How to clean Acer netbook screen, two opinions.

[micky]

How to clean Acer netbook screen, two opinions.

How do I clean my Acer netbook screen?

One source says to use a 50/50 solution of alcohol and water on an
Acer Aspire laptop.
http://techtips.salon.com/clean-acer-aspire-laptop-63.html

And the other source (both of them near the top of google search),
Netbook Review, says in general not to use alcohol at all, just
distilled water with vinegar. (Isn't that Windex?) or just plain tap
water.
http://netbookreview.com/netbook-cleaning-tips/
So far, I've tried spit, and it doesn't work well on fingerprints or
spots (I'm borowing the netbook from a friend, and this is the first
time he's gotten the screen dirty. Since he's nice enough to lend it,
I think I should clean it.)

Thanks.

Details:

The first url:
"*Items you will need
Lint-free cloths...
Solution of equal parts rubbing alcohol and distilled water"

The second url:
"Screen
Don’t use anything with alcohol, ammonia, or solvents. Distilled water
is recommended along with vinegar, else a damp cloth wrung of all
water (non-distilled) should suffice. For the extra conscientious, two
products which we recommend are Monster Alcohol Free Cleaner($15) and
Speck CrispView Screen Cleaner($9.95).
Process
Turn off netbook
Moisten a cloth/rag with the solution/water, making sure to wring
extra liquid out.
Wipe across the face of the screen gently.
The liquid should not be sprayed directly onto the screen."

 

[Paul]

How to clean Acer netbook screen, two opinions.

How do I clean my Acer netbook screen?

One source says to use a 50/50 solution of alcohol and water on an
Acer Aspire laptop.
http://techtips.salon.com/clean-acer-aspire-laptop-63.html

And the other source (both of them near the top of google search),
Netbook Review, says in general not to use alcohol at all, just
distilled water with vinegar. (Isn't that Windex?) or just plain tap
water.
http://netbookreview.com/netbook-cleaning-tips/
So far, I've tried spit, and it doesn't work well on fingerprints or
spots (I'm borowing the netbook from a friend, and this is the first
time he's gotten the screen dirty. Since he's nice enough to lend it,
I think I should clean it.)

Thanks.

Details:

The first url:
"*Items you will need
Lint-free cloths...
Solution of equal parts rubbing alcohol and distilled water"

The second url:
"Screen
Don’t use anything with alcohol, ammonia, or solvents. Distilled water
is recommended along with vinegar, else a damp cloth wrung of all
water (non-distilled) should suffice. For the extra conscientious, two
products which we recommend are Monster Alcohol Free Cleaner($15) and
Speck CrispView Screen Cleaner($9.95).
Process
Turn off netbook
Moisten a cloth/rag with the solution/water, making sure to wring
extra liquid out.
Wipe across the face of the screen gently.
The liquid should not be sprayed directly onto the screen."

In general, don't clean the screen of someone else's computer.

I've ruined two screens by cleaning them, so there is some risk involved.
Imagine having to explain what you've done, to your friend.

This is an old article, from before "glossy LCD" screens became popular.
You can see there is a wide spectrum of advice, some of which might not
be very good.

http://web.archive.org/web/20080323142011/http://www.carlwebster.com/LCDCleaning.htm

As for screen cleaners "rated to clean LCDs", beware there are jack-ass
suppliers who will sell you just about anything. One cleaner we had
at work, in the stockroom, was a "spray on grease". I couldn't believe
it, when I applied a squirt of a new can to my screen at work. And
it *smeared* and left streaks, by design. I ended up using "non-approved"
cleaners, to remove the resulting mess. That was an example of a pathetic
cleaning solution. And our stockroom appeared to have bought *cases* of
the stuff. And all because the label said "safe for all screens".
Yeah, it was safe all right, and disgusting to use.

Damage mechanisms:

1) If the outer surface is glass, an AR coating can be present. And things
like alcohol might dissolve it. On one of the screens I ruined, that
is what happened. I removed the AR coating, and the screen ended up
as "glossy as a light bulb". It looked ridiculous.

2) Some screens have an anti-glare finish with "ridges" in it. Sort of
like a grating. If you spray a solvent directly on the screen, it
pools in spots, and dries to reveal a "stained spot". The spot contains
residue the solvent picked up, and then the residue dries in that spot.
Even if you spray the liquid cleaner on a cloth, there is still a danger
enough liquid can migrate to the surface, to later create a stain.

3) My current screen, has plain and simple glass on the outside. No AR coating.
Glossy as hell. But easy to clean. I can use anything short of HF
(hydrofluoric acid) on it

Be careful, and save your experiments for your own screen...

Paul

 

[GT]

How to clean Acer netbook screen, two opinions.

How do I clean my Acer netbook screen?

One source says to use a 50/50 solution of alcohol and water on an
Acer Aspire laptop.
http://techtips.salon.com/clean-acer-aspire-laptop-63.html

And the other source (both of them near the top of google search),
Netbook Review, says in general not to use alcohol at all, just
distilled water with vinegar. (Isn't that Windex?) or just plain tap
water.
http://netbookreview.com/netbook-cleaning-tips/
So far, I've tried spit, and it doesn't work well on fingerprints or
spots (I'm borowing the netbook from a friend, and this is the first
time he's gotten the screen dirty. Since he's nice enough to lend it,
I think I should clean it.)

Best way to clean an LCD screen is turn it off and use a clean towel,
slightly damp with water (tap) and gentle rubbing. My 8 year old glossy Dell
is pristine!

 

[micky]

In general, don't clean the screen of someone else's computer.

You and Menno make a really good point. In this one case, I've known
the guy for 10 years, and it seems like he'll forgive me quickly even
if I ruin it. I think the unspoken agreement is that I maintain his
computer in return for my borrowing it from him. (He uses it about 3
weeks a year, and I use it about 3 weeks a year. When each of us
travels.)

I've ruined two screens by cleaning them, so there is some risk involved.
Imagine having to explain what you've done, to your friend.

But that certainly scared me, so instead of looking at generic
webpages, I dl'd the owners manual for his particular computer and did
what it said --should have thought of that first -- which was to just
use water, and iirc a soft rag. Okay, they said cloth, but that means
rag to me.

This is an old article, from before "glossy LCD" screens became popular.
You can see there is a wide spectrum of advice, some of which might not
be very good.

http://web.archive.org/web/20080323142011/http://www.carlwebster.com/LCDCleaning.htm

Very funny.

As for screen cleaners "rated to clean LCDs", beware there are jack-ass
suppliers who will sell you just about anything. One cleaner we had
at work, in the stockroom, was a "spray on grease". I couldn't believe
it, when I applied a squirt of a new can to my screen at work. And
it *smeared* and left streaks, by design. I ended up using "non-approved"
cleaners, to remove the resulting mess. That was an example of a pathetic
cleaning solution. And our stockroom appeared to have bought *cases* of
the stuff. And all because the label said "safe for all screens".
Yeah, it was safe all right, and disgusting to use.

Damage mechanisms:

1) If the outer surface is glass, an AR coating can be present. And things
like alcohol might dissolve it. On one of the screens I ruined, that
is what happened. I removed the AR coating, and the screen ended up
as "glossy as a light bulb". It looked ridiculous.

2) Some screens have an anti-glare finish with "ridges" in it. Sort of
like a grating. If you spray a solvent directly on the screen, it
pools in spots, and dries to reveal a "stained spot". The spot contains
residue the solvent picked up, and then the residue dries in that spot.
Even if you spray the liquid cleaner on a cloth, there is still a danger
enough liquid can migrate to the surface, to later create a stain.

3) My current screen, has plain and simple glass on the outside. No AR coating.
Glossy as hell. But easy to clean. I can use anything short of HF
(hydrofluoric acid) on it

Be careful,

I was. It came out okay.

 

[micky]

Best way to clean an LCD screen is turn it off and use a clean towel,
slightly damp with water (tap) and gentle rubbing. My 8 year old glossy Dell
is pristine!

Thanks for answering, even tbough it was 5 weeks later, I was still
reading, but somehow I couldn't get my act together to reply to Paul
and Menno. It's hard for me to say I ignored the good advice I was
given by them.

Thanks to all of you.

 

[GT]

Thanks for answering, even tbough it was 5 weeks later, I was still
reading, but somehow I couldn't get my act together to reply to Paul
and Menno. It's hard for me to say I ignored the good advice I was
given by them.

Thanks to all of you.

Oops - did't notice the date. Oh well!

 

[micky]

Oops - did't notice the date. Oh well!

My problems drag on for months. The date is usually not an issue.