When it comes to cleaning your TV screen, you need to consider everything from the type of TV set to the equipment and choice of cleaner. Find our guide here.
How to Clean Your TV Screen
We all know the joy of coming home to relax with our favourite Netflix series or the latest blockbuster movie. But over time, TVs inevitably accumulate dust, smudges, and fingerprints due to regular use and exposure to environmental factors like the natural oils from our hands.
At Espresso Car Wash, we understand the importance of maintaining a clean and clear TV screen to enhance your viewing experience. As New Zealand’s leading professional hand wash and car grooming service provider, our cleaning expertise extends far beyond just vehicles.
In this guide, we’re sharing our top tips for cleaning your TV screen, as well as your speakers and TV remote.
Top Tips for Cleaning a TV
TVs tend to attract a lot of dust due to the electromagnetic waves they emit. They are also prone to fingerprint marks and smudges from people, often inadvertently touching the screen. To keep your TV looking at its best, it’s important you know how to clean it properly.
When it comes to cleaning a TV, there are some dos and don’ts you should always follow.
- Always turn the TV off at the socket before cleaning. This gives it a chance to cool down while making it easier to see dust, smears or smudges.
- Check your TV manual before you clean it, and follow any manufacturer recommendations on the best way to get a clean and streak-free finish.
- Always use a soft microfiber cloth when cleaning a TV. It’s a good idea to keep a specific cloth just for cleaning the TV to ensure that it doesn’t pick up any dust or dirt particles, which could potentially scratch your screen.
- Never use substances that could harm your TV, like ammonia or alcohol. These substances are often found in household window cleaning sprays, so avoid using these on your TV.
- Never spray any liquid products or water directly onto your TV as the liquid can penetrate the seal and cause internal damage.
Do Different TVs Need Cleaning Differently?
With a variety of TV models available on the market, the cleaning method you choose will vary based on the type of TV you own.
How Do You Clean a Tube TV?
On older tube type TVs, the screen is made of glass which gives you more flexibility when cleaning. These are the only types of TVs where it is ok to use household window cleaner. You should spray the glass cleaner onto a cloth and wipe over the TV. Never spray liquid directly onto the TV itself, as this could cause internal damage if any liquid penetrates the seals.
How Do You Clean a Flat TV Screen?
LCD or plasma screen TVs are more delicate than tube TVs. The chemicals found in household cleaners can be abrasive and cause lasting damage that ruins your viewing experience. A gentle wipe with a soft microfiber cloth or a small amount of distilled water on a cloth is the best way to clean LCD screens.
It’s also important to only use light pressure when wiping or cleaning LCD screens to avoid damaging the liquid crystals inside the TV.
Plasma TV screens, although made of glass, have an anti-glare coating to improve the picture quality, so should be treated like LCD TV screens when cleaning them. But plasma screens often emit more heat than LCD screens, so it’s a good idea to turn a plasma screen off and leave it to cool down for 15 – 20 minutes before cleaning it.
The Best Way to Clean TV Screens
- Wipe the TV with a clean, soft microfiber cloth.
- Wipe the TV in one direction first, either horizontally or vertically and then go over it again in the opposite direction to make sure you reach the entire screen.
- Turn the microfiber cloth as you are using it to make sure you capture as much dust as possible.
- Clean any smudges with a pre-moistened wipe designed for electronics.
If you don’t have any electronic wipes, you can use distilled water to clean hard to budge smudges or fingerprints. Spray or dab a small amount of distilled water onto a clean microfiber cloth and wipe over the smudge. Never spray water directly onto the TV screen, as moisture can enter the seal of the TV and cause lasting damage.
Some manufacturers, like Panasonic, recommend cleaning TV screens with one-part neutral detergent to 100 parts of water. This solution should be applied to your cloth and used gently to wipe away smears. You should only follow this advice if your manufacturer instructions say to do so.
5. Don’t forget to wipe the back of the TV and vents, which can be dust collectors.
6. Wash your microfiber cloth in a soapy solution to remove any particles which could be abrasive, and make sure it’s fully dry before using it again to clean your TV.
How to Clean TV Speakers and Remotes
When it comes to giving your TV a good clean, you don’t want to forget about your speakers, otherwise you might end up with muffled sound that ruins your movie night. If your speakers have removable covers, you can simply remove them and vacuum both sides using the upholstery tool to remove any dust, lint and pet hair that has collected.
If you can’t remove your speaker covers, vacuum the front of the speakers using the upholstery tool, and then go over them with a lint roller to collect as much dust, lint and pet hair as possible.
Cleaning TV Remotes
Another TV accessory you shouldn’t forget about is your TV remote. TV remote controls get handled frequently so can often harbour lots of germs and bacteria. To keep your TV remote clean and hygienic, it’s a good idea to give it a quick clean regularly.
- Pop the batteries out of your TV remote.
- Gently tap the remote to remove any loose crumbs or debris stuck between buttons.
- Using a disinfectant wipe, thoroughly wipe over the remote making sure you get into all the gaps between the buttons.
- Avoid handling your TV remote with sticky fingers or around food to keep it cleaner for longer.
Keeping Your TV Clean
To keep your TV in like new condition, you should clean it and any accessories like your TV remote and speakers, ideally once a week. This will ensure you can watch all your favourite shows without compromise.
You should always follow your specific manufacturer’s instructions to ensure you don’t damage your TV.
No matter what type of TV you own, never spray liquid directly onto it, as this could penetrate the seal and cause expensive internal damage. You should also avoid using harsh chemicals like ammonia, acetone or alcohol to clean your TV. They aren’t necessary to get a streak and dust-free finish and could potentially damage your screen and compromise the picture-quality.
Now that you know our tips and tricks for keeping your TV clean, dust and smudge-free, why not sit back and start enjoying your favourite shows and let us take care of cleaning your car?
As New Zealand’s leading professional hand wash and grooming provider at Espresso Car Wash, our approach to cleaning your car is personalised for each vehicle, addressing its unique needs so you can be sure of the best finish.
Book online or visit your nearest Espresso Car Wash branch today to revitalise your treasured vehicle
