaning glass. The smudges will lift right up without any other product.
  • Question
    How much vinegar do I need to clean my flat screen TV?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Mix vinegar 50/50 with distilled water. Tap water may have suspended minerals (hard water) that could create microscopic scratches.
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Tips

Tips from our Readers

  • Don't forget to clean your remote when you clean your TV. Turn it upside-down and tap it with your palm to get rid of dirt, and then wipe around the buttons with a mix of alcohol and water.
  • Skip the paper towels or tissues because they can have mild abrasives that leave scratches on your TV.
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Warnings

  • Avoid ammonia- or acetone-based cleaners, as these cleaners have the potential to damage your screen.[10]
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About This Article

Marcus Shields
Co-authored by:
House Cleaning Professional
This article was co-authored by Marcus Shields and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Marcus is the owner of Maid Easy, a local residential cleaning company in Phoenix, Arizona. His cleaning roots date back to his grandmother who cleaned homes for valley residents in the 60’s through the 70’s. After working in tech for over a decade, he came back to the cleaning industry and opened Maid Easy to pass his family’s tried and true methods to home dwellers across the Phoenix Metro Area. This article has been viewed 2,486,253 times.
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Co-authors: 26
Updated: November 17, 2024
Views: 2,486,253
Categories: Television
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,486,253 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Karyn Such

    Karyn Such

    Sep 25, 2016

    "I cleaned my flat screen TV with a bottle cleaner my father-in-law gave me just made for this purpose. After, I..." more
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