How to Clean Your TV Screen

Screens can scratch easily, and even paper towels and tissues contain fibers that can do damage. “Your best bet is to use a soft, anti-static microfiber cloth—the kind used to clean eyeglasses and camera lenses—and wipe in a circular motion,” says Scott Meadows, who cleans more than 200 TVs a year in his role as a CR photographer. “Gently wipe the screen with a dry cloth to remove dust and other debris, but don’t press too hard.”

You may also want to wipe down the TV’s cabinet and make sure dust isn’t clogging the vents that help dissipate heat. If the TV is on a stand and not tethered to a wall, Meadows suggests cleaning it with one hand while supporting the TV with the other to prevent the set from tipping over. But CR strongly recommends anchoring all stand-mounted TVs using anti-tipping straps designed for this purpose.

If there are hard-to-remove stains or smudges, dampen the cloth slightly with distilled water and gently clean the screen. Never spray water directly onto the screen, as this could cause a shock or component failure if it seeps into the set’s inner workings.

For the most stubborn stains, you can try using a solution of very mild dish soap highly diluted with water, once again applied to the cloth and not to the TV itself. (As a guideline, Panasonic recommends a 100:1 ratio of water to soap.) LCD screens are particularly sensitive to pressure and can scratch easily, so don’t press hard.

Meadows suggests that if you use a dampened cloth, go over the screen one more time with a dry one to remove any swirls or streaks.

Alcohol and ammonia, found in window cleaners such as Windex, can wreak havoc on your TV screen, so never use cleaners that have them. If you decide to use a packaged screen cleaner—which you don’t really need (see below)—choose one that doesn’t contain alcohol, ammonia, or acetone. Also, don’t use any cleaners that contain an abrasive that can scratch the screen.

Some of these kits cost $15 to $20 for just a microfiber cloth and a small bottle of cleaning solution, which is probably mostly water. Instead, buy microfiber cloths at an office supply store or online, use distilled water or a solution of your own making, and follow our advice above. If you opt for a kit, make sure it doesn’t contain harmful chemicals.

Remote controls can get dusty and also harbor a fair number of germs. Think of how many fingers have pressed the buttons on that remote recently and whether all of them were squeaky clean. There’s also the issue of coughs and sneezes.

Here’s some basic advice about cleaning your remote controls. But if you’re really worried about spreading viruses, we also have more details on how to sanitize your remote control.

Remove the batteries before you start cleaning. Then, turn the remote upside down so the buttons are facing downward, and tap it against your palm to dislodge any debris that might have fallen between the buttons. Wipe down the entire remote with a soft cloth that you’ve sprayed with a tiny bit of alcohol diluted with water. The cloth should be damp, not wet.

To clean in and around the buttons, use a cotton swab dampened with the alcohol/water mix. More stubborn debris lodged deeper into the keys can be dislodged with a clean, dry toothbrush or a toothpick.

Last, wipe down the whole remote once again with a dry, soft cloth and reinstall the batteries.

While we’re on the subject of TVs, if you’re thinking of shopping for a new set, you can check CR’s TV ratings, which are available to CR members. We buy every set we rate at retail, just like you would, then evaluate it using a rigorous testing protocol. Here are five 65-inch sets that combine big screens and strong performance, all at a price of about $1,000 or less. Note that prices this time of year are volatile and can change significantly, so get a price-match guarantee if you can.