How to Clean a Laptop Screen Without Damaging It

Laptop screens have delicate anti-glare and anti-reflective coatings that household cleaners can strip off permanently. The good news: the safest method is also the simplest. You need a microfiber cloth and, for stubborn marks, a little distilled water.

What you need

• A clean, dry microfiber cloth (or the polishing cloth that came with your laptop)
• Distilled water, or a screen cleaner free of alcohol and ammonia such as WHOOSH Screen Shine

How to clean a laptop screen

1. Shut down the laptop and unplug it. Smudges are easier to see on a black screen, and you won’t trigger anything on a touchscreen.
2. Dry wipe first. Gently wipe in straight lines (top to bottom, or side to side) with a dry microfiber cloth to lift dust. Don’t press hard, because pressure can damage LCD panels.
3. For smudges, dampen the cloth, not the screen, with distilled water or screen cleaner. The cloth should be barely damp, never dripping.
4. Wipe again gently, then follow with a dry part of the cloth to remove streaks.
5. Let it dry completely before closing the lid or turning it on.

Never use these on a laptop screen

• Glass cleaner (Windex) or anything with ammonia. It strips anti-glare coatings.
• Vinegar. Often recommended as a “natural” cleaner, but it’s acidic and can damage coatings over time. Distilled water is the natural option that’s actually safe.
• Paper towels, tissues or kitchen roll. The wood fibres leave micro-scratches.
• Bleach, acetone, abrasive powders, dish soap residue, or spraying anything directly onto the screen.

Is alcohol OK?

To disinfect, Apple and most laptop makers say a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe used gently is acceptable on glossy glass screens. Avoid alcohol on matte and anti-glare screens unless the manufacturer specifically allows it, and never use it on Apple’s nano-texture glass. Clean that only with the Apple polishing cloth that came with it.

Removing stubborn marks

• Keyboard imprints on the screen (common on MacBooks): these are skin oils transferred from the keys. Distilled water on a microfiber cloth usually removes them. Wiping the keyboard regularly prevents them.
• Dried spots: hold a damp (not wet) cloth against the mark for 10–20 seconds to soften it, then wipe.
• Marks that won’t come off may be damage to the coating, which can’t be repaired by cleaning.

Keep it clean longer

• Close the lid gently and don’t leave pens or earbuds on the keyboard. They can press into the screen.
• Avoid thick webcam covers and keyboard covers on thin laptops, which can crack the screen when closed.
• Wash your microfiber cloths occasionally without fabric softener, which leaves residue.

Next: clean the keyboard · full cleaning schedule